Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/193

Rh objects, and he wrote important works on runic inscriptions and other monuments, by all of which he awakened a general interest in an important source of history, which had hitherto been almost wholly neglected. His chief work in this direction, the "Monumenta Danica," contains a survey of Danish runic monuments, together with an interpretation of the inscriptions, historical elucidations, etc. In spite of its weak points and faults, it will always be of value because it furnishes descriptions and illustrations of a number of antiquities which have since perished. Though the illustrations are by no means remarkable for exactness, they still have more or less value. He also wrote a dissertation on the golden horn found in 1639, and this is properly speaking the first antiquarian work in the Danish literature. Of other antiquarians in the learned period there is but little to be said when we have mentioned the younger, who was the first to point out of what vast importance the study of Icelandic would in time become for the study of northern history.

The study of northern antiquities was essentially advanced by the Icelanders, who with great zeal sought out and investigated the old literary treasures preserved in that island. Without their assistance nothing of importance could have been accomplished in this field either in Denmark or in Sweden. All the great impulses came from the Icelanders, and from their midst were generally selected the "royal translators" and "royal antiquaries," whose works were the basis of later researches.

During the learned period but few occupied themselves with the, and the work they did was rather defective, but still their efforts are worthy of recognition. This is particularly true of the preacher (1631-1702), who, on account of his thorough knowledge