ALL THINGS RUNES
Professor Henrik Williams Lectures: April 15 & May 5, 2015
“Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll in Runic Times”
Wednesday, April 15 — reception 5:30 p.m., lecture 6:30 p.m.
It is hard to think of any human activity not revealed in runic inscriptions. The title of Ian Dury’s 1977 song illustrates just some of the aspects
we might think are only modern. But people will be people, as will be made clear in this exposé of a few perhaps unexpected phenomena
spelled out in runes, some more than 1,500 years old.
$5 per person; includes one drink.
Come early and enjoy light hors d’oeuvres. Cash bar available.
Museum admission must be purchased separately.
Registration is recommended. Register online at ASImn.org or call (612) 871-4907.
Professor Henrik Williams holds the professorship in Scandinavian Languages at Uppsala University. He is primarily a philologist, teaching and
doing research in runology, Old Swedish, and Old Icelandic. Professor Williams has authored numerous scholarly papers in both Swedish and
English and published a variety of pieces including a book on the language in Viking age Swedish runes stones, an edition of the Old Swedish
romance Haerra Ivan and major articles on the conversion of Sweden. Recently, he was awarded the Rudbeck medal for his ground-breaking
work in runology.
This program is made possible through the collaborative efforts of the American Swedish Institute, Uppsala University Alumni
Association-Minnesota Chapter, American Friends of Uppsala University, and the American Association for Runic Studies.
2600 Park Avenue
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Minneapolis, MN
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(612) 871-4907
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ASImn.org
Runes, Twitter, and the Vikings
Tuesday, May 5 — 9 – 10:15 a.m.
What are runes, these most enigmatic of characters? Even the
word rune itself is claimed to mean ‘mystery’. Enter the world
of runic inscriptions with its lively Pagans and pious Christians.
Learn about law makers, warriors, trade correspondence, death
poems, cryptograms, and autocrats. And above all, find out what
the Vikings have to say on their mighty rune stones.
The Karlevi Stone is found on
the island of Öland in Sweden.
It is a Viking age rune stone
and is one of the oldest known
Norse poems from around
1000 A.D.
$20 ASI members / $25 nonmembers / $5 for Minnesota
teachers and administrators currently teaching or working
in a school district. Includes museum admission.
Registration is required by April 29. Register online at ASImn.org
or call (612) 871-4907.
From Odin to Christ –
How Runes Speak of Religion
Tuesday, May 5 — 10:45 a.m. – noon
According to Norse myth, runes were invented by the god Odin,
and ancient runestones bear out this notion. The oldest runic
inscriptions and some later ones give us a glimpse of Pagans in
action. Most Viking Age runestones, however, are clearly Christian
and evidence a faith that is more advanced than has previously
been understood.
$20 ASI members / $25 nonmembers / $5 for Minnesota
teachers and administrators currently teaching or working
in a school district. Includes museum admission.
The Jelling Stone in the Jelling churchyard in Denmark.
Photo: National Museum of Denmark
Registration is required by April 29. Register online at ASImn.org
or call (612) 871-4907.
Runestones American Style
Tuesday, May 5 — 1:15 – 2:45 p.m.
Runic inscriptions on stone monuments and other objects are
often thought to exist only in Europe. Nevertheless, there are
runestones also in the United States, in larger numbers than most
would dream of. The story of Runic America is both entertaining
and important.
$30 ASI members / $35 nonmembers / $10 for Minnesota
teachers and administrators currently teaching or working in
a school district. Includes museum admission and refreshments.
Registration is required by April 29. Register online at ASImn.org
or call (612) 871-4907.
Professor Williams and Dr. Richard Nielsen inspecting the Heavener Rune Stone
in Heavener, Oklahoma.
Professor Williams’s classes on May 5 are made possible through the collaborative efforts of the American Swedish Institute,
Uppsala University, American Friends of Uppsala University and the American Association for Runic Studies.
3 Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) have been approved and will be available for educators attending all three classes on May 5.