Swords in the rock
Today I decided to explore one of Stavanger's best-known memorials, the Sverd i fjell (Swords in the rock). I had noticed the symbol of three swords in various different places downtown, and it's actually the symbol of my institute, IRIS.
A little google-ing told me that Sverd i fjell is a memorial to the unification of Norway under one crown, that of Harald Fairhair, in 872. The tallest sword in the memorial stands for Harald, the victorious king, and the two smaller swords stand for the petty kings he defeated. The memorial also symbolizes peace, because the swords are stuck in the stone, never to be used again.
I'd like to go on about how cool it is to be in a country that can pinpoint its founding at 872 AD, but it's a bit more complicated than that. I'm learning that the Scandinavian countries were unified with and possessed by each other in various combinations throughout history. Norway was in fact owned by Denmark for about 400 years, and they didn't gain true independence back until 1814. My housemate, W, refers to this period as the "400-year night." Even after 1814, Norway was in a "personal union" with Sweden that didn't end until 1904.
I think these historical patterns of unification are a big reason why Scandinavian languages are so related. Norwegians, Swedes, and Danes can understand each other pretty darn well (well, if the Dane is enunciating), and Icelandic is actually Old Norwegian! For some reason, the language stayed in its old form in Iceland but diversified into a number of distinct dialects on the Norwegian mainland.
There are some things that you can only experience by being in a place, so I'm glad to experience the effects of Norwegian history!
 |
| Sverd i fjell, Stavanger |
I'd like to go on about how cool it is to be in a country that can pinpoint its founding at 872 AD, but it's a bit more complicated than that. I'm learning that the Scandinavian countries were unified with and possessed by each other in various combinations throughout history. Norway was in fact owned by Denmark for about 400 years, and they didn't gain true independence back until 1814. My housemate, W, refers to this period as the "400-year night." Even after 1814, Norway was in a "personal union" with Sweden that didn't end until 1904.
 |
| Monument to the memory of the unification of the kingdom in Hafrsfjord. Given by the Spare Bank Rogaland. Built by Fritz Roed. Inaugurated May 7, 1983 by His Majesty King Olav V. |
I think these historical patterns of unification are a big reason why Scandinavian languages are so related. Norwegians, Swedes, and Danes can understand each other pretty darn well (well, if the Dane is enunciating), and Icelandic is actually Old Norwegian! For some reason, the language stayed in its old form in Iceland but diversified into a number of distinct dialects on the Norwegian mainland.
There are some things that you can only experience by being in a place, so I'm glad to experience the effects of Norwegian history!
The victorious king, and the two smaller real swords stand for the petty kings he defeated.
ReplyDelete