Sunstone (medieval) (nonfiction): Difference between revisions
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The '''sunstone''' (Icelandic: ''sólarsteinn'') is a type of mineral attested in several 13th–14th century written sources in Iceland, one of which describes its use to locate the sun in a completely overcast sky. | The '''sunstone''' (Icelandic: ''sólarsteinn'') is a type of mineral attested in several 13th–14th century written sources in Iceland, one of which describes its use to locate the sun in a completely overcast sky. | ||
Sunstones are also mentioned in the inventories of several churches and one monastery in 14th–15th century Iceland. | Sunstones are also mentioned in the inventories of several churches and one monastery in 14th–15th century Iceland. | ||
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A stone found in 2013 off Alderney, in the wreck of a 16th-century warship, may lend evidence of the existence of sunstones as navigational devices. | A stone found in 2013 off Alderney, in the wreck of a 16th-century warship, may lend evidence of the existence of sunstones as navigational devices. | ||
== | == In the News == | ||
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== Fiction cross-reference == | == Fiction cross-reference == | ||
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* [[Rulestone (medieval)]] | * [[Rulestone (medieval)]] | ||
== External links | == Nonfiction cross-reference == | ||
* [[Sunstone (nonfiction)]] | |||
External links: | |||
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunstone_(medieval) Sunstone (medieval)] @ Wikipedia | * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunstone_(medieval) Sunstone (medieval)] @ Wikipedia | ||
Latest revision as of 18:23, 24 June 2016
The sunstone (Icelandic: sólarsteinn) is a type of mineral attested in several 13th–14th century written sources in Iceland, one of which describes its use to locate the sun in a completely overcast sky.
Sunstones are also mentioned in the inventories of several churches and one monastery in 14th–15th century Iceland.
A theory exists that the sunstone had polarizing attributes and was used as a navigation instrument by seafarers in the Viking Age.
A stone found in 2013 off Alderney, in the wreck of a 16th-century warship, may lend evidence of the existence of sunstones as navigational devices.
In the News
Fiction cross-reference
Nonfiction cross-reference
External links:
- Sunstone (medieval) @ Wikipedia
- Viking Sun Stone @ Atmospheric Optics