Shed knife
In the runic inscription on a medieval weaver’s shed knife, it was possible to read a rare declaration of love from the Middle Ages. Was it a wedding gift? Perhaps it was a somewhat melancholy declaration of unreciprocated love?
A textile tool was found in Lödöse in the form of a shed knife dating from the end of the 11th century. It was probably used to keep the threads in the shed on a ribbon loom separate. The inscription was “Mun Þu mik man Þik un Þu mer an ÞRr", which roughly translated mean “Think of me, I think of you, do you love me, I love you."
May she have pity on me..
On the back is the word "brmrmk", which could be translated as “may she have pity on me”. Is this a gift from a fiancé, or perhaps evidence of unreciprocated love? Although we will probably never know the answer, this loving whisper still resonates down through the centuries.
Several similar inscriptions have been found, in Bergen in Norway for example. One states: “Do you love me, I love you, Gunnhild, kiss me I know you well” and another states: “Think of me, I think of you, do you love me, I love you”.
