Franks Casket

BREAKOUT

can you escape from franks casket?

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INDEX

introduction

mission 1

mission 2

MISSION 3

REWARD

MISSION 4

INTRODUCTION

ITHE ENIGMA OF FRANKS CASKET

CAN YOU CRACK THE CODE AND MYSTERY OF THIS BOX?

As you try to solve the box's many intricacies, you uncover a web of mysteries. The carvings hint at forgotten lore and hidden messages. The casket itself, crafted from whalebone, holds secrets from the 8th century.

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MISSION 1

CORRECT IMAGE

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mission 2

01

choose the photo of wayland the smith

The front panel of the box is adorned with two images. One depicts the legend of Wayland the Smith and the other is The Adoration of the Magi.

Click here for more information on Wayland the Smith

Click here for more information on The Adoration of the Magi

mission 2

02

choose the photo of Romulus & Remus

The left panel shows Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, being fed by a she-wolf. Another wolf watches over them, and two men approach with spears.

Click here for more information on Romulus and Remus.

03

mission 2

choose the photo showing titus

The rear panel of the casket depicts The Taking of Jerusalem by Titus in the First Jewish-Roman War. This depiction has an inscription written partly in Old English, part Latin and some Runic Lettering going from left to top to right. ᚻᛖᚱᚠᛖᚷᛏᚪᚦ | ᛭ᛏᛁᛏᚢᛋᛖᚾᛞᚷᛁᚢᚦᛖᚪᛋᚢ HICFUGIANTHIEᚱUᚴALIM | ᚪᚠᛁᛏᚪᛏᚩᚱᛖᛋ this translates to: Here Titus and the Jews do battle. Here may the inhabitants flee Jerusalem.

Click here for more information

04

mission 2

choose the Photo of the lid of the casket

The lid of the casket is said by some to depict an otherwise lost legend of Egil; Egil fends off an army with bow and arrow while the female behind him may be his wife Olrun. Others interpret it as a scene from the Trojan War involving Achilles

COMPLETED

MISSION

CONGRATULATIONS!

WRONG!

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MISSION 2

Translations

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mission 4

Riddle 1

ᚠᛁᛋᚳ᛫ᚠᛚᚩᛞᚢ᛫ | ᚪᚻᚩᚠᚩᚾᚠᛖᚱᚷ |ᛖᚾᛒᛖᚱᛁᚷ | ᚹᚪᚱᚦᚷᚪ᛬ᛋᚱᛁᚳᚷᚱᚩᚱᚾᚦᚫᚱᚻᛖᚩᚾᚷᚱᛖᚢᛏᚷᛁᛋᚹᚩᛗ |ᚻᚱᚩᚾᚫᛋᛒᚪᚾ

Decipher the Runes

REVEAL

Click here for help

Click here to open the help page in a new window

1/3

“The flood cast up the fish on the mountain-cliff The terror-king became sad where he swam on the shingle. Whale’s bone.”

• The casket was made of whalebone from a stranded whale
• The use of wordplay, with "gāsric" meaning both "whale" and "terror-king," adds a hidden depth to the riddle
• Each rune represents a specific sound and carries its own symbolic meaning
• Does the riddle contain any deeper meaning or significance?

Next

mission 4

The rear panel that depicts Titus is interesting because the inscription changes from a mixture of Old English, Latin, and runes. The inscriptions describe the fight.

The rear panel

Hover over each area to see a translation. Can you figure out the bottom two words with the Runic Alphabet? Click them to see if you got them right

2/3

'Dom' which means Judgement

'Gisl' which means hostages

mission 4

Decipher the Runes

Translation

ᚱᚩᛗᚹᚪᛚᚢᛋᚪᚾᛞᚱᛖᚢᛗᚹᚪᛚᚢᛋᛏᚹᛟᚷᛖᚾ

romwalusandreumwalus Rōmwalus and Rēomwalus, twēgen Romulus and Remus This would belong to the left panel depicting the story of Romulus and Remus.

Click here for help

Can you guess the panel based on these runes? Try to decipher them for a name. Think you got it? Hit reveal to see the translation and answer.

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3/3

REVEAL

COMPLETED

MISSION

CONGRATULATIONS!

MISSION 3

QUIZ

start

QUESTION 1

Which scene is labeled with the word "mægi"?

The Scene with the Adoration of MAgi

The scene with the archer

The Scene with Wayland Smith

QUESTION 2

What is the material of the Franks Casket?

Ivory

Whalebone

Stone

QUESTION 3

Which of the following themes is NOT represented on the casket?

Roman History

Christian Faith

Norse Mythology

QUESTION 4

What language is the riddle on the front panel written in?

Anglo-Saxon Futhorc

Old Norse

Old English

COMPLETED

MISSION

CONGRATULATIONS!

WRONG!

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MISSION 4

Quick Facts

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Old English

Many Old English words are seen on the casket

Click here to see a glossary

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Mysteries of the casket

There are many unanswered questions about the casket that we haven't gone over.

One mystery is who some of the figures are. While we have theories for most of them, The archer on the lid is still debated. Is it the brother of Wayland, Egil, or is it Achilles? Perhaps it is more aligned with the story of Elisha and Joash from the bible.

Mysteries of the casket

What is the hsitory of the casket?

The casket was thought to have been made in the 8th Century and later found in a french farmhouse being used as a sewing box until it was bought in 1857. It may have been stolen during the French Revolution but from who? The casket was named after the man who bought it, sir augustus wollaston franks

Mysteries of the casket

What is the purpose of the casket?

Why was the casket made in the first place? Was it to hold religious relics, or just a decorative jewelry box? Some argue that it was made for a secular person to show a religious narrative. now, it gives us insight into the blending of cultures and religion at the time.

Mysteries of the casket

What is the relationship of the runes and the carvings of the casket?

Some believe that the runes tell a direct story or depiction, others think the runes are completely independent of the pictures, and others even think they have a hidden message.

Mysteries of the casket

The right panel

The right panel was sold to someone else when the family found it in a drawer later on, but what messages did it have? There is a lot of debate and no one can seem to agree. Known as the Bargello Panel after the man who bought it, it seems that everyone has a different interpretation.

Mysteries of the casket

The right panel

Even the Runic translation can be argued because the runes run together without separators and two letters are missing. One possible translation is :Here sits hos on [or in] the high hill [or barrow]; she endures [...] as the jute appointed her, a saeudon of sorrow and troubles of mind.

Mysteries of the casket

The right panel

Another Translation: Here Hos sits on the sorrow-mound, she suffers distress as Ertae had imposed it upon her, a wretched den [?wood] of sorrows and of torments of mind. Which do you think it could be?

Mysteries of the casket

The right panel

Some argue that the picture is that of the germanic legend of Sigurd (Siegfried) being mourned by his horse and wife. It could also be a depiction of Hengist and Horsa, the brothers who founded england. Other theories include the Deity of the Grove or even The MAdness of Nebuchadnezzar.

Mysteries of the casket

Missing Pieces

There are many missing pieces from the Casket, including some silver that was sold by the Auzon family to make a Silver ring. The missing inscriptions on the silver pieces, which held the box together, could hold even more mystery or maybe have many more answers.

Mysteries of the casket

Runological Considerations

• The inscriptions on the casket are in the form of an alliterative verse, emphasizing certain runes. The front inscription emphasizes the F-rune (wealth) and the G-rune (gift), which relate to the depicted scenes.
• Different sides of the casket highlight different runes:
• The front focuses on wealth and gifts.
• The Romulus and Remus side emphasizes the R-rune, symbolizing a journey or ride.
• The Titus side stresses the T-rune, representing victory.
• The right side highlights the H-rune (misfortune) and the S-rune (light, life), symbolizing death and salvation.

Mysteries of the casket

Numerology Considerations:

• Becker's analysis notes that the number of signs (runes and symbols) on the casket panels are multiples of 24, a significant number in runic alphabets.
• The front and left panels have 72 signs each (3 x 24), while the entire casket has 288 signs (12 x 24). This choice of numbers and spellings suggests a deliberate design and has intrigued scholars.
• Osborn adds that the number 72 might have a Christian significance, relating to the 72 disciples of Christ mentioned in some versions of the Bible. This suggests that the casket's artist might have been blending pagan and Christian themes.

BREAKOUT COMPLETED

CONGRATULATIONS!

References

References 2 Kings 13:14-19 NKJV - - Bible Gateway. (n.d.). Www.biblegateway.com. Retrieved December 8, 2023, from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2013%3A14-19&version=NKJV Anglo-Saxon runes (Futhorc). (2019). Omniglot.com. https://www.omniglot.com/writing/futhorc.htmBritannica. (2019). Romulus and Remus | Roman mythology. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Romulus-and-Remuscasket | British Museum. (n.d.). The British Museum. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1867-0120-1 Frankly, My Dear: A history of the Franks Casket By Elizabeth House – The Trident. (2014, October 4). https://sites.owu.edu/trident/2014/10/04/frankly-my-dear-a-history-of-the-franks-casket-by-elizabeth-house/#:~:text=Called%20the%20Franks%20Casket%2C%20theFranks Casket. (2023, July 8). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franks_Casket#Garcia, B. (n.d.). Romulus and Remus. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 8, 2023, from https://www.worldhistory.org/Romulus_and_Remus/#google_vignette

Grimoire, T. P. (2022, June 14). Your Guide to the 24 Elder Futhark Runes and Their Meanings. The Pagan Grimoire. https://www.pagangrimoire.com/elder-futhark-rune-meanings/ Miller, T. (2018, July). The Fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE: A Story of Roman Revenge. Warfare History Network. https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/the-fall-of-jerusalem-in-70-ce-a-story-of-roman-revenge/ Vučković, A. (n.d.). Wayland the Smith: The Lost Germanic Legend of the Flying Blacksmith. Ancient Origins. https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-europe/wayland-smith-0014565 Waxenberger, G., Kazzazi, K., & Hines, J. (2023). The Franks Casket and its Inscriptions. In Old English Runes: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Approaches and Methodologies with a Concise and Selected Guide to Terminologies (p. pp. 253-266). De Gruyter. Wikipedia Contributors. (2019, October 21). Wayland the Smith. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayland_the_Smith Wikipedia Contributors. (2020, January 8). Adoration of the Magi. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoration_of_the_Magi

The Adoration of the Magi

The scene features three wise men, the Magi, standing before the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child. Each Magus holds a gift: gold symbolizing Christ's royalty, frankincense representing his divinity, and myrrh signifying his mortality. Mary sits enthroned, her serene expression conveying maternal love and divine grace. The figures are depicted in a simplified, elongated style characteristic of early medieval art, emphasizing symbolism over naturalism.

Adoration of the Magi

Romulus and Remus

Twin brothers, sons of a human mother and Mars, were abandoned in a basket on the Tiber. A she-wolf found them and cared for them until a shepherd adopted them. Grown up, they helped overthrow the king and dreamed of building a city. Their disagreement over its location led Romulus to kill Remus. Building the city on the Palatine hill, Romulus became its first king.

Romulus and Remus

Wayland the Smith Legend

The scene shows Weyland in his forge, holding a severed head with tongs in one hand and offering a cup to a woman with the other.

Summary of the Legend:Betrayal: Weyland, a skilled smith, is captured by King Niðhad. The king cuts his hamstrings to prevent him from escaping and enslaves him in his forge. Loss: Weyland's brothers are killed by Niðhad, and his wife is taken away from him. Revenge: Despite his disability, Weyland uses his skills to create magical objects, including a sword, a ring, and a winged cloak. He uses these objects to exact his revenge on Niðhad and his family. Escape: After taking his revenge, Weyland escapes on the winged cloak.

Wayland the Smith

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayland_the_Smith