Vad är det Háv hänger på i Hávamál?

• Based on an introductory account of the shortcomings of a purely archaeological endeavour to understand the cultural history of the 1st millennium CE, this casestudy begins with an interpretation of the Old Norse word meiðr. This is followed up by a short comparative analysis of the function of the oe words beam and ródin the Dream of the Rood. Thus, having been inspired by Old Norse and Old English texts, the next step is an analysis of two archaeological excavations in which several constructions seem to qualify as a meiðr in the everyday sense of the word. Essentially, the word means ’drying rack’ and as a construction it consists of two vertical poles with crutches, which support a horizontal rod that joins them together. On this rod more or less anything may hang – even Háv during his rite of passage merging with Oðinn.

Ämnesord

HUMANIORA  -- Historia och arkeologi (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- History and Archaeology (hsv//eng)

HUMANIORA  -- Historia och arkeologi -- Arkeologi (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- History and Archaeology -- Archaeology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Hávamál; Old Norse meiðr; Post pairs; Drying rack; Hanging

Hávamál

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