Nordendorf fibula

The Nordendorf fibula is an early 7th century Alammanic fibula found in Nordendorf near Augsburg (Bavaria).

Inscription

Containing the names of Wodan, the chief god of the Alamanni, and Donar, the thunder god, the fibula bears the following Elder Futhark inscription:

:logaþorewodanwigiþonar

Which is usually interpreted as:

:"Logaþore Wodan Wigiþonar"

Logaþore

It would seem plausible for "logaþore" to be the name of another god, yielding a divine triad, but there is no obvious identification in surviving sources regarding Germanic paganism as we know it. Both Lóðurr and Loki have been proposed but the etymological reasoning is tenuous.

K. Düwel interprets "logaþore" as "magician, sorcerer", and translates "Wodan and Donar are magicians/sorcerers", which could indicate either an early Christian protective charm against the old gods, or, on the other hand, an invocation of the gods' beneficial or healing power by an adherent of the old faith.

The fibula's date falling precisely in the period of gradual Christianization of the Alamanni (the bishopric of Konstanz was established around AD 600), both possibilities are equally probable.

ee also

*Pforzen buckle