#Öland Island

[ancestorsalive]

The grave of a völva, a female shaman and seer in Norse mythology, was discovered in Köpingsvik, on the Swedish island of Öland. This grave contained several intriguing artifacts that provide insight into the völva’s role and status in Viking society.

One of the most notable items found in the grave is an iron staff that measures 82 centimeters long. This staff is adorned with bronze details and features a unique model of a house on top. The term “völva” translates to “wand carrier” or “carrier of a magic staff” in Old Norse, indicating the significance of this artifact. The staff or wand was an important accessory in the practice of seid, a type of sorcery practiced in Norse society during the Late Scandinavian Iron Age.

In addition to the staff, the grave contained a jug from Central Asia and a bronze cauldron from Western Europe. These items suggest that the völva had connections to far-reaching places and was likely a part of the upper strata of society.

The völva was dressed in bear fur and was buried within a ship setting, or stone ship, which also contained sacrificed animals and humans. This type of burial is indicative of the völva’s high status and the reverence with which she was regarded.

These findings are on display in the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm. - Source: Pagan Trader ThePaganTrader.com

[wgm-beautiful-world]

BORGHOLM CASTLE - SWEDEN

[autismvampyre]

on vacation. öland. its raining

[michaelnordeman]

Random impressions of the northern parts of the island of Öland, Sweden (September 30-October 1, 2024).

[skamenglishsubs]

Subtext and Culture, Young Royals, Season 3, Episode 6

Out here in the real world it's been a week since the cliffhanger ending of episode 5 where Simon broke up with Wilhelm, but in-universe it's just the next day, and Wilhelm is being comforted by Felice.

Subtext: This entire episode is incredibly meta, there are so many times characters say things that reference earlier seasons or episodes, or the entire series as a whole. This is the first time, and Felice is saying what we're all thinking. IS IT REALLY OVER?!? 😱

Blink and you miss it: Felice gives Wilhelm her sunglasses and dries his tears so he can hide the fact that he's been crying. Also, look at that gorgeous Swedish summer. It is so pretty.

Culture: The third-years are painting the banners that go on the trucks on graduation day.

Culture: They're also signing each others' student hats, which is a common tradition. You can just sign your name or write something funny or do whatever.

Culture: This car is what we in Sweden call a sossecontainer. It's an old 90's Volvo, it's square, it's ugly, and it was pretty cheap and reliable, so it was very common and popular among working class and the lower middle classes. It was never a high-status car, so it perfectly illustrates the Eriksson family.

Subtext: Oh look, another throwback to season 1 when Sara argued with Simon about their dad, and said that he should stop giving people second chances.

Culture: Oh look, another poem by Karin Boye. This time it's Eternity, a poem about cherishing your time with your loved one, and the text is about how good times feel like an endless summer, which is what it certainly looks like for the kids and their teacher in the lush landscape. But just like in the poem, their endless summer is about to end.

Culture: This is pretty much exactly the reason used when real-world Lundsberg was temporarily closed.

Culture: And Wilhelm isn't wrong, the shitty traditions are in the walls of the place, it's always been like that, and it's always been upheld by everyone involved with the school, parents, teachers, staff, and students.

Subtext: Since this is the last episode, let's prepare the viewers to say good bye to the show, and let's do it with a little montage of students crying and taking their stuff down and emptying their rooms.

Culture: This is a 100% factually true statement, Göteborg is the worst city in the world. Source: I'm a native Stockholmer, and you just have to trust me on this, ok? Look, it's just common sense, alright? Don't listen to people from Göteborg, they're just jealous they're not living in the glorious capital. Also, they talk funny. And they have no sense of humour! And everyone is named Glenn or something.

Culture: I don't think they're referencing an actual school here, and the current Norwegian royal children went to school in Norway, not Switzerland. But the current Danish crown prince went to some boarding school in Switzerland for a while, but then he went to the Danish elite boarding school Herlufsholm. However, it was rocked by a bullying scandal in 2022, so they had to pull him out of that one and deny all knowledge of the events. Feels familiar?

Culture: Solliden is the private summer palace of the real-world Swedish royal family located on Öland, an island off the south-east coast of Sweden. The show has consistently stayed away from every likeness with the real world, but I guess they couldn't be arsed making up a fictional summer palace for the YR royal family so they went with something familiar.

Subtext: Farima is talking about the problems of finding a new school for Wilhelm from an academic perspective, but he's just thinking about how this means he won't be close to Simon any longer.

Culture: Vincent and the boys are pouring one out for Hillerska. It's a way to toast a dead friend, or in this case, a place.

Blink and you miss it: August places a king chess piece on the table before telling his friends that he's Wilhelm's reserve and might be king someday.

Subtext: And he's still so blinded by the glamour of it, despite everything. Thankfully, his friends can bring him down a couple of pegs.

Blink and you miss it: While Wilhelm is returning Kris, the book from last season, the second book in the pile is a book by Kjell Westö, Den Svavelgula Himlen - Yellow Sulphur Sky. It's about a working class kid in Finland becoming friends with his upper-class neighbour family, and his struggle maintaining a relationship with the girl of the family because of their class differences. Slightly on the nose there, show.

Meta: Henry interrupting our boys at the worst possible time is just a running joke at this point. How many times has it happened now? Four times? Five? Read the fucking room, Henry!

Subtext: Last chance to have a party together, but also last chance to see Simon, "maybe ever". Oh no, we have to start preparing for a sad ending!

Culture: Red solo cups are not a thing anywhere outside the US really, but you can buy them as a gag gift in Sweden, because to us they're just a weird movie prop we've seen American movies. Every other party scene in the show has featured regular plastic cups.

Culture: Drinking with the teachers?!? Yeah, sure, why not, everyone is an adult.

Subtext: Emo outfit? ✅ Sitting on the floor? ✅ Full of self-pity? ✅ Exaggerating the catastrophic state of his world in the way only a 17yo disaster boy can do? ✅

Meta: Another throwback to how Wilhelm was referred to as the party prince back in season 1.

Blink and you miss it: Felice hides the wine bottle behind her back before Malin comes in. She knows, Felice. Malin knows everything.

Meta: Another throwback to when Wilhelm was eating the dirt at the very same football field that disaster emo boy Simon is now sitting at together with his friends, who are trying to convince him to go to the final party.

Subtext: This time, August isn't just sorry that he got caught, he is genuinely sorry for everything he did to Wilhelm. He in turn forgives August, and we're all getting closure for this plot point.

Meta: Hey, hey, hey guys, do you remember that scene in season 1 episode 1 when Sara helped hold Felice's hair while she was throwing up? We're doing a throwback here!

Meta: Hey, hey, hey guys, do you remember that scene in season 1 episode 3 when Felice told Sara that maybe you don't have to speak the truth all the time? Well, Sara still doesn't understand why you would lie, but this time she's right, Felice was right to tell the truth.

Blink and you miss it: Stella and Fredrika are making out at the party, Felice saw it, and is making a very funny face. This is also why Stella rudely rejects Rosh, because of course she's gonna choose Fredrika, Rosh was just a distraction to make her jealous.

Subtext: Vincent is talking about Nils, who just came out, but August just saw Sara, and that's the whoever he wants.

Subtext: But despite saying that he doesn't care about anyone else seeing them, he still ducked behind a stack of pallets for this conversation.

Meta: This is a brutal Fleabag reference.

Cinematography: This scene is overwhelmingly lit in that sickly greenish fluorescent hue, but there's golden light coming from somewhere, so Sara and August share one final kiss in that golden light. But there's not enough of it to go around, not enough for their love to last, so August is left standing there alone, and all the golden light is gone.

Cinematography: Wilhelm and Simon left the party sometime after midnight, this is supposed to be a very early morning summer sunrise, and our boys are just gonna be bathed in the golden light throughout the entire scene. Gods, it is pretty.

Meta: Hey, hey, remember that scene in season 1 when Simon was singing that song, and Wilhelm instantly fell for him?

Meta: Hey guys, remember that scene in season 1 when they were discussing welfare politics in class and Simon threw shade on Wilhelm? This is a throwback to that.

Cinematography: Just fucking look at this shit. What a nice view. The nature and the sunrise is pretty, too! Going naked into the water? Yeah, that's a rebirth metaphor as well. Lisa said so!

Subtext: This entire scene is basically Wilhelm trying one last time to get Simon back. They said they weren't gonna, but he's trying anyway. They're talking about that politics class where Wilhelm couldn't speak up because he was "not allowed". So he's still bound by his royal duties, which is why Simon broke up with him last episode.

Subtext: And since Wilhelm is still stuck, he's left on dry land, while Simon swims away from him, free. Guys, I'm thinking we're actually gonna get a sad ending! This does not look good! 😭

Blink and you miss it: Stella and Fredrika are sleeping in the same bed and making out the morning after, and millions of #Stedrika shippers are rejoicing! Yay, fanservice!

Blink and you miss it: Walter is helping Henry up after he passed out in the grass outside after the party, and millions of #Walty shippers are rejoicing! Yay, fanservice!

Subtext: The last photo Wilhelm takes down from his wall is the one with him and Simon, because that's the most important memory of this place.

Blink and you miss it: Wilhelm shuts off his red lightstrip in his room. Those lights have typically been a symbol of his love for Simon, but he's turning it off. Sad ending confirmed.

Meta: Listen, it's a lovely little song that Simon wrote for Wilhelm, but it's 100% fanservice, it's referencing events in the show that Simon actually didn't witness, and it's even referencing the soundtrack to the show itself! I mean, come on! And we're getting yet another sad boy Wilhelm montage of him moping around Hillerska with his earbuds.

Subtext: Remember how the frog snowglobe was a gift from Erik, who in turn got it from their grandpa, the king? It's so obviously a symbol of the monarchy, but Wilhelm is dumping it in the trash. Are we... Are we not getting a sad ending?

Cinematography: The shot of the flag being raised is cut off at half mast, which is a pretty universal symbol for mourning. Oh ok, we're back on track for a sad ending.

Subtext: This is the first time this season that Simon speaks Spanish with his mom, and the first time in the entire series that Sara does, which shows that they're fully themselves again, they've pulled themselves out of the Hillerska world.

Culture: The graduating students are having a champagne breakfast before the graduation ceremony, that's also very common in Sweden.

Subtext: Felice and the rest of the choir decided to have a little rebellion and not sing the boring old Hillerska song, and instead the new improved one that Simon made last season. No-one told him about the switch though, which is why he's so surprised.

Culture: After the ceremony, the graduating students will run out of the school to find their parents and family and friends, who are waiting for them, usually with a big sign with the most embarrassing baby picture they could find of them.

Blink and you miss it: August's mom and stepdad have also made a huge sign with an embarrassing picture of August Malte as a kid. Adorable.

Lost in translation: The queen is saying "lilla gubben", which literally means "little old man", a very common term of endearment in Swedish families. The show has been pretty consistent in that Wilhelm's family are all using normal words, just like any other family would. So it's pretty funny that despite everyone else using titles and styles all the time, to Wilhelm, his parents are simply "mamma" and "pappa", as if he was a regular kid.

Subtext: As a graduating student you get little gifts from your family, flowers, champagne, stuffed animals, all with a blue-and-yellow ribbon so you can hang them around your neck. August is family, so the Queen gives him one as well. Of a frog with a crown. Which is a symbol of the monarchy in the show. Wilhelm threw his frog in the trash, August is getting a frog from the Queen. I think there might be symbolism here! I think we're setting up August to become the next king! Do we dare hope for a happy ending?

Cinematography: Just fucking look at this shit. The composition, the contrast, the height difference, the distance between them. It's so pretty. And they're talking about how good it was while it lasted, just like how a TV show with a sad ending can still be an amazing experience. Hint hint.

Subtext: We're saying our goodbyes, Wilhelm and Simon are saying goodbye to each other, Wilhelm wishes Simon a nice summer, just like how Simon wished Wilhelm a good Christmas back in season 1, and just like back then, they both understand that they love each other, but can't be together.

Cinematography: And then Simon exits the scene, again, leaving Wilhelm standing there alone, again, having seemingly chosen his family and royal duty.

Culture: It's common to either rent a truck as a large group of students, or to be driven in a flashy car alone or with a friend. The two girls in the centre are sitting in a very nice Aston Martin, while a bunch of their classmates are on a truck. I can't make out the full text on the banner, but I think it says something like "Lock up your sons because tonight we become like animals".

Culture: Svensson is a very common Swedish last name, so to "be a Svensson" basically means that you're super average and mediocre, you're like everyone else. Whereas these elite kids are used to having everyone else bow and scrape for them, so that message is on brand.

Cinematography: We're in the car, it looks like the ending of season 1, and we're doing a close-up of Wilhelm's face. We're ready for the fourth-wall-break of him staring sadly into the camera, having been once again broken down by the system and not getting the boy. We've said goodbye to everyone, roll the credits, start your crying...

Cinematography: ...except the show isn't ending here. We're having an honest conversation between Wilhelm and his parents for the first time. Because every other time he's said that he doesn't want to be crown prince of the next king, he's been angry or upset, he's been threatening, and definitely impulsive. But he's never wanted any of it.

Cinematography: His parents let him go, they open the door to their van, Wilhelm exits, and the show turns up the volume of the soundtrack. "Energetic music" my ass, it's the Harmony theme! It's the main theme of the entire show playing as Wilhelm runs away.

Subtext: Oh, yeah, August sees him run away, and understands that he's next in line now. Sorry buddy, sucks to be you, but never mind that now. RUN, WILHELM, RUN!!! GET YOUR MAN!

Cinematography: The shows turns into the most perfect rom-com, with Wilhelm chasing down Simon's car through the incredibly lush and green Swedish summer. He catches up to them, tells Simon that he ditched the crown for his own sake, and asks if it's really over between them.

VAD FAN TROR DU?

As if the soundtrack wasn't triumphant enough, it now starts playing As Long As you Are Here as they throw themselves in each other's arms. Happy ending! They're crying, I'm crying, we're all crying! 😭

Cinematography: A montage? With all the best scenes between our boys from the entire show? With the text of the soundtrack perfectly matching the montage? I should be outraged at how cheesy this is, but it is perfect. Perfect. I love it. I swear, this fucking show.

Subtext: Finally we are at the true ending of the show. Wilhelm has managed to escape Hillerska, him and Simon and Sara and Felice have all escaped the hierarchies, the expectations, the duties, and the toxic environment of the school. He arrived in a Ferrari, and is now running away with his boyfriend and friends in a crappy Volvo station-wagon. The stiff suit jackets are gone, they're all in white, his hair is ruffled in the wind, and for the last time ever Wilhelm looks into the camera. And he smiles.

He is finally free.

[fishyfishyfishtimes]

I don't mean to alarm, but in the Sirpaverse major islands of the inner Baltic like Gotland, Åland, Saaremaa and Öland are probably owned by the Kingdom of Osmeri. Don't worry about it! Don't, uh. Don't ask what Osmeri was doing with Sweden in the middle of the last millennium

[ltwilliammowett]

Naval battle off the island of "Öland" in 1676, by Vladimir Mikhailovich Mikhailovsky, 2005 

[xavierbautistagarcia]

The slaughter of Sandby Borg

Sandby Borg is an archaeological site on the island of Öland in south-eastern Sweden. It is a fortified settlement dating from the late Roman period, around the 5th century AD. The site has gained notoriety due to its tragic history and the remarkable state of preservation of the archaeological finds.

It was a small fortified settlement, known in English as a ringfort because of its circular structure. Such forts were common in Scandinavia during the migration period, used mainly for protection. The fortress at Sandby Borg consisted of a stone wall surrounding several houses and communal spaces.

The site was discovered in the late 20th century, but systematic excavations began in 2010. Archaeologists quickly found evidence of a violent event that would have occurred around 480.

The remains of at least 26 individuals, including men, women and children, were found at the site, many in positions indicating a sudden and violent death. Investigations suggest that the inhabitants of Sandby Borg were massacred, possibly by a rival group, and that the site was abandoned immediately after the attack.

Among the most important finds at Sandby Borg are valuables such as gold jewellery, brooches, Roman coins, glass beads and household items. These finds indicate that the community had access to luxury goods and was well connected to trade networks that extended into the Roman Empire.

The Sandby Borg site offers a unique window into the life and tragedies of Scandinavian communities during the migration period. Evidence suggests that the attack was premeditated and that the attackers did not loot the site, making the event an even greater mystery. This site is one of the few archaeological examples where a virtually intact crime scene from antiquity has been found, providing valuable information about the social dynamics and conflicts of the time.

Sandby Borg continues to be the subject of archaeological study and is an important source for understanding the history of pre-Viking Scandinavia, as well as the complex interactions between communities in the region during a turbulent period in its history.

[calmasyoghurt]

I would like to share a thought with the very small group of people who will understand me. This line in everybody's waiting:

For you to shine like a light house after all

There is a triangle connection between that line, Jan Peteh, and the south tip of Öland, Sweden's second largest island

[royal-hair]

Queen Silvia of Sweden at the Swedish Royal Vintage Rally 2023 on the island of Öland - 26.08.23

[bookmyride01]

Where do people in Sweden travel during the summer?

Many Swedes visit the archipelagos close to Gothenburg and Stockholm in the summer to take advantage of the island life, boating, and natural surroundings. Because of their beaches and historical monuments, Gotland and Öland are popular destinations. Another favorite is Dalarna, which is well-known for its picturesque scenery and Midsummer celebrations. In addition, a lot of Swedes travel north to Lapland to hike and see the midnight sun. Gothenburg and Malmö are interesting cities for weekend trips. Don't forget to utilize the Book My Ride app, which allows you to compare and locate all taxis in Sweden—including Stockholm—to make traveling easier!

[head-post]

Sweden to ban fishing for Champagne bottles near a 19th-century shipwreck

No one will be permitted to fish out the nearly 100 bottles of 19th century Champagne and mineral water in a shipwreck off southern Sweden without proper authorisation, according to AP News.

Although the wreck’s location has been known since 2016 and registered with Sweden’s National Antiquities Office’s cultural environment, Polish divers discovered the treasure cargo only on 11 July.

The ship wreck, which is about 58 metres (190 feet) deep off the coast of the southern Swedish county of Blekinge, was discovered by divers as they were inspecting locations of interest about 37 kilometres south of the Swedish island of Öland in the Baltic Sea.

According to the leader of the wreck divers Tomasz Stachura, wine and water experts swiftly contacted the divers and proceeded to run laboratory tests on the bottles’ contents. However, Swedish authorities took a firm stance and labelled the wreck “an ancient relic,” which the county stated required “a clear and strong protection” to remain intact. Magnus Johansson, a county official, said on Wednesday:

You must not damage the ancient remains, which also includes taking items from the wreck, e.g. champagne bottles, without permission from the county. The champagne bottles are a fantastically well-preserved find that gives us a snapshot of shipping and life on board at the end of the 19th century.

If the wreckage predates 1850, it would automatically be listed as an ancient relic, local authorities announced. Daniel Tedenlind, a county official in neighbouring Kalmar, stated:

But we have established that the cultural and historical values of the wreck were so high that it should be declared as an ancient relic.

Previously, Stachura said the cargo might have been on its way to the royal table in Stockholm or to the Russian Tsar’s residence in St Petersburg when the ship sank sometime in the second half of the 19th century.

Read more HERE

[nordicganja]

Is policing negatively affecting festivals in your country, similar to what is happening in Sweden?

[visualpoett]

A wolf-being and a horned warrior, on a bronze plate found in the island of Öland, Sweden.

[spottinghistory]

Historic site of the week: Gettlinge

Gettlinge, a village in the southwest of Öland, Sweden, is renowned for its Viking stone ship burial ground, a part of the UNESCO-designated Stora Alvaret. The burial site, dating from 1000 BC to 1000 AD, features Bronze Age barrows and Viking stone ship burials, with some standing stones predating the Viking era, offering valuable insights into the region's ancient history.

[schorschidk]

6.500 km per Fahrrad zum Nordkap und zurück – digitale Multivisions-Show mit Reinhard Pantke am 27. Oktober 2023 um 19:30 Uhr in der Wandelhalle Bad Harzburg

2022 legte der Globetrotter Reinhard Pantke auf dem Weg von Norddeutschland zum Nordkap über 6.500 km per Fahrrad zurück. Auf drei verschiedenen Reisen führte sein Weg innerhalb von 5 Monaten durch vier nordische Länder. Der Reisejournalist radelte nur mit Muskelkraft und 35 kg Gepäck getreu dem Motto "der Weg ist das Ziel" auf vielen schönen Nebenstrecken abseits der Hauptrouten und erkundete dabei einige der schönsten Gegenden Skandinaviens. Die Bilder und Filme dieser Reise werden am Freitag, den 27.10. um 19:30 Uhr in der Wandelhalle Bad Harzburg gezeigt. Sie werden mitgenommen auf eine unvergessliche Reise durch Skandinavien - das erwartet Sie: Die Fahrradtour begann im Mai auf der "Herrenhausroute", die über die frühlingshaften dänischen Inseln Fünen und Langeland führte, es ging vorbei an zahlreichen Landhäusern und Schlössern nach Ostschweden. Dort radelte er entlang der Ostküste mit kurzen Abstechern auf die Inseln Öland und Gotland langsam nordwärts. Von den finnischen Åland Inseln, fuhr er über 1.000 km durch Finnland in die einsamen Weiten Lapplands, Finnlands und Norwegens, wo er nicht nur atemberaubende, menschenleere Naturlandschaften mit wilden Berglandschaften, wilden Rentieren und riesigen Vogelkolonien sah, sondern am Ende der Welt viele interessante und ungewöhnliche Menschen traf. Gut die Hälfte des Vortrags befasst sich mit Norwegen: Vom Nordkap aus geht es über 2.500 km durch Norwegen zumeist entlang der Küsten, gezeigt werden unter anderem Bilder und Filme von den norwegischen Lofoten, der vielfältigen Straße 17, die zurecht als eine der schönsten Küstenstraßen der Welt gilt und Teilen des norwegischen Fjordlandes. Der Globetrotter zieht mit seinen interessanten und witzigen Erzählungen Zuschauer/innen in seinen Bann und bringt Ihnen eine Langzeitreise per Fahrrad näher. Der Mammuttrip endete mit herbstlichen Impressionen aus Dalsland und Värmland und wird ergänzt durch einige Winterbilder aus Nordschweden.

Wie immer bekommen Besucher/innen dieser live und locker kommentierten Multivisionsshow nicht nur Fernweh garantiert, sondern erhalten viele wertvolle Tipps und Informationen für eigene Reisen nach Norden. Weitere Informationen, Tipps und Bilder unter www.reinhard-pantke.de

Zur Person: Der Globetrotter Reinhard Pantke (Jahrgang 67) erlebt seine Reiseziele grundsätzlich nur mit Fahrrad und Rucksack. Neben Fahrradtouren durch Norwegen (17x), Schweden, Island (3x), Schottland, England, Neuseeland (3x) und einigen Südseeinseln und den Kanaren war er auch in Kanada und Alaska unterwegs. Im Verlauf dieser Touren legte er in den letzten Jahren insgesamt 220.000 km per Fahrrad zurück. Neben Artikeln in regionalen und überregionalen Zeitungen und Magazinen, Kalendern, Buchbeiträgen und Ausstellungen ist Reinhard Pantke vielerorts präsent. In den Jahr 2009 und 2018 hatte der Abenteurer bereits Kanada von Westen nach Osten durchquert.

Im Sommer 2012 radelte Pantke von Vancouver nach Anchorage. In Planung sind weitere Touren durch Südamerika und Asien. Im Sommer 2014 radelte der Globetrotter das erste Mal von Braunschweig zum Nordkap. Im Jahr 2022 ein zweites Mal. 2019 war er ausnahmsweise mal ohne Fahrrad über drei Monate mit Schiff und Rucksack in Grönland auf eigene Faust unterwegs.

Tickets sind in der Tourist-Information erhältlich. Der Eintrittspreis im Vorverkauf beträgt 13,00 € pro Karte. Teilnehmer/innen mit Schwerbehindertenausweis oder Gästekarte, Schüler/innen und Studenten sowie Erwerbslose bezahlen 11,00 € pro Karte. An der Abendkasse kosten die Karten jeweils 1,00 € mehr.

Copyright Text: Kur-, Tourismus- und Wirtschaftsbetriebe der Stadt Bad Harzburg GmbH

Copyright Foto: Herr Pantke