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Alu (runic)

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Bracteate G 205 bearing the inscription Alu.

Alu is a Germanic charm word appearing on numerous runic inscriptions found in Central and Northern Europe dating from between 200 and 800 CE. The word – the most common of the early runic charm words[1] – usually appears either alone (such as on the Elgesem runestone) or as part of an apparent formula (such as on the Lindholm "amulet" (DR 261) from Scania, Sweden). It is sometimes abbreviated, encrypted or written with grammatical expansion. The origin and meaning of the word are matters of dispute, though a general agreement exists among scholars that the word either represents amulet magic or is a metaphor (or metonym) for it.[2] Usage of the word did not survive long after the Migration Period, possibly as a result of Christianization.[3]

Etymology

Although the literal meaning of the word alu is generally accepted to be "ale", i.e. "intoxicating beverage", researchers have found it necessary to look deeper into the significance of the term. Earlier proposed etymologies for the word sought a connection with Proto-Germanic *aluh "amulet, taboo" from *alh "protect".[4] Cognates in Germanic dialects would include Old English ealh "temple", Gothic alhs "temple", and Old Norse alh "amulet".[5] Polomé initially proposed an etymological connection between Germanic alu and Hittite alwanza "affected by witchcraft", which is in turn connected to Greek alúõ "to be beside oneself" and Latvian aluôt "to be distraught". This etymology was later proven faulty and subsequently dropped by Polomé, though he continues to suggest that a common semantic denominator connects these words with alu.[6]

Theories

Linguistic connections have been proposed between the term and the Proto-Germanic term *aluþ, meaning "ale", and subsequently the word is sometimes translated as meaning "ale",[7][8] though this linguistic approach has been criticized as having "crucial difficulties".[2] Edgar Polomé takes the word to belong to the "technical operative vocabulary" of the Germanic peoples, originally referring to "an ecstatic mental state as transferred to a potent drink" used in religious rituals in Germanic paganism.[7]

Raetian North Etruscan dedicatory votive objects have been discovered featuring alu where the term means "dedication". Connections have been proposed between these objects and the term alu found on runic inscriptions. Theories have been proposed that the term was loaned into Runic usage from this source.[3]

Inscriptions

Bracteates

The inscription alu appears on the following bracteates: G 205, DR BR6, DR BR13, DR BR25, DR BR42, DR BR54, DR BR59, DR BR63A, DR BR67, DR EM85;123, and DR NOR2002;10.[8]

G 205

A gold bracteate (G 205) discovered in Djupbrunns, Hogrän, Stenkumla, Sweden reads simply Alu and dates from around 400 CE. The bracteate was discovered in the same location as another gold bracteate (G 204) from a considerably younger date that features the inscription ek erilaR. Today the bracteate is located in Swedish Museum of National Antiquities, Stockholm, Sweden.[9]

DR BR6

A fragment of a bracteate (DR BR6) discovered in Skydsrup, South Jutland, Denmark. The transliteration reads:

lauk=az alu lauk=az alu

Which transcripted into Proto-Norse is:

Laukaz alu. Laukaz alu.

The fragment dates from around 400 to 650 CE. Today the bracteate is housed in the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen, Denmark.[10]

Runestones

Eggja stone

Main article: Eggja stone

The third panel Elder Futhark inscriptions found on the 7th or 8th CE century Eggja stone discovered on the farm Eggja located in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway is often interpreted as reading alu.

Elgesem runestone

An inscription reading simply "alu" is found on a stone discovered in a grave mound located by the farm of Elgesem, Vestfold, Norway, in 1870.[11][12] It is dated to about 400 CE. The stone is 172 centimeters tall and 90 centimeters wide, and the thickness is about 18 centimeters. The inscription is written counter-clockwise and is to be read from the top downwards.[13]

Eketorp slate fragment

The Eketorp slate fragment (Öl ACTARC37;211 U) is a runestone that was found in Eketorp, Sweden and features an Elder Futhark inscription in Proto-Norse.[14]

The first line of the inscription reads:

... alu k...[14]

The second line of the inscription reads:

...gþutþ...[14]

Kinneve stone

File:Kinneve stone (Vg 134).jpg
The Kinneve stone bearning the inscription ...siz alu h.

The Kinneve stone (Vg 134) is a stone fragment (measures 7,4 x 5,0 x 2,0 cm)[15] of red soapstone dated to around 600 CE.[16] It was found by chaplain John Lagerblom in 1843 in a grave[citation needed] on the area of the rectory (Prästgården) of Kinneve socken, Sweden.[16] The stone is today housed in the collection of the Västergötland museum, Skara, Sweden.[8] The inscription has been read as:

...siz alu h[16]

siz (siʀ - the last rune is the *Algiz rune) has by Y. Kodratoff been interpreted as the end of a name, and according to Kodratoff the h can represent the *Haglaz rune. Since the fragment was found in a grave,[citation needed] the inscription has been theorized as potentially related to a death cult or "mortuary magic".[15][17]

Other

The inscription alu appears on the following objects: DR 13, DR 261, DR AUD1994;266, DR MS1995;341, and DR MS1995;344.[8]

Nydam arrow

The Nydam arrow (Nydam III, DR 13) is an arrow discovered in Nydam, Nydam Mose, South Jutland, Denmark that bears the inscription lua which has been interpreted as a distorted alu.[18] It is dated to around 200 to 350 CE. Today the arrow is located in Museum vorgesch. Altertümer in Kiel, Germany.[8]

Lindholm "amulet"

Main article: Lindholm amulet

The Lindholm "amulet" (DR 261) is a bone piece found in Skåne, dated to the 2nd to 4th centuries. The inscription contains the word Alu.

Cremation urns

Main article: Spong Hill

Three 5th century cremation urns from Spong Hill, Norfolk, England bear the impression of the term alu by "the same runic stamp" in mirror-runes.[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ Macleod, Mindy. Mees, Bernard. (2006) Runic Amulets and Magic Objects, page 100 to 101. Boydell Press ISBN 1843832054
  2. ^ a b Macleod, Mindy. Mees, Bernard. (2006) Runic Amulets and Magic Objects, page 24. Boydell Press ISBN 1843832054
  3. ^ a b Macleod, Mindy. Mees, Bernard. (2006) Runic Amulets and Magic Objects, page 100 to 101. Boydell Press ISBN 1843832054
  4. ^ Krause, Wolfgang (1932), referenced in Simek, Rudolf (1995) Lexikon der germanischen Mythologie, page 16 to 17. 2., Auflage. Stuttgart: Kröner 1995. ISBN 3 520 36802 1
  5. ^ Fick, August/Torp, Alf (1909) Vergleichendes Worterbuch der Indogermanischen Sprachen: Dritter Teil: Wortschatz der Germanischen Spracheinheit, page 21. Vandenhoek und Ruptecht:Göttingen.
  6. ^ Polomé, Edgar C. (1995). "Diachronic stratification of the Germanic vocabulary" in Insights in Germanic Linguistics, page 244 to 264. (Ed.: Rauch, Irmengard). de Gruyter: Berlin, New York. ISBN 3 110 14359 3
  7. ^ a b Flowers, Stephen. "How To Do Things With Runes: A Semiotic Approach To Operative Communication" as collected in: Stocklund, Marie. (Chief editor.) (2006)Runes And Their Secrets: Studies In Runology, page 75. Museum Tusculanum Press ISBN 87 635 0428 6
  8. ^ a b c d e According to Rundata for Windows 2.0
  9. ^ Entry G 205 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  10. ^ Entry DR BR6 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  11. ^ Looijenga, Tineke. (2003) Texts & Contexts of the Oldest Runic Inscriptions, page 194. BRILL ISBN 9004123962
  12. ^ Page, R.I. (2005) Runes, page 30. The British Museum Press ISBN 0-7141-8065-3
  13. ^ Aschehoug og Gyldendals (2005) Store Norske Leksikon, page 438. Kunnskapsforlaget. ISBN 82-573-1440-4
  14. ^ a b c According to entry Öl ACTARC37;211 U in Rundata 2.0 for Windows
  15. ^ a b Västra Götalands Runstenar (Swedish):[1]
  16. ^ a b c Entry Vg 134 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  17. ^ Runic Inscriptions by Yves Kodratoff: [2]
  18. ^ Knirk, James E. (2002) Runes: Origin, development of the futhark, functions, applications, and methodological considerations in The Nordic Languages: An International Handbook of the History of the North Germanic Languages (Bandle, Oscar [Ed.)]. Berlin, New York:de Gruyter (2002). ISBN 3 110 14876 5
  19. ^ Hines, John. "Grave Finds With Runic Inscriptions From Great Britain" as collected in Düwel, Klaus. (Editor) (2002) Runeninschriften ALS Quelle Interdisziplinaerer Forschung: Abhandlungen DES Vierten Internationalen Symposiums Uber Runen Und Runeninschriften in Goettingen VOM 4.-9. August 1995, page 189. Walter de Gruyter ISBN 9783110154559
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