Olaus Magnus vapenhus tresnitt
Church with arms in porch (våpenhus) in book 16 from Olaus Magnus Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus published 1555 in Rome.
Dryckeslag, Nordisk familjebok
Svenska: Svenskt dryckeslag med kåsor. Efter Olaus Magnus Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus(Rom-uppl., 1555) English: Swedish "drinking team"
Martial Exercises of Starkater - Olaus Magnus 1555
Starkaðr is on his way to the Danish king Ingell. He carries a broadsword and a sack of coal with which he will ”sharpen” the dull king of Denmark. King Ingell is sitting with a mistress under the trees to the... More
Achievement of Starkater - Olaus Magnus 1555
Starkaðr stands a the victor on a battlefield full of dead bodies, cut limbs, broken weapons and pieces of suits of armour. From Olaus Magnus' "Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus".
Death of Starkater - Olaus Magnus 1555
To the left we see Starkaðr, old and tired of living, hands over his sword and an amount of gold to Hather. Starkaðr has once killed Hathers father. Now Starkater persuades Hather to kill him. From Olaus Magnus... More
Defence of the oppressed - Olaus Magnus 1555
The woodcut illustrates the story tale how Starkaðr helped the Norwegian king Helge to fight against nine unjust fighters. From Olaus Magnus' "Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus".
Gravure de pluie de poissons - Public domain engraving
Pluie de poissons, gravure d'O. Magnus, 1555 1555 engraving of rain of fish
Olaus Magnus - On Trade Without Using Money
We see barter between Nordic people (to the left) and Russians (to the right). The Nordic people is offering dried pike fish, flour, axes, knives, scissors, cloth etc. The Russians offer skins, butter (?), arro... More
Olaus Magnus Sword dance
Sword dance, from: Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus
Olausmagnus scaniamarket
Woodcut depicting herring fishing in Scania Public domain scan of 16th-century woodcut print, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
On Alf the Defender of Chastity Olaus Magnus
On Alf, the Defender of Chastity. Alf, a suitor to the princess Alvilda kills two serpents who are guarding her chastity. To vex them he wears a bloody hide over his armour. One snake (a vipera) is killed wit... More
On Viking Expeditions of Highborn Maids Olaus Magnus
On Viking Expeditions of Highborn Maids. Two female warriors, of royal family according to the crowns on their heads, are participating a sea battle. The ship to the right has a steering oar as common on vikin... More
Petrus Astronomus Astronomical clock in Uppsala Cathedral
Woodcut from the 16th century History of the Nordic peoples, by Olaus Magnus, supposedly depicting the astronomical clock in Uppsala Cathedral, which was later destroyed in a fire.
Runstav
Runstav
Virtues of the Hero Starkater - Olaus Magnus 1555
Starkaðr holding two rune staffs. On the rune staffs are written in Latin "Starcaterus pugil Suctius". From Olaus Magnus' "Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus".
War Between Swedes and Danes - Olaus Magnus 1555
In the right part of the woodcut Starkaðr leads the Swedish forces to victory with a lifted broadsword in one hand. The flags with the Lion of Göta and the Three Crowns are flying high. An archer is seen forwar... More
Warriors portage a boat (Olaus Magnus)
An illustration depicting the portage of a small boat by several mediaeval warriors. The Illustration is by Olaus Magnus.
Belorusian Skomorokhs - Public domain scenic engraving
From Olayus Magnus Public domain photograph of 16th-century engraving, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Om konungaval. Olaus Magnus - Public domain print
Picture of drawing of king's election Svenska: Foto av teckning av konungaval
Svedjeland i skogarna
Land clearings in the forests Svenska: Svedjeland i skogarna
Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London - Art detail (center),...
2: "Vacca marina" = Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus (Linnaeus, 1758) 3: "Porcus monstrosus Oceani Germanici" = Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus (Linnaeus, 1758) 4: "Rosmarus seu Morsus Norvegicus" = Odobenus rosmarus rosm... More
Olaus Magnus - On the Renowned Geatish Island of Gotland
Gotland in the Baltic Sea is shown from the east. The castle to the right represents the old Hanseatic town of Visby with its ring wall.
Olaus Magnus - On ice fishing
Svenska: Notdragning vintertid enligt Olaus Magnus Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus 1555, bok 20 kapitel 16, sida 712.»Om fiske som idkas af beridna fiskare». »Då fisken förekommer i mycket stora mängder... More
Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London - PZSL1853Page113
2: "Vacca marina" = Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus (Linnaeus, 1758) 3: "Porcus monstrosus Oceani Germanici" = Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus (Linnaeus, 1758) 4: "Rosmarus seu Morsus Norvegicus" = Odobenus rosmarus rosm... More
Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London - PZSL1853Page112
"Rosmarus" = Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus (Linnaeus, 1758) English: Atlantic Walrus sketch, copied from the 1560 addendum to Conrad Gesner's Historiae animalium (and originally derived from Olaus Magnus' 1539 C... More
Hdgs Fishing
Public domain scan of print / book page depicting birds, ornithology, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Olaus Magnus - About Lighting and Torches of Kindling
A man and a woman carry fatwood torches in their mouths in order to have both hands free. The man seems to come from an outside pantry with a can of beer and a basket with food. The woman is spinning with a dis... More
Olaus Magnus - More on the Location and Nature of the Land of the Skri...
The picture shows three hunters with skis. You can see a sporting dog in the foreground and fleeing reindeers in the background.
Olaus Magnus - More on the Wildness of the Dwellers in Forests
The woodcut shows three laps on skis and dressed in fur coats. They have risen their arms – two of them with bow and arrow and one with spear and some kind of sabre.
Olaus Magnus - Arngrimm and his men
Here we see Arngrimm (with the crown) and his men which, to support the Danish king, defeated king Tengild of Finnmark and king Egbert of Bjarmaland in a hard battle.
Olaus Magnus - On a Rock, Named the Sea Monk
The woodcut shows a rock in shape of a monk’s frock which is situated in the sea south of the main part of the Faeroe Islands. The Sea Monk (in Danish “Munken”) has a safe harbour. To the right we see a wrecked... More
Olaus Magnus - On Attention to Old People
An old man wants to get down a steep snowy mountain side. He is placed on a bear skin pulled by a horse. A son or a servant holds the horse.
Olaus Magnus - On Boats that are put Together with Sinews and Tree Roo...
Three men are building a boat. The man to the left is sewing together two boards on the port side. The man in the foreground forms other boards with an axe. The man behind mounts the last board on the starboard... More
Olaus Magnus - On Bauta Memorial Stones and Veins of Water
The picture is dominated by three hills with rune stones at their tops. Below springs continuing in streams, two of them with watermills.
Olaus Magnus - On Bauta Stones and Rune Stones of the Geats
The woodcut shows a part of the Province of Västergötland. To the left the waterfalls of Trollhättan. Lake Vänern is diminished. We see the river mouths of the Provinces Dalsland and Värmland in the north. Lef... More
Olaus Magnus - On Burning Water
The woodcut shows a landscape from Iceland. To the left a lake “burning of fire and sulphur” and to the right a volcano.
Olaus Magnus - On Clocks
The woodcut shows two clocks with works and faces. The clock-face to the left has Arabic numerals, the other numerals of Latin type. At bottom (in the middle) is a sundial formed as a semicircle. The text numer... More
Olaus Magnus - On Christening of Children among the Forrest Dwellers
A Lap and his with skis on their feet approaches a church where the Christening will take place. They are dressed in coats of fur. On their backs they carry baskets with two children each. The baskets probably ... More
Olaus Magnus - On Combat with Sirens of the Wood
To the left the king Gorm, Broder and Buke which have travelled so far north that no daylight could be seen. At this place they get attacked by the supernatural creatures to the right on the woodcut.
Olaus Magnus - On Erik Väderhatt
Erik Väderhatt was a Swedish king who could control the force and direction of the winds with his hat. It is he who leads the army to the right. The crowned hats to the left symbolizes his power to change the w... More
Olaus Magnus - On different Effects of Thunderstorms and Lightnings
This woodcut shows the lightning strike a tree. A farmer tries to protect his cattle from the lightning by blowing in a horn. The cattle are attacked by insects.
Olaus Magnus - On Different Shapes of Shore Cliffs
North is at bottom and south is at top of this woodcut. The bay is Bråviken and the town at its end is Norrköping. The river floating trough the town is Motala Ström. A salmon swims upstreams. Strange cliff for... More
Olaus Magnus - On Dances that are Executed During Lamentations
Three women and three men dance to the music from a bagpipe and a string instrument played with bow.
Olaus Magnus - On Fairies and the Maids of the Woods
A king (Höder) is visiting a cave where Maids of the Woods are living. They are powerful and he wants their support. Two of the maids are crowned.
Olaus Magnus - On Dangerous Journeys in the Mountains
To the left four men armed with crossbows. Two travellers are seen in this wild country. The one in the middle leads a packhorse, the one to the right rides. Note that they travel unarmed. A reindeer and a bird... More
Olaus Magnus - On Crystals and Magnets
Snow falls down from the clouds. The sound waves from the mountains illustrate magnetic phenomena in the ground. Nine barrels are seen to the left, unknown why. To the right a lake (or the open sea) with ice floes.
Olaus Magnus - On Finnmark and its Inhabitants
The picture is divided in a light part (with the sun) and a dark part (with the moon). This illustrates that the year in the far North consist of one day and one night only. The latin word “LUX” means “light”, ... More
Olaus Magnus - On Fights with the Gods
The warriors are not satisfied how their warfare is proceeding. They accuse their gods of not give them enough support. Therefore they threaten the gods with arms.
Olaus Magnus - On Frightening Sounds from Shore Caverns
We see the mountain Skuluberget in the northern Swedish province Ångermanland. Skuluberget lies at the Höga Kusten (High Coast) area, placed at UNESCO's World Heritage List. In reality the mountain is only 294 ... More
Olaus Magnus - On Horse Races on the Ice
The woodcut shows a race with horse towards a goal consisting of a flag with two crossed arrows. The horses are galloping. The horses seem to be equipped with crampons at their feet. The horses have no saddles.
Olaus Magnus - On Hoar frost and Snowfall
A scene from the north. To the left a Laplander’s sledge (ackja) pulled by a reindeer. To the right people travelling by horse and sleigh. It is snowing so much that the visibility is poor.
Olaus Magnus - On Gravestones
The woodcut shows ancient gravestones from Sweden. Public domain scan of 16th-century woodcut print, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Olaus Magnus - On Ice Equipment
Up in left corner there are some primitive skates. Nearby a pair of felt shoes. Under the shoes are drawn different types of ice axes. Still lower there are ice shoes with crampons. In the middle of the woodcut... More
Olaus Magnus - On Hunting Tours of the Laps
The picture shows three hunters with skis. You can see a sporting dog in the foreground and fleeing reindeers in the background.
Olaus Magnus - On Horses Mode of Travel over Snowy Mountains
The woodcut shows a merchant who travels with his packhorse over the mountains between Sweden and Norway. Both the horse and the man wear snow shoes. A disc with similar function is fitted on the man's staff.
Olaus Magnus - On Idolatrous Among the People of the Arctic Region
Four persons are praying in front of a cloth on a pole. Around the pole animal bones from burnt offerings are seen. We also see the moon, the sun, a bird, animals and a fish – all things that the people worship.
Olaus Magnus - On Instruction in Archery
The woodcut shows four Laps of different ages practising archery. Behind them their tents. The 3rd person from the left wears a bear skin with the bear’s head as a hood. Some birds are flying in the sky.
Olaus Magnus - On Invocators of the Sea
The magician Holler (also called Ull) stands on a bone from an animal. With help of this and the stick over his left shoulder he is able to travel across the seas. The stick seems to produce the necessary winds... More
Olaus Magnus - On Journeys during the Darkness
Glow-worms are flying around the trees in the darkness. Torches of decayed oak bark are placed along the route. A man with an axe and a crossbow travels along the way. At bottom left a river with a rowing boat ... More
Olaus Magnus - On Lodgings on the Ice for Travellers
The way on the ice is strangely only marked with one single tree. The house to the right seems to been built of stone directly on the ice, perhaps not very realistic. The inns are marked with wreaths on poles. ... More
Olaus Magnus - On Lunar Halos and More About the Reflections of the Su...
The artist depicts three lunar halos in this woodcut. Public domain scan of 16th-century woodcut print, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Olaus Magnus - On Magic Utensils in Bothnia
The woodcut shows the secret chamber of a Wizard in the Swedish province of Norrbotten. The wizard has manufactured a magic snake and a toad of copper at the anvil. This magic work has sent into a trance. His r... More
Olaus Magnus - On Marketplaces on the Ice
This is a scene from River Fyrisån in Uppsala. It is winter, the full moon shines on the dark sky. Traders are seen on the ice with their merchandise. We can see a crossbow, axe, knife, tongs, scissors and othe... More
Olaus Magnus - On Memorial Stones of Two Brothers
This picture illustrates the old tale of two Swedish brothers which got the prediction when they were young that they would kill each other. To avoid this, they separated and both moved other countries far away... More
Olaus Magnus - On Marriages among the Laps that Becomes Confirmed by F...
A marriage is confirmed in presence of parents and relatives by stroking steel and flint stone together. This ritual is executed by the man to the left. The wedding meal is being prepared. Fires are burning and... More
Olaus Magnus - On Narrow Passages when Approaching Harbour
This part of Sweden is seen from the east. The castle at the upper right corner is Stockholm. The large island is Värmdö. Smaller ships can sail the short but narrow passage (Baggenstäket) in the middle of the ... More
Olaus Magnus - On Punishments that Falls Upon the Lesser Gods
To the left the armed Oden (Odin), in the middle Tor (Thor) and to the right a god of the Byzantium. A dog is sleeping in the background.
Olaus Magnus - On Predictions of the Character of the Winds
Winds are according to Olaus Magnus created when cold vapours (left) mix with hot vapours (right).
Olaus Magnus - On Nocturnal Dance of Fairies, in Other Words Ghosts
Six creatures, their appearance probably inspired by the look of fauns etc. in other cultures, dance around a circle. One creature is playing a string instrument and another bag pipe.
Olaus Magnus - On Rings that are Seen on the Sky in Wintertime and The...
The woodcut shows a parhelion phenomena on the sky. The four cardinal points are indicated: ME = south, OR = east, S = north and OC = west. A ship is wrecked in a terrible storm. Two surviving members of the cr... More
Olaus Magnus - On Rides on the Ice with Open Channels
A man transports four barrels in a sledge pulled by a horse. They travel on an ice floe. There is large parts of open water on the illustration.
Olaus Magnus - On Rings that in Springtime Show on the Firmament
The picture shows a halo phenomena.
Olaus Magnus - On Rocik Trolls
We see a mine where a miner is working to the left. His tools are a sledge and a wedge. In the middle ore is hoisted up to the ground level. To the right a rock troll is working with an iron bar. Over the mine ... More
Olaus Magnus - On Rocks Decorated with Helmets
The woodcut shows a natural harbour in the archipelago outside Stockholm. This place has since the 16th Century been an anchorage for the Swedish Navy. To the left the island of Gubbholmen with five rocks that ... More
Olaus Magnus - On Royal Coat of Arms Cut in the Rocks at Hangö
In the middle the harbour of Hangö on the south coast of Finland. The castle to left is the old bishop’s residence at Kustö. The coat of arms from left: Sture, Roos, Tott, Gyllenstjerna, Svealand, Götaland, Vas... More
Olaus Magnus - On Rocky Caves as Treacherous Haunts
The lake is Vänern. To the left Trollhättan with its large and noisy waterfalls. The church with one tower represents the town of Lidköping, while the church with two towers is the cathedral of Skara. Two robbe... More
Olaus Magnus - On Runestaffs
This woodcut shows a father teaches his son and a mother teaches her daughter how to use and read rune staffs.
Olaus Magnus - On Seven Foreign Brothers
The woodcut illustrates the legend of the seven brothers sleeping in a cave at foot of high mountain at the shore of the ocean. The place is located in the high north where the cold and unpleasant wind “Circiu... More
Olaus Magnus - On Ships Wrecked at the Coasts of Greenland
We see a shipwreck outside the coast of Greenland. On shore there are two houses built of whale bones.
Olaus Magnus - On Strange Effects by Stroke of Lightning
The woodcut shows the dangers of the lightning. The church in the middle is ablaze. The cattle and the trees have been stricken by the lightning. A man in a boat with two animals tries to escape. The boat is of... More
Olaus Magnus - On Stony and Narrow Shipping Routes
The woodcut shows a coastline with many dangerous rocks in the sea. Probably is scene from a part of the archipelago of Tjust on the east coast of Sweden.
Olaus Magnus - On Statues in the Snowy Mountains
We see the pilgrim route between Nidaros (Trondheim) in Norway and Jämtland in Sweden. High stone statues, donated by ancient pious Norwegian kings, are raised along the route. At bottom left a monk. In the mi... More
Olaus Magnus - On Strange Properties of Some Mountains
We see three volcanoes in Iceland: Hekla, Kreusberg (?) and Helgafjell. Below three hot sources.
Olaus Magnus - On Suddenly Appearing Rings and about the Effects of Co...
Also this woodcut shows parheliona in the sky. To the left a comet from the sky that kills some cattle. Olaus Magnus has probably the famous periheliona in Stockholm 1534 in mind. This phenomena is documented o... More
Olaus Magnus - On the Activities of the People at Moonlight
This scene takes place in Lapland. The full moon in the sky symbolizes midwinter. At the left a man is out hunting. To the right an official (birkarl) is riding on a reindeer. Below a man is sewing together sin... More
Olaus Magnus - On the Ancient, Glorious Royal Castle of Aranäs
The castle of Årnäs (in earlier days Aranäs) is today only a ruin, located on the south shore of Lake Vänern. On the woodcut we see it in old days. The main gate at the front is the only existing entrance to th... More
Olaus Magnus - On the Art of Prophecy
The woodcut shows a soothsayer in front of a king. We can see some of the signs in the nature the soothsayer uses: stars, fishes and sounds from the mountains.
Olaus Magnus - On the Conversion of the Northern and Eastern Finland a...
To the left of the woodcut two travellers which are greeted welcome by the host in the middle. A table is made ready to the right and a man in the doorway is carrying a jug. The tree without twigs means “welcome”.
Olaus Magnus - On the Country of the Skrickfinns (Skifinns)
The picture shows a hunter with skis, otherwise there are no signs of winter. The trees are green, fishes are drying in the air. The man is hunting a capercaillie and a hind.
Olaus Magnus - On the Crowned Cliff and the Richness of Fish Near it
To the left is the cliff of Bjuröklubb, the most eastern part of the province of Västerbotten. Olaus Magnus described the top of the cliff seen from distance as a crown with three points. Around the cliff are f... More
Olaus Magnus - On the dwarfs of Greenland and the rock of Hvitsark I
On south Greenland we see a dwarf fight with a normal man. At top a whale bone house. To the right the rock Hvitsark which according to Olaus Magnus lies in the Denmark sound between Greenland and Iceland. On t... More
Olaus Magnus - On the Fettered Wizard on the Island of Visingsö
The woodcut shows Visingsö in Lake Vättern in Sweden. In a cave the Wizard Gilbert is fettered with two rune staffs. On the road to the left we see tow men with torches which are looking for the cave.
Olaus Magnus - On the dwarfs of Greenland and the rock of Hvitsark II
At top two cranes with candles in their beaks illustrating an old Swedish locution (tranan bär ljus i säng). The rest of the woodcut illustrates the old tale of the dwarfs of Greenland and their constant fights... More
Olaus Magnus - On the Five Languages Spoken in the Nordic Countries
To the left a Muscovite showing a false coin. Next a Swede, armed with broadaxe, bow and arrow and sword. Next a Lap in fur coat and with bow and arrow. To the right a Geat with a crossbow.
Olaus Magnus - On the Flooding of Streams
The woodcut shows the two Swedish rivers Indalsälven (top) and Ljungan (below). It is spring and the annual flood from the melting snow in the mountains destroys houses and trees. Even a church is hit.
Olaus Magnus - On the Glorious Temple Devoted to the Nordic Gods
The woodcut illustrates the temple at Old Uppsala which was devoted to the Gods of the Aesis cult. Olaus Magnus writes that it shimmers with a golden lustre. From the golden roof hangs a golden chain which is w... More
Olaus Magnus - On the Fury of Cyclones and Hurricanes
A tornado is blowing from right to left on the picture. A tree is pulled up from the ground. The church to the right loses its spire and the house nearby loses its roof.
Olaus Magnus - On the Geats' Worship and Sacrifice
Two humans are sacrificed on this picture. One is drowned in a holy spring and one is burned. The man with a sword symbolizes probably another way of sacrificing of humans. To the right worshipping people.