Runes / Martin Findell.
Material type:
TextSeries: Ancient scriptsPublisher: Los Angeles : J Paul Getty Museum, [2014]Publisher: ©2014Description: 111 pages : color illustrations ; 21 cmContent type: - text
- still image
- unmediated
- volume
- 9781606064481 (pbk.)
- 1606064487 (pbk.)
| Item type | Home library | Collection | Call number | Materials specified | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adult Book
|
Main Library | NonFiction | 430 F494 | Available | 33111008073989 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
Runes are the letters in a set of related alphabets that were used to write various Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet. From late antiquity through the early middle ages, peoples across northwestern Europe inscribed runes on gravestones, buildings, jewelry, and weapons in a range of forms from crude scratchings to sophisticated relief carvings. Reading and deciphering this script has called on the expertise of a number of academic disciplines including archaeology, art history, linguistics, and forensic science.
The runes illustrated in this lively introduction, which include memorials for the dead, business messages, charms, curses, and prayers, offer a fascinating glimpse into the beliefs of early Anglo-Saxon and Germanic cultures. The author traces the history of these ancient symbols from their mysterious origins to their development as a widely used script, concluding with a brief discussion of their use in modern mystery and fantasy literature, including the runic adaptations of J. R. R. Tolkien.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 102-105) and index.
"Runes -- letters in a set of related alphabets used to write various Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet -- can be found across northwestern Europe, on everything from gravestones to jewelry. This mysterious and ancient script, in use from late antiquity through the early Middle Ages, has fascinated forensic scientists, archaeologists, linguists, art historians -- and even J. R. R. Tolkien. Illustrated with objects from the British Museum's collection that show the inscriptions in context, this engaging book is the ideal introduction to an age-old writing system" -- Back cover.