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28576: RE: [MUD-Dev] Scripting Languages and Magic
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From: "Mats Lidstrom" <mats.lidstrom@torpet.ac>
Newsgroups: nu.kanga.list.mud-dev
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2003 06:20:45 +0100
Organization: Kanga.Nu
From: "McDonald, Stephen" <smcdon03@ase.tufts.edu>
> Marian Griffith said, regarding viking-era scandinavian runes:
>> However, it is uncertain if those runes were really used as an
>> alphabet. It may well be that they were more like the signs of
>> the zodiac. Part of an extensive religious and magical system,
>> but not an alphabet. (i.e. you can not write down arbitrary
>> messages in them)
> The Norse runes most certainly were used as an alphabet. Their
> use as an alphabet dates to several centuries before the viking
> period. Runic inscriptions are quite common throughout the
> Scandinavian countries, and the language has been translated. Any
> decent book on medieval scandinavian culture will include pictures
> of inscriptions and their translations. And it was definitely
> used for more than religious and magical inscriptions. I recall
> reading about one archaeological find which included a tablet (I
> believe wood) with what was essentially a shopping
> list. Unfortunately, I can't recall a reference for that.
Another "proof" that it was used as an everyday alphabet is that in
Sofia, Istanbul they've found scribblings on a temple pillar using
runes that dates back 1000 years. It says: "Halvdan was here".
http://viking.no/e/turkey/e-konsta.htm
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