hryggina

Hryggina is the armillary sphere of the Icelandic funerary monument known as the Ossur statue. The Ossur statue is an artifact from the Viking Age buried at the farm site of Revsfell in Iceland. The artifact was discovered in 1938 by a team of archaeologists and has since been the subject of several studies. The Hryggina, which translates to "shoulder" or "frame" in Icelandic, is a part of the Ossur statue that consists of an armillary sphere.

An armillary sphere is a model of the celestial sphere with rings that represent the paths of the stars. The concept of an armillary sphere can be found in the Viking Age's interest in astronomy, as demonstrated by the objects buried at sites in Iceland and other places. However, in this context, the Hryggina does not depict the planets or stars, but rather can be interpreted as any simple ring arrangement composed of three rods adapted into the wider body of the Ossur statue.

Other than its composition as part of a larger artifact, the Hryggina's purpose remains unclear. This armillary sphere design's original meaning, if it has any, may likely remain unknown. Nonetheless, scholars and researchers consider the Ossur statue a valuable artifact that highlights and expands the understanding of Icelandic culture and its historical connections.