SAMI SHAMAN'S RUNIC DRUM

MS 5286/2
MS Short Title SAMI SHAMAN'S RUNIC DRUM
Text SAMI SHAMAN'S RUNIC DRUM WITH A CENTRAL SUN WITH 4 RAYS, THE GODS OF THUNDER AND WINDS, THE MAIN GOD, RADIEN-ATZJE, AND HIS SON RADIEN BARDNE, THE MOTHER GODDESS, MADDA-RAKKA, AND 2 OF HER DAUGHTERS, THE RULER OF THE UNDERWORLD, ROTA, THE HOLY MOUNTAIN OF THE DECEASED, THE DWELLING OF THE DEAD AND A SAMI GRAVE, A SHAMAN AND HIS RUNIC DRUM, A SAMI CAMP WITH TENT, DOG AND REINDEER FENCE, A BOAT WITH MAST, FISHERMAN WITH BOAT AND NET, A SAMI HUNTING BEARS, A WOLF (THE DOG OF THE DEVIL), 2 "GAND" BIRDS AND THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY GHOST
Description MS in Sami on reindeer skin, Karasjok, Norway, 2005, 1 drum (runebomme), 47x31x9 cm, 45 symbols and glyphs by Berit Marie Kemi, with a drum hammer of reindeer horn with cloth head.
Context Copied after a runic drum from Foldalen at Høylandet, Namdalen, Norway, which was confiscated in 1837, now at Städtischer Henneberger Museum, Meinigen, Germany; No. 30 in Ernst Manker: Die Lappische Zaubertrommel II, Uppsala 1950, Acta Lapponica VI.
Provenance 1. Berit Marie Kemi, Karasjok, Norway.
Commentary The drum is called runebomme or runpampa or gåbdie; the hammer is called ballem or vietjere. The old Sami religion was based on animism and shamanism. The forces of nature were personified by the wind man (Biegg-olmai), the god of thunder (Horag alles) and other gods of nature. The Sami shaman (Noaidi) drummed the runic drum and sang (joiked) to get in ecstasy in order to travel to the Netherworlds to pick up lost souls, or to Heavens, or to look into the future by listening to the speaking sound of the drum. The drum has also a practical use for hunting, herding reindeers or as a compass. When the Christian faith was taking over, the use of the runic drum was forbidden, and most drums burnt. Only ca. 50 old drums have survived today. Churches and crossed were frequently added symbols in this period of transition from one religion to a new one, but also in the vain hope to prevent confiscation of the runic drums.
See also See also collection 10. Magical literature
Place of origin Norway
Dates 2005