Drachengold. Schatzfunde des Nordens im ersten Jahrtausend n. Chr.
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Alexandra Pesch
Abstract
Do the huge, dragon-guarded gold treasures of the European heroic tales have real prototypes in the archaeological find material? In fact, many hoards from precious metal, discovered both by accident and under excavations, seem to prove their former owners as rich and powerful and as possible models of later heroes. But the quality of these finds might be a matter of discussion: they can hardly be taken as ensembles collected in a systematic and sensible way, with a specific purpose, and little specifies them as the royal treasures described in medieval texts. However, these hoards bear witness to princely people and to dominions, which mostly are forgotten today. Even the stories that have been connected with the objects, passed down from one generation to another and making the objects into historical documents in the eyes of their owners, are likely only in the smallest part transmitted into written sources. A different kind of treasure are the image representations of many of the pieces: They do show parts of the former thoughts and the religious ideas of those humans, whose descendants finally have recorded the last remnants of broad ancient oral traditions, as legends, myths, and fairy tales.
Abstract
Do the huge, dragon-guarded gold treasures of the European heroic tales have real prototypes in the archaeological find material? In fact, many hoards from precious metal, discovered both by accident and under excavations, seem to prove their former owners as rich and powerful and as possible models of later heroes. But the quality of these finds might be a matter of discussion: they can hardly be taken as ensembles collected in a systematic and sensible way, with a specific purpose, and little specifies them as the royal treasures described in medieval texts. However, these hoards bear witness to princely people and to dominions, which mostly are forgotten today. Even the stories that have been connected with the objects, passed down from one generation to another and making the objects into historical documents in the eyes of their owners, are likely only in the smallest part transmitted into written sources. A different kind of treasure are the image representations of many of the pieces: They do show parts of the former thoughts and the religious ideas of those humans, whose descendants finally have recorded the last remnants of broad ancient oral traditions, as legends, myths, and fairy tales.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Vorwort V
- Inhaltsverzeichnis VII
- Einleitung: Gold in der Heldensage 1
- Drachengold. Schatzfunde des Nordens im ersten Jahrtausend n. Chr. 13
- Schätze voller Armringe aus Kaisergold und Goldgriffschwerter aus der Halle des Kaisers. Erinnerungen an die Sachkultur der Völkerwanderungszeit in der Heldendichtung des Mittelalters? 35
- Sagenhafte Schatzfunde bei Gregor, Fredegar, Paulus Diaconus und anderen. Narrative von der Entstehung und Rechtfertigung von Schätzen 51
- Gold and the heathen polity in Beowulf 72
- The Gold in Beowulf and the Currencies of Fame 115
- Held und Gold. Zu Stellenwert und Funktion von Metallen im Heldenepos 142
- Was sind goldene Waffen wert? 174
- Gold und Gebärde. Zur Funktion herrschaftlicher Prachtentfaltung in heldenepischen Texten 188
- Der Ring Andvaranaut und sein Fluch 233
- Draupnir, Andvaranaut und die freigiebigen Ringgeber. Zum Symbolgehalt von Ringen im Altnordischen 246
- Milli skriptanna, spengr af gulli. On the Conversion of Gold and other Valuables in Sagas and Skaldic Poetry 264
- Die Metamorphosen des roten Goldes. Narratologie, Semantik und Semiotik von Gold (und Silber) in der Hrólfs saga kraka und anderen Texten der altwestnordischen Heldenepik 275
- Das Gold der römischen Kaiser 300
- Register 331
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Vorwort V
- Inhaltsverzeichnis VII
- Einleitung: Gold in der Heldensage 1
- Drachengold. Schatzfunde des Nordens im ersten Jahrtausend n. Chr. 13
- Schätze voller Armringe aus Kaisergold und Goldgriffschwerter aus der Halle des Kaisers. Erinnerungen an die Sachkultur der Völkerwanderungszeit in der Heldendichtung des Mittelalters? 35
- Sagenhafte Schatzfunde bei Gregor, Fredegar, Paulus Diaconus und anderen. Narrative von der Entstehung und Rechtfertigung von Schätzen 51
- Gold and the heathen polity in Beowulf 72
- The Gold in Beowulf and the Currencies of Fame 115
- Held und Gold. Zu Stellenwert und Funktion von Metallen im Heldenepos 142
- Was sind goldene Waffen wert? 174
- Gold und Gebärde. Zur Funktion herrschaftlicher Prachtentfaltung in heldenepischen Texten 188
- Der Ring Andvaranaut und sein Fluch 233
- Draupnir, Andvaranaut und die freigiebigen Ringgeber. Zum Symbolgehalt von Ringen im Altnordischen 246
- Milli skriptanna, spengr af gulli. On the Conversion of Gold and other Valuables in Sagas and Skaldic Poetry 264
- Die Metamorphosen des roten Goldes. Narratologie, Semantik und Semiotik von Gold (und Silber) in der Hrólfs saga kraka und anderen Texten der altwestnordischen Heldenepik 275
- Das Gold der römischen Kaiser 300
- Register 331
