Listen and Learn...

 

King Arthur - 12 h. * The Old Testament - 12 h.
C.S. Lewis - 6 h. * Mythologies of the world - 31 h.

I have listened to a few Great Courses from Audible in the past as well, then mostly to do with languages (Language Families of the World, The Story of Human Language). Recently I noticed that a whole lot more Great Courses about all kinds of topics are now included in my membership (i.e. free for members to listen to without using monthly credits to buy them for keeps). The above are what I've been listening to (or more correctly, have often been half asleep to) during November. While I don't expect a lot of details to stick in my memory, I'd like to think that I may still have added a little bit to my general understanding of the contexts in which those details belong. Like: how various cultures across the world (and across Time) share a surprising amount of stories with common or very similar themes, even if characters (both humans and gods) may have different names and the stories may even serve different purposes. Mythologies I'm only half way through yet - 18 hours left, and if memory serves me right I'm just about to dive into African mythology, which I don't think I've ever heard very much about at all.

(Decided to put this on the blog today because it's been an exceptionally grey and wet and gloomy day when I've not set foot outside. Needed to remind myself that I've actually not spent all of November just re-watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix for the umpteenth time (however much I also love doing that).

 

 

Ismantorp Fortress, Öland

Road Trip 2018, Part 18

From Karum’s Alvar with the Bronze Age stone ship, we went on to also have a look at the ruins of Ismantorp Fortress; an old ringfort dating back to between 200-600 A.D.

I struggled with how to present this place, but decided to let you see it pretty much the way we did. All I knew beforehand was really that the fortress is the largest and probably also the oldest on Öland; but also has the unusual feature of no less than nine gateways in the wall.

The fort is situated kind of “in the middle of nowhere”; and from the parking space, we had to follow a woodland walkpath to get there.

When the woodland opened up, there was the ancient limestone ringwall in the background; said to have a circumference of approximately 300 meters and a diameter of 125 meters.

From the burnt grass and some trees already in autumn colours (this was 18th July!) you can tell how very hot and dry the summer was – and that we’re once again on “alvar” kind of ground (cf. previous post).

Entering “the main gate” in the wall (well, the one used as such nowadays, anyway!)

Within the wall are the foundations of around 90-100 buildings, with an open place in the middle.

Getting an overview of the place from the ground level is difficult… If not for the sign and map at the entrance (+ having read a little about it beforehand) I don’t think we’d have had much clue what we were looking at inside!

Because of the unusual construction with the nine gates in the wall + all the buildings inside, opinons seem to vary about the purpose of this fort. On the one hand, the layout is thought to be inspired by Roman military camps; but on the other hand, the large number of gates makes it seem unlikely that it was built primarily for defense. The buildings are said to have been homes, workshops, animal sheds and barns; but at the same time, archaelogical excavations have provided very little evidence of the fortress having served as a permanent settlement.

There seem to be three main theories – and I suppose they don’t necessarily contradict or exclude each other:
1/ A military training camp, perhaps also used for storage of goods, livestock and slaves brought back from raids abroad.
2/ A fortified trading site, like Gråborg (another ancient stronghold on Öland, which we also visited on the same day)
3/ A ritual/religious center. This theory is supported by the nine gates, as the number nine is important in the old Norse mythology. (For one thing, there were nine “worlds” all connected to the mythical tree Yggdrasil. Was there perhaps once a big tree growing in the middle of this fortress? Who knows!)

Aerial photo of Ismantorp fortress (1997), from Swedish Wikipedia

The Riddle of the Rune Stone

Close to the church in Rök, near Ödeshög in the province of Östergötland, there is famous old runestone worth having a look at. It’s not just “any” old runestone, but actually the longest known runic text inscribed on stone – covering both sides of the large stone. Because of the length and contents of the text, it is also considered as the oldest piece of preserved written Swedish literature. Judging from the runic alphabet used, the runes were probably carved in the early 9th century. The experts still don’t all agree on the interpretation, as the inscription is partially encrypted and thus not meant to be easily read, even back when it was created.

The stone was discovered in the 19th century, built into the wall of the church; and was removed from there a few decades later. The church is from the 12th century, when it was not uncommon to use old rune stones as building material.

In memory of Vémóðr/Vámóðr stand these runes.
And Varinn coloured them, the father,
in memory of his dead son.
I say the folktale / to the young men,
which the two war-booties were,
which twelve times were taken as war-booty,
both together from various men.
I say this second, who nine generations ago
lost his life with the Hreidgoths;
and died with them for his guilt.

- - -

For more facts, riddles and possible interpretations,
see Wikipedia: Rök Runestone

Feeling Sheepish

23rd January (our calendar) was the Chinese New Year, and rumour has it that we then entered into The Year of the Dragon.

I’ve heard and seen this piece of info mentioned from several different sources lately, in the news as well as in blogs; because in the Eastern culture, the Dragon is a lucky symbol; and being born in the year of the Dragon is apparently considered a good thing.

One blogger I’m following who mentioned it a couple of weeks ago was Snowwhite from Japan, giving interesting insights into how the Dragon is viewed rather differently in Eastern vs Western culture.

Then on the Day, Scriptor Senex had a Happy Chinese New Year post; followed by GB blogging On Being A Monkey. I commented on both these blogs to the effect that I've never been a fan of or believer in astrology… but that following Scriptor’s link to Chinese horoscope personalities, I had to admit to being a little taken aback to find the following introduction of the Sheep (which would be my Chinese sign):

Sheep simply want a bit of peace. They enjoy carrying on with life in their own quiet, individual way, content to be in the middle of it all rather than to be leading it. Sheep are quiet and calm people. They enjoy cultural things and focus much of their energy on artistic hobbies. Sheep are easygoing and relaxed, happy to be going with the flow.

Not so sure perhaps about the ‘easygoing’ part… (I have to say – before someone else does! - that I feel rather fussy about some things sometimes!) But as for the rest, my soul said “Yes!” …

Of course the more one gets down to details though, the more one finds that could be questioned.

On the whole, I suppose I’m likely  to remain a sceptic, whether we’re talking Western or Chinese zodiac. Even if there are some of the common keywords for my Western zodiac sign as well that might be applied to me… (But I’m sure they will also fit many people born at entirely different times of the year…)

I think I’m just not very partial to the whole idea of immediately trying to fit people too tightly into a certain frame or personality. So on principle, I always avoid giving my zodiacal sign in profiles or first introductions.

This, by the way, I just learned is probably typical of the Sheep!!!

They are private and do not generally tell you everything there is to know about them until they have tested the waters and are sure they want to reveal themselves to you.

And I who thought that was just good old Virgo scepticism…!

ABC Wednesday: O for Oak and Otherworld

In the woods between my parents’ old house and the lake nearby, I came across a strangely shaped oak tree. Very low and wide, no proper tree trunk… Almost as if someone had tried to pull it down from below…

… In Celtic mythology, a sacred tree, generally considered to be an oak, stood at the center of the world; its limbs stretching up to the heavens, its roots reaching down to the Otherworld, or the realm of Fairy. The Celtic name for oak, duir, is the origin of the word door. So the oak was a doorway to the Otherworld …

Oooh, that tickles my fantasy!

ABC Wednesday: O