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Abstract
Runic inscriptions in the older futhark on various objects, found in the western part of Eastern Europe, ranging from the third to the sixth century C.E. Forty Scandinavian runic inscriptions in younger futhark from Eastern Europe (Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Russia, Ukraine), from the area of the former Byzantium and from the former West Slavic area (Oldenburg/Starigard) dating from the 8th-12th c., have been discussed and some new interpretations suggested (cf. the inscription on the spindle from Staraya Ladoga II and runic graffiti on oriental coins).
Key words: runology, runes, epigraphy, archaeology (Germanic), history of Germanic languages.
Slowa kluczowe: nauka o runach, runy, archeologia (niemiecka), historia jçzykôw germañskich.
The authors dedicate this article to Elena Mel'nikova.
Older runic inscriptions in Eastern Europe (K. Diiwel)
The runic script came into being in the first or the early second century A.D. It spread from a central place in the region of the Danish isles and surrounding areas. The model was a Mediterranean alphabet (probably the Latin one) that was transformed into the runes of the new futhark order.* 1 The first attested runic row (fig. la) that was found is on a stone from 1 Kylver2 (Gotland) and is dated to the early fifth century. The row of older runes is called futhark after the first six runes. Each rune represents a phonem and also has a name and can be used as ideographs (Begriffsrunen). The 24 runes are arranged in three groups (ON cettir), containing eight runes each. To produce the secret runes, you can take one of the groups and mark the position of the intended rune therein: e.g. 1:2 which means first group second position = u, visualised in this way ^ - which is documented in the inscription of the now lost finger-ring from 46 Körlin (550-600, fig. 2, BRF II, 48-50). On the ring, the secret rune u has to be combined with the bind-rune al to the sequence alu, an apotropaic formula with the meaning 'defence, protection'.3
The oldest inscription is found on a bone comb from 26 Vimose on the Danish island of Fyn and dates to ca. 150/160 C.E. (Diiwel 2008, 24). The inscription harja, a masculine personal name, probably denotes the owner of the comb....