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Ugrik — Small Lunula
Published: 2011-04-20 20:07:33 +0000 UTC; Views: 1828; Favourites: 15; Downloads: 62
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Description
Lunula pendant. As name suggests the shape resembles moon. Such pendants have been common in many cultures around Europe and they come in many interesting designs and shapes. This one is based on one Estonian artefact - i may be wrong but it shoud date to 12th century. Often used in combination with other pendants and glass beads worn by women. Everyone is welcome to suggest why they wore moon shaped pendants - im pretty sure there were no muslims in Scandinavia and Baltics at that time.Related content
Comments: 15
I'm currently reading a book series by Johanne Hildebrandt, in which she's picture what she thought the culture was when the actual Aesir were alive. A sort of a fiction/fantasy trilogy.
She's based her musings on research, and combined the symbolism moon with early findings of goddess statuettes into the idea of some sort of moon goddess. Now, it's just MUSINGS rooted in facts, and by no means facts in themselves, but I thought I'd share. The deduction is quite intriguing, to say the least.
The books are very good (or at least I think so). I'd recommend picking them up if you like that kind of thing. First book in the series is called "Freya", I'm currently somewhere in the middle of the second book "Idun" (you might have to re-google her name though, I'm not sure this is actually what the books are called. My google keeps giving me all Swedish hits, sigh).
AND. The pendant looks really nice ^-^
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Thanx for such thorough comment. Its fairly easy to draw a connection between womanhood and moon and its common among many cultures i believe. I must say i have not heard from Johanne Hildebrandt but estonian is a small language and not everything gets translated. Orm the Red by Bengtsson being a rare exception
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Yes, the moon carries a lot of symbolism and has, at least, had a lot of influence in cultures. I wonder if the world, culturally speaking, would've been much different if we hadn't had a moon?
Oh, I have yet to finish Orm. One day I will.
I am pretty sure her books are available in English, maybe that would be something?
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Very similar ones were found in Rus in the viking age. And many, many more, though with a different patterns, were found in Great Moravia and Scandinavia mostly in IX-XI century. If you look for "lunulars" you'll find pretty many images and infos.
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I think they go all the way back to egypt and rome. Well - the symbol itself can be seen every month so its logical to assume it made an impression on the minds of craftsmen. The problem i refer is that christianity succeeded in rooting out and replacing much of the old traditions and folklore in Estonia.
BTW - you have nice gallery! And the faved pictures of Wolin - one day i hope to be there!
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Festival in Wolin is the best one you can visit, I hope to see you there then!
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Well see whether i have earned enough money to attend. I would love to participate in the battles there.
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Yesss, the battles there are the best I ever saw. Wish you luck then!
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Supposed connection between moon phases and women's fertility cycle?
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Good idea. I should check the grave data to see if they were worn only by adult women
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I've heard they were, but I can't point to any particular source...
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Connection of the moon with womanhood? I dunno. (Are they really stylised moons, or do they just happen to be vaguely moon-shaped and mean something else (if anything)?)
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Good point. And its fairly round - women tend to like round shapes and men more edgy ones
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No Muslims in Scandinavia in the 12th century? BLASPHEMY!!
Cool pendant though
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