Eskál Vell 13I/1 — silkis ‘of the silken’
Sjau fylkjum kom silkis
(snúnaðr vas þat) brúna
geymir grundar síma
grandvarr und sik (landi).
Grandvarr geymir síma silkis grundar brúna kom sjau fylkjum und sik; þat vas snúnaðr landi.
The damage-wary keeper of the silken band of the land of the brows [HEAD > HEADBAND > RULER] brought seven fylki under himself; that was a change for the better for the land.
readings
[1] silkis: fylkir 53, ‘sylkis’ 54, Bb
notes
[1, 2, 3] síma silkis grundar brúna ‘of the silken band of the land of the brows [HEAD > HEADBAND]’: Silk had been imported from Byzantium, and to a lesser extent from China, since the C8th (Mayerhofer 2005, 122-3). Clothing, headdresses, and headbands made of silk have been recovered from graves, especially in Birka (Sweden) and in Mammen (Jutland), in which decorative ornaments of silver, gold and silk are taken to have symbolized social standing (Hägg 1991; Hägg 2000, 619). The silk band worn by Hákon jarl must indicate high status, but it is uncertain whether it was specifically the emblem of a ruler (so Konráð Gíslason 1895-7, I, 120; Ohlmarks 1958, 371). KormǪ Sigdr 3/1III and Egill Arkv 19/1-4V (Eg 115) mention similar bands but do not resolve the issue.
kennings
- síma silkis grundar brúna — of the silken band of the land of the brows [HEADBAND]
- Grandvarr geymir síma silkis grundar brúna — The damage-wary keeper of the silken band of the land of the brows [RULER]