Træmanden fra Rude Eskilstrup og Søholtstaven - Attributter til den norrøne gudedyrkelse?

Abstract

The wooden man from Rude Eskilstrup, found in a bog, and the figurines from the wooden Søholt staff, found in a gravemound, have hitherto been dated to the Germanic Iron Age. These datings are crucial to the interpretation and has been a reference in dating of other figurines. The wooden man has parallels in male garments of 10th‒11th Century. It is argued that the wooden man is probably from the 10th century. If the new dating is correct, the find is most likely a statue of a pagan god, removed from a cultic building. The Søholt staff has parallels to staffs found in volva's graves from the 10th century and to face pendants from the Viking Age. Through these parallels, and parallels to the wooden man, the Søholt grave is interpreted as a volva's grave from the 10th Century. By comparison to Odins characteristics, it is suggested that both the wooden man and the figurines from Søholt could be representing Odin.