The Hørdum stone was discovered in 1954 during trench work adjacent to the church in Hørdum.[1] Before the historical significance of runestones and picture stones was understood, they were often reused as materials in the construction of roads, bridges, walls, and buildings. The image on the stone illustrates a legend recorded in the Hymiskviða of the Poetic Edda, in which the Norse god Thor fishes for Jörmungandr, the Midgard serpent.[2] Thor goes fishing with the jötunnHymir using an ox head for bait, and catches Jörmungandr, who then either breaks loose[3] or, as told in the Gylfaginning of the Prose Edda, the line is cut loose by Hymir.[4] The Prose Edda provides the additional detail that while Thor was pulling on the line with Jörmungandr on the hook, his feet went through the bottom of the boat.[4] The image on the Hørdum stone shows Hymir, Thor, his fishing line and a portion of the serpent. Thor's foot has been pushed through the hull of the boat.[2] The ox head bait is not shown, but may have been on a section of the image that has been worn away.[5] Hymir is depicted holding a tool, apparently in preparation to cut the fishing line, consistent with the version of the myth told in the Gylfaginning. It has also been suggested that an image of the head of the serpent can be seen in the natural fracture edges of the stone under the boat.[6]
This encounter between Thor and Jörmungandr seems to have been one of the most popular motifs in Norse art. Three other picture stones that have been linked with the myth are the Ardre VIII image stone, the Altuna Runestone, and the Gosforth Cross.[5] A stone slab that may be a portion of a second cross at Gosforth also shows a fishing scene using an ox head for bait.[7] Several other Scandinavian runic inscriptions from the Viking Age depict ships but not this myth, including DR 77 in Hjermind, DR 119 in Spentrup, DR 220 in Sønder Kirkeby, DR 258 in Bösarp, DR 271 in Tullstorp, DR 328 in Holmby, DR EM85;523 in Farsø, Ög 181 in Ledberg, Ög 224 in Stratomta, Ög MÖLM1960;230 in Törnevalla, Sö 122 in Skresta, Sö 154 in Skarpåker, Sö 158 in Österberga, Sö 164 in Spånga, Sö 351 in Överjärna, Sö 352 in Linga, Vg 51 in Husaby, U 370 in Herresta, U 979 in Gamla Uppsala, U 1052 in Axlunda, and Vs 17 in Råby.[8] Two other stones, the Långtora kyrka stone and U 1001 in Rasbo, depict ships but currently do not have any runes on them and may never have had any.[8]
The Hørdum stone is currently on display in the church in Hørdum.
References
^Fritz, Heiko; Feik, Joachim (2008). Midgard - Auf den Spuren der Wikinger: Band 1: Deutschland und Dänemark. pp. 164–166. ISBN978-3-8370-4168-2.
^ abSørensen, Preben M. (2002). "Þorr's Fishing Expedition (Hymiskviða)". In Acker, Paul; Larrington, Carolyne (eds.). The Poetic Edda: Essays on Old Norse Mythology. Translated by Williams, Kirsten. Routledge. pp. 119–138. ISBN0-8153-1660-7. p. 122-123, 127-128.
^"Hørdum-billedsten". Danske Runeindskrifter. Nationalmuseet. Retrieved 25 Feb 2011.
^Fee, Christopher R.; Leeming, David A. (2001). Gods, Heroes, & Kings: The Battle for Mythic Britain. Oxford University Press. p. 36. ISBN0-19-513479-6.
^ abJesch, Judith (2001). Ships and Men in the Late Viking Age: The Vocabulary of Runic Inscriptions and Skaldic Verse. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press. p. 120. ISBN0-85115-826-9.
External links
Photograph of Hørdum stone
January 06, 2023
hørdum, stone, viking, picture, stone, discovered, hørdum, thisted, municipality, north, denmark, region, denmark, that, depicts, legend, from, norse, mythology, involving, thor, jörmungandr, midgard, serpent, description, editthe, discovered, 1954, during, tr. The Hordum stone is a Viking Age picture stone discovered in Hordum Thisted Municipality North Denmark Region Denmark that depicts a legend from Norse mythology involving the god Thor and Jormungandr the Midgard serpent Hordum stoneDescription EditThe Hordum stone was discovered in 1954 during trench work adjacent to the church in Hordum 1 Before the historical significance of runestones and picture stones was understood they were often reused as materials in the construction of roads bridges walls and buildings The image on the stone illustrates a legend recorded in the Hymiskvida of the Poetic Edda in which the Norse god Thor fishes for Jormungandr the Midgard serpent 2 Thor goes fishing with the jotunn Hymir using an ox head for bait and catches Jormungandr who then either breaks loose 3 or as told in the Gylfaginning of the Prose Edda the line is cut loose by Hymir 4 The Prose Edda provides the additional detail that while Thor was pulling on the line with Jormungandr on the hook his feet went through the bottom of the boat 4 The image on the Hordum stone shows Hymir Thor his fishing line and a portion of the serpent Thor s foot has been pushed through the hull of the boat 2 The ox head bait is not shown but may have been on a section of the image that has been worn away 5 Hymir is depicted holding a tool apparently in preparation to cut the fishing line consistent with the version of the myth told in the Gylfaginning It has also been suggested that an image of the head of the serpent can be seen in the natural fracture edges of the stone under the boat 6 This encounter between Thor and Jormungandr seems to have been one of the most popular motifs in Norse art Three other picture stones that have been linked with the myth are the Ardre VIII image stone the Altuna Runestone and the Gosforth Cross 5 A stone slab that may be a portion of a second cross at Gosforth also shows a fishing scene using an ox head for bait 7 Several other Scandinavian runic inscriptions from the Viking Age depict ships but not this myth including DR 77 in Hjermind DR 119 in Spentrup DR 220 in Sonder Kirkeby DR 258 in Bosarp DR 271 in Tullstorp DR 328 in Holmby DR EM85 523 in Farso Og 181 in Ledberg Og 224 in Stratomta Og MOLM1960 230 in Tornevalla So 122 in Skresta So 154 in Skarpaker So 158 in Osterberga So 164 in Spanga So 351 in Overjarna So 352 in Linga Vg 51 in Husaby U 370 in Herresta U 979 in Gamla Uppsala U 1052 in Axlunda and Vs 17 in Raby 8 Two other stones the Langtora kyrka stone and U 1001 in Rasbo depict ships but currently do not have any runes on them and may never have had any 8 The Hordum stone is currently on display in the church in Hordum References Edit Fritz Heiko Feik Joachim 2008 Midgard Auf den Spuren der Wikinger Band 1 Deutschland und Danemark pp 164 166 ISBN 978 3 8370 4168 2 a b Davidson Hilda Ellis 1993 The Lost Beliefs of Northern Europe Routledge pp 50 53 ISBN 0 203 40850 0 Bellows Henry Adams transl 1936 Hymiskvida The Poetic Edda pp 144 47 a b Snorri Sturluson Brodeur Arthur Gilchrist transl 1916 Gylfaginning The Prose Edda The American Scandinavian Foundation pp 69 70 a b Sorensen Preben M 2002 THorr s Fishing Expedition Hymiskvida In Acker Paul Larrington Carolyne eds The Poetic Edda Essays on Old Norse Mythology Translated by Williams Kirsten Routledge pp 119 138 ISBN 0 8153 1660 7 p 122 123 127 128 Hordum billedsten Danske Runeindskrifter Nationalmuseet Retrieved 25 Feb 2011 Fee Christopher R Leeming David A 2001 Gods Heroes amp Kings The Battle for Mythic Britain Oxford University Press p 36 ISBN 0 19 513479 6 a b Jesch Judith 2001 Ships and Men in the Late Viking Age The Vocabulary of Runic Inscriptions and Skaldic Verse Woodbridge The Boydell Press p 120 ISBN 0 85115 826 9 External links EditPhotograph of Hordum stone Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hordum stone amp oldid 996140226, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
