In the third session of Carl Abrahamsson’s lecture series on Nordic magical runes, the focus is on Sigurd Agrell’s theories regarding the interplay between Scandinavian rune magic and Greco-Roman influences. The session delves into Agrell’s works, particularly his books “Cryptographic Riddles of the Rök Stone and Other Runological Problems” (1930) and “Mystery Religion in Late Antiquity and Nordic Rune Magic” (1931). Agrell’s scholarship emphasizes the complex relationship between Scandinavians and the Greco-Roman world, particularly in the context of rune stones, such as the renowned Rök Stone erected in Östergötland, Sweden, in the early ninth century.
The Rök Stone is distinguished by its intricate inscription, which has been interpreted through various lenses over the years, initially focusing on genealogical readings. Historically, it was thought to memorialize Varinn’s son, Vämod, but Agrell challenged this perspective by suggesting that the stone’s inscriptions are not only genealogical but also deeply magical. He posits that the runes serve a dual purpose: to honor the deceased and to establish a connection with the divine, particularly Odin, the god of magic.
