Signs and symbols represented in Germanic, particularly Scandinavian, iconography between the Migration Period and the end of the Viking Age.

Abstract

This research focuses on the analysis of pictorial images from objects of Germanic/early Scandinavian cultures in order to discriminate elements which are only applied for decorative reasons from those which also express symbolic values. At the outset I introduced an interpretation of the terms 'signs' and 'symbols' in order to inform the reader to which extent these terms were applied. It appeared that techniques, such as the geographical and chronological classification, traditionally used by archaeologists and historians to analyse objects/artefacts, were not always sufficient enough to gain all information which images may offer. Sometimes it seems to be difficult to determine if certain images shown on objects from early mediaeval, central and northern European origin, were created as a space-filling decoration only or if they held additional, probably symbolic, information as well. I have investigated aspects from visual perception, as applied within the domains of psychology, visual art and design. The methods, as they are introduced in this thesis, can be used as a identification scheme, applied on objects of great diversity. I have applied them on guldgubber (little embossed gold foils), bracteates and Gotland picture-stones. Objects of great historical and geographic difference, as well as physical diversity, such as size and material were chosen purposely to create an overview of the symbolic expressions in Germanic/early Scandinavian artefacts and to test the extent of the identification method derived from the domain of visual perception. A detailed analysis of sixty four guldgubber, found in Lundeborg, near Gudme, on the island of Fyn (Denmark), is placed in an appendix. An analysis of these objects appeared to be particularly interesting because it is not known what the purpose of guldgubber were to the present day.