Analysis and semantic interpretation of the Scandinavian ornament of the new early medieval war axe of the Volga-Kama type from the southern part of Republic of Moldova

Abstract

This study is devoted to the full-fledged introduction into scientific circulation of a unique early medieval iron war hatchet inlayed with silver originating from the southern steppe zone of the Dniester-Prut interfluve of present-day territory of Republic of Moldova. The ornamented battle axe of 10th–11th centuries was found near the village of Răzeni. The type of form of war axe from Răzeni is similar to type of war axes originated in the Middle Volga region, where there was a tradition of making similar ornamented war axes of this type. The main feature of the war ax from Răzeni is the Scandinavian ornament in Ringerike style. The semantics analysis of the ornamented motif and its interpretation — is one of the main tasks of this research work of the description and introduction of the unique find into scientific circulation. The image is interpreted as the tree of life Yggdrasil sprouting from the deck of the boat, which is worshiped by an anthropomorphic figure interpreted as a Viking. The present scientific work has widely direct and indirect analogies of Scandinavian origin from the Bronze to the Viking Age. The methodology of this research includes a deep and extensive comparative analysis of the motif elements on the surface of the war hatchet. The work makes a deep structural and semantic analysis in the broad context of ancient Germanic sources and previous scientific research on the worldview of the Vikings, reflected in their mythopoetic and mythological concepts and traditions. The ceremonial-battle axe from Răzeni was presumably made and ornamented in the Volga Bulgaria by order of a Viking-man, and then got in the borderland of Ancient Rus in the area of the Bugeac steppe of the Dniester-Prut interfluve of territory of present-day Republic of Moldova. The ceremonial-battle axe could have been brought in Bugeac steppe of the Dniester-Prut interfluve by means of circulation the international water arteries “from the Varangians to the Persians” along the Volga river, and “from the Varangians to the Greeks” along the Dniester river. The uniqueness of the ornamented war hatchet from Republic of Moldova is due to the fact that it is the first find of this type of axes in the Dniester-Prut interfluve of modern Republic of Moldova, and this axe no have direct analogies in eastern Europe. The early medieval ceremonial battle axe decorated with silver, contain the image of Old Norse cosmogonic representations in a stylized motif form on the surface of the hatchet. The unique item that captures the combination and interaction of different cultures at the junction of their intersection in the Medieval world.