A Rune with a View: The Old Norse Inscriptions of Maes Howe, Orkney.

Chris Cooijmans will be speaking on the 22nd of October on the following exciting topic:

'A Rune with a View: The Old Norse Inscriptions of Maes Howe, Orkney'.

Orkney during the 1150s. Scandinavian travellers force their way into the Neolithic passage grave known as Maes Howe. During their stopover(s), a number of them carve a variety of runic inscriptions into the tomb's ancient walls, visible to this day. Some of these messages are eloquent, others cryptic, whilst a minority lack complexity and subtlety altogether. The Maes Howe runes have been and remain the subject of much scholarly debate. Who exactly carved them? What did they write, and why? This paper attempts to place the Maes Howe corpus in a proper socio-historical context, whilst painting a picture of horror, treasure and surprisingly unromantic escapades.

This will take place on Monday 22nd October at 6:15pm in the Geddes Room, Minto House, 20 Chambers Street

See for more details:http://www.facebook.com/events/245335735589750/