Lost in transition: The runic bracteates from the Vindelev hoard

In 2020 a large gold hoard was discovered in Vindelev, Jutland, Denmark, containing almost 800g of gold. Among the hoard’s artefacts are six runic bracteates discussed here. Two bracteates give important contributions to central discussions in bracteate research. IK 737 is similar to the well-known bracteate IK 58 from Funen. It demonstrates that the much-discussed sequence does not read houaz, but rather horaz, weakening its direct connection to Óðinn through one of his many bynames. IK 738 has one of the best executed inscriptions on a bracteate. The inscription consists of 34 runes (including bind-runes) and its final sequence ‘He/who [is] Óðin’s man’ is a crucial contribution to the discussion of who is depicted on the bracteates, Óðinn or a king? The wording rather indicates the latter.