The Application of Peircean Semiotics to the Elder Futhark Tradition: Establishing Parameters of Magical Communication

This work examines the issue of magical communication in the Elder Futhark runic inscriptions and seeks to establish objective criteria for measuring it. It applies Charles Sanders Peirce's phenomenological framework to the world of the Runemaster and discusses the problem with the word magic. A corpus chapter is then presented to apply the theories and methods adopted.

Format: Hardback
Length: 196 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2023
Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing Inc

This comprehensive study delves into the realm of magical communication revealed through the Elder Futhark runic inscriptions. It explores a diverse range of artifacts, including the Kragehul Spear Shaft (DR 196), Björketorp runestone (DR 360), the Horn(s) of Gallehus (DR 12), Gummarp runestone (DR 358), Lindholm amulet (DR 261), Straum whetstone (KJ 50), Ribe skull fragment (DR EM85; 151B), the Noleby runestone (KJ 67), and the Eggja runestone (N KJ 101). With a focus on deciphering the laws of magical semiosis, the study aims to establish objective criteria for assessing whether an inscription should be categorized as magical or non-magical, considering the unique environmental and worldview of the Runemaster. By employing Charles Sanders Peirce's phenomenological framework, the work establishes a foundational framework for understanding signs within the context of the Runemaster's world. It then delves into the complexities of the term "magic," challenging the notion that if something does not make sense, it must be attributed to magical forces. The study further explores the concept of runes and their numinous qualities, leading to a corpus chapter that applies the theories and methods adopted by the author throughout the research. This comprehensive exploration sheds light on the enigmatic world of magical communication in the Elder Futhark runic inscriptions, offering valuable insights into the beliefs and practices of the Runemaster's era.

This comprehensive study delves into the realm of magical communication revealed through the Elder Futhark runic inscriptions. It explores a diverse range of artifacts, including the Kragehul Spear Shaft (DR 196), Björketorp runestone (DR 360), the Horn(s) of Gallehus (DR 12), Gummarp runestone (DR 358), Lindholm amulet (DR 261), Straum whetstone (KJ 50), Ribe skull fragment (DR EM85; 151B), the Noleby runestone (KJ 67), and the Eggja runestone (N KJ 101). With a focus on deciphering the laws of magical semiosis, the study aims to establish objective criteria for assessing whether an inscription should be categorized as magical or non-magical, considering the unique environmental and worldview of the Runemaster. By employing Charles Sanders Peirce's phenomenological framework, the work establishes a foundational framework for understanding signs within the context of the Runemaster's world. It then delves into the complexities of the term "magic," challenging the notion that if something does not make sense, it must be attributed to magical forces. The study further explores the concept of runes and their numinous qualities, leading to a corpus chapter that applies the theories and methods adopted by the author throughout the research. This comprehensive exploration sheds light on the enigmatic world of magical communication in the Elder Futhark runic inscriptions, offering valuable insights into the beliefs and practices of the Runemaster's era.

Weight: 384g
Dimension: 225 x 150 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781433189555
Edition number: New ed