Arum, sword

Transliteration: cf. Kaiser (forthc.). The -æ- must be a Kompositionsfugenvokal. The d-rune is used to represent the þ (Looijenga 2003: 309). Translation: PN Pre-OFris edæ (< Gmc *aida) PN or appellative Pre-OFris boda (< Gmc *boda) (i) ‘for Ed [a-stem, dsm.], the messenger’ (ii) ‘for Ed [a-stem, dsm.], (from) Boda [the messenger]’ (iii) ‘(for) Eda [n-stem, nsf.], (from) Boda [the messenger cf. Kaiser (forthc.) further interpretations: return-messenger, 'oath-messenger' (Nielsen 1984: 17 nach von Grienberger (1910): 'renuntius') Nielsen 1984: Miscellanea Frisica; Nom. sing. masc. n-stem (Looijenga 2003: 309). Object type: The actual use of this object remains unclear; it is "unanimously identified as a miniature representation of a sword... An identification as a miniature imitation of a Frankish spatha was proposed by Boeles (1898/99:43, 1906:193, 1927:195, 1951:344-345), which is commonly accepted today, while Arntz/Zeiss (1939:111) consider a scramaseax of the 6th/7th centuries as model based on the long handgrip. Boeles and Arntz/Zeiss agree, however, on the purely symbolic function of the object; it was not intended for actual use as suggested by the material and the short handle.... Based on its size and perishable material wood, the sword could also have functioned as a child’s toy. ..the object may also have been used as a weaving-slay, which often formally resembled weapons or were made from reworked spathas (cp. Blanck-Burgess 1997:373-374). In this case, the object may have been viewed as a status-symbol, embellished with a runic inscription" (Kaiser forthc. s.v. ARUM); Looijenga considers a ceremonial function: "Possibly the little wooden sword served as a summons to gather at a session of the court.” (Looijenga 2003:309).