Brakteater och medaljongimitationer – romerska maktsymboler i en skandinavisk kontext

Abstract

This paper is called Bracteates and imitations of medallions - Roman power symbols in a Scandinavian context, and is about the use and functions of bracteates and imitations of medallions in life and death. The papers aim is to see what functions these objects had in life and death in Scandinavia, during the time periods of the Roman iron age and the Migration period. To investigate this, a collection of scientific papers was used to research two geographical areas of Scandinavia, regarding finds of bracteates in graves from the two periods. The geographical areas researched are Norway and Gotland. The archaeological finds of the two geographical areas are very different, so the conclusion is that local customs were clearly a factor in shaping rituals where bracteates were used. The finds suggest also that these objects were used for a variety of functions both in the land of the living and as objects to be laid down in graves. These objects probably also had combined functions depending on time period and context. One suggestion from this is that a bracteate could be used as a grave gift, but also at the same time an offering for the gods.