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Samiska sakrala ortnamn

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Håkan Rydving

Source system: Publicera | Published: 2026-02-24 | Pages: 97-154

Abstract

This article gives a general overview of the main categories of indigenous Sami sacred place-names. The largest categories of possibly theophoric names appear problematic since it is unclear which place-names in these categories really include the name of a divinity. There are several categories of cultic (or ritual) place-names, most of them indicating a sacrificial place, but a few instead include a word for a ritual specialist or some of their associated objects/attributes. Place-names that indicate that an area or a place was regarded as ‘sacred’ are common and widespread throughout the present Sami settlement area. Traces of such names can, however, also be found in some areas where the Sami have long been assimilated with the majority population.

Keywords

onomastics; indigenous Sami sacred place names; northern Finland; northern Norway; northern Sweden; north-western Russia.

DOI | License | Original publication