www.avrosys.nu - Copyright-free Scandinavian Archive Prints

Norway as seen by 19th Century Artists

The walk at the wall of the Lower Fortress of Akershus. Artist: L. Skramstad.

The origin of the name of the capital of Norway has been the subject of much debate. Oslo is probably derived from Old Norse, a large farm at the site of the first settlements in Bjørvika.

During the Middle Age the name was initially spelled "Áslo" and later "Óslo". The earlier spelling suggests that the first component ás refers either to the Ekeberg ridge southeast of the town ("ås" in modern Norwegian), or to the Norse homonym meaning "god" or "divinity". The most likely interpretations would therefore be "the meadow beneath the ridge" or "the meadow of the gods". Both are equally plausible.

A fire in 1624 destroyed much of the medieval town, and when it was rebuilt it was moved westwards in order to be nearer the Akershus Fortress. King Christian IV of Denmark and Norway renamed the town Christiania. From 1897, the name was also spelt "Kristiania". An official decision was never made, so both forms were in use. Arguably, Christiania was always the legal name of the city. The area where the city centre had been prior to the fire was still known as Oslo, however. This original name was restored by a law of 11 July, 1924, effective 1 January, 1925, and a decision which caused much debate in its time.

Below: Akershus fortress seen from the west. Photo: Kjetil Lenes 2005.

This print, scanned in the very large size mentioned above is sold as a JPG-file for € 5 or $ 5. Mail me at henriksson@avrosys.nu. Ref. no 100773.