Codex Runicus

The Codex Runicus is a 202 -page Code, which was written around 1300 in Scandinavian runes. It contains the oldest surviving Scandinavian state law, the Scanian Law ( Skånske lov ). The Codex Runicus is one of the few written on parchment runic texts and is under the signature AM 28 8vo now part of Arnamagnäanischen collection.

Execution

The initials of the manuscript are designed in different colors, headings (headings) in red.

From only other known Scandinavian runic manuscript of this period only a short fragment ( " SKB 120 A " ) is obtained. There is a Lament of Mary. Both manuscripts are similar both in the form of the runes and the language used. This suggests that they were written either by the same Scanian artists, or at least originated in the same scriptorium.

Content

The manuscript consists of three major parts: the Scanian Law ( fol. 1-82 ), the Scanian Ecclesiastical Law ( fol. 84-91 ) added a historic part with a chronicle of Danish kings of Frode I, the son of the legendary king Hadding, up to Erik VI. ( fol. 92-97 ) and a description of the Danish - Swedish border ( fol. 97-100 ).

The text of the first section of side 27r is for example:

The two legal texts were probably written by the same scribe, while the historical material of the Codex, was, probably added from sheet 92 at a later date by someone else.

Drømte mik en drøm i nat

On the last page of the manuscript there is a verse with notes ( neumes ) - the oldest musical notation, was found in Scandinavia. The interpretation is unclear.

The text reads:

" Drømde mik en drøm i nat to silki ok ærlik Pal "

" I dreamed a dream last night of silk and fine fur / legal and honest game "

The tune was a few years the pause signal at Danmarks Radio.