A CHILLING message inscribed in ancient runes on a 2.5m high slab of granite has been cracked after 1,200 years – and it appears to predict climate change. Scientists now believe the coded script on the Viking stone could be referring to a “battle with the weather”. The runes on the stone are coded, hiding […]
A CHILLING message inscribed in ancient runes on a 2.5m high slab of granite has been cracked after 1,200 years – and it appears to predict climate change.
Scientists now believe the coded script on the Viking stone could be referring to a “battle with the weather”.
The runes on the stone are coded, hiding nine riddles.
A team of researchers led by Professor Per Holmberg at the University of Gothenburg have become the latest in a slew of academics to tackle the weird writing.
And according to their findings, published in the science journal Futharc: International Journal of Runic Studies, the code talks about some mysterious weather conditions that followed a warrior king’s death.
The de-coded message talks of “Theodoric the Great,…who, nine generations ago, lost life to the East but still reigns”.
During the Dark Ages, Theodoric’s reign was regarded as a bad omen.
Following his death a spate of volcanic eruptions left Europe in darkness, disease and famine spread and crops failed.
In fact, AD536 is regarded as “the worst year to be alive”.
A FULL translation of the stone's inscription, with riddles explained
After Vamoth stand these runes. And Varin, the father, made them after the death-doomed son
Let us say this as a memory for Odin, which spoils of war there were two, which twelve times were taken as spoils of war, both from one to another?
RIDDLE EXPLAINED: This signals the sun and moon’s monthly battle over lunar light
This let us say as second, who nine generations ago lost the life in the east but still decides the matter?
Ride the horse did the bold champion, chief of men, over the eastern horizon. Now he sits armed on his horse, his shield strapped, foremost of the famous
RIDDLE EXPLAINED: The story of a wolf killing the sun after a new sun is birthed, the ‘horse’ signifies the rising sun’s ‘ride’ and depicts the great star with a shield
Let us say this as a memory for Odin, who because of a wolf has suffered through a woman’s sacrifice?
RIDDLE EXPLAINED: The wolf kills the sun
This let us say as twelfth, where the wolf sees food on the battlefield, where twenty kings lie?
RIDDLE EXPLAINED: Here, the stone refers to the battlefield of Ragnarok where ‘twenty kings lie,’ pointing to the final struggle on the battlefield
This let us say as thirteenth, which twenty kings were on the vast battlefield, of four names, born of four brothers? Five Valkis, sons of Rathulf, five Hraithulfs, sons of Rogulf, five Haisls, sons of Haruth, five Gunnmunds, sons of Bern
And for Odin a memory … (partially unreadable)
RIDDLE EXPLAINED: This discusses the warriors preparing for the battlefield, where five kings accompany King Erik in the battle against the wolf
Let us say a memory for Odin, dare!
[Who is] a protector of sanctuaries for a brother?
RIDDLE EXPLAINED: This talks about the sun’s brother, the moon, who returns to his sanctuary when the sun sets
[Whom] does the wolf redden with blood?
RIDDLE EXPLAINED: The wolf reddens the ‘abodes of the gods’ with blood after he kills the sun
Let us say a memory for Odin to the young man, to whom is born an offspring? It is not a lie
RIDDLE EXPLAINED: This refers to Odin’s son, Vithar
[Who] could beat a giant? It is not a lie
RIDDLE EXPLAINED: This refers to Odin’s son again, vithar who kills the wolf and restores balance
Clash!
That year, Scandanavia lost 50 per cent of its population – either due to starvation or fleeing the region in search of food and the terrible tales of misery across the continent remained ingrained in lore.
The scientists now believe that another Viking warrior, born three-hundred years (or nine generations) later, named Varin had heeded these omens and began spotting them in the sky around the time his son died.
As leaders in Viking society were thought to have an influence over crop control, Varin was terrified another period of weird weather could lead to failed harvests and his stint at the top could come to a bloody end.
Before Varin’s son was struck down in battle, a solar storm turned the sky red, a solar eclipse saw the sun briefly disappear and a particularly cold winter saw some crops fail.
So, when Varin crafted the stone as a tribute to his son, he hid the warnings about strange weather, and the chaos it will bring, deep in the ruins.
And with much of Australia on fire, burning through koala breeding grounds and turning the sky an apocalyptic shade of red – could he be right?
And this winter hasn’t been particularly cold – in fact we saw the hottest December day ever as temperatures hit 18.7C up in the Scottish Highlands, but could that be an omen too?
