Viking runestones

The Viking runestones are runestones that mention Scandinavians who participated in Viking expeditions. This article treats the runestone that refer to people who took part in voyages abroad, in western Europe, and stones that mention men who were Viking warriors and/or died while travelling in the West. However, it is likely that all of them do not mention men who took part in pillaging. The inscriptions were all engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark. The runestones are unevenly distributed in Scandinavia: Denmark has 250 runestones, Norway has 50 while Iceland has none. Sweden have as many as between 1,700 and 2,500 depending on definition. The Swedish district of Uppland has the highest concentration with as many as 1,196 inscriptions in stone, whereas Södermanland is second with 391. [1] [2]

Oslo
Copenhagen
Clickable map of the geographic distribution of the Viking runestones in southern Scandinavia (modern administrative borders and cities are shown)

The largest group consists of 30 stones that mention England, and they are treated separately in the article England runestones. The runestones that talk of voyages to eastern Europe, the Byzantine Empire and the Middle East are treated separately in the article Varangian runestones and its subarticles.

The most notable of the Viking runestones is the Kjula Runestone in Södermanland, Sweden, and it contains a poem in Old Norse in the metre fornyrðislag that refers to the extensive warfare of a man called "Spear":[3]

saʀ vestarla
um vaʀit hafði,
borg um brutna
i ok um barða;
færð han karsaʀ
kunni allaʀ.
who had been
in the west,
broken down and fought
in townships.
He knew all
the journey's fortresses.

Below follows a presentation of the runestones based on the Rundata project. The transcriptions into Old Norse are in the Swedish and Danish dialect to facilitate comparison with the inscriptions, while the English translation provided by Rundata gives the names in the de facto standard dialect (the Icelandic and Norwegian dialect):

Uppland

U 349
Runestone U 349 in a 17th-century drawing.

This runestone located at Odenslunda was documented during the Swedish runestone surveys in the 17th century, but has since disappeared. It is classified as being carved in runestone style RAK. This is considered to be the oldest style, and is used for inscriptions with runic text bands that have straight ends without any attached serpent or beast heads.

Latin transliteration:

[uikitil × uk × usur -...u × risa × stin × þina * iftiʀ × ustin × faþ... … ...þan × on furs × uti × miþ × ala × skibin × kuþ × ialbi × (a)t]

Old Norse transcription:

Vikætill ok Ossurr [let]u ræisa stæin þenna æftiʀ Øystæin, fað[ur] … [go]ðan. Hann fors uti með alla skipan. Guð hialpi and.

English translation:

"Véketill and Ôzurr had this stone raised in memory of Eysteinn, … good father. He perished abroad with all the seamen. May God help (his) spirit."[4]

U 363
Runestone U 363 in a 17th-century drawing.

This runestone was a boulder which was located at Gådersta, but it has disappeared. It was possibly in runestone style Pr4, which is also known as Urnes style. In this style the text bands end in serpert or beast heads depicted in profile.

Latin transliteration:

[kislauk * lit * hakua * at sun sin * sbialtbuþi * ulfr * ikuar * hulfastr * kairi * þaiʀ * at broþur * sin * þiakn * fors * uti ok * at biarn faþur sin bro kirþu * ku=þ hialbi silu]

Old Norse transcription:

Gislaug let haggva at sun sinn, Spiallbuði, Ulfʀ, Ingvarr, Holmfastr, Gæiʀi, þæiʀ at broður sinn Þiagn, fors uti, ok at Biorn, faður sinn. Bro gærðu. Guð hialpi salu.

English translation:

"Gíslaug had (this) cut in memory of her son; Spjallboði, Ulfr, Ingvarr, Holmfastr, Geiri, they made the bridge in memory of their brother Þegn, (who) perished abroad, and in memory of Bjôrn, their father. May God help (their) souls."[5]

U 504
The rune stone U 504.

This runestone is an early inscription carved in runestone style RAK with a cross above the text bands. It is located in Ubby and it was raised in memory of a father. This man had participated in Viking expeditions both in the west and in the east.[6]

Latin transliteration:

+ kitil×fastr × risti × stin + þina × iftiʀ × askut × faþur + sin × saʀ × uas × uistr × uk × ustr + kuþ ialbi × as × salu

Old Norse transcription:

Kætilfastr ræisti stæin þenna æftiʀ Asgaut, faður sinn. Saʀ vas vestr ok austr. Guð hialpi hans salu.

English translation:

"Ketilfastr raised this stone in memory of Ásgautr, his father. He was in the west and in the east. May God help his soul."[7]

U 611
Runestone U 611.

This runestone carved in runestone style Pr1 is located at Tibble. It appears to be raised in memory of a man who died in the retinue of the Viking chieftain Freygeirr. Pr 1 is also known as Ringerike style, and this classification is used for inscriptions which depicts the serpent heads attached to the runic text bands in profile, but the serpents or beasts are not as elongated and stylized as in the Urnes style.

Latin transliteration:

biurn : auk : stnfriþ : litu : arisa s--n : afti : kisila : han : uti : fial : i liþi : frekis *

Old Norse transcription:

Biorn ok Stæinfrið letu ræisa s[tæi]n æftiʀ Gisla. Hann uti fioll i liði Frøygæiʀs(?).

English translation:

"Bjôrn and Steinfríðr had the stone raised in memory of Gísli. He fell abroad in Freygeirr's(?) retinue."[8]

U 668
The runestone U 668.

This runestone is found in Kolsta (also spelled Kålsta). In the 17th century this stone was found by one of Johannes Bureus' assistants and it was part of the wall of a manor house.[9] After having been lost for 100 years it was rediscovered in the mid-19th century.[9]

The stone is of high notability because it was raised in memory of one of the members of the Dano-English kings' personal guard, the Þingalið, consisting of elite warriors who mostly came from Scandinavia.[9] This elite unit existed between 1016 and 1066.[10] Another runestone raised in memory of a man who died in the same retinue is found in Södermanland, the Råby Runestone.[11]

The Kolsta runestone is carved in runestone style Pr3, and it is not older than the mid-11th century as indicated by the use of dotted runes and the use of the ansuz rune for the o phoneme.[10]

Latin transliteration:

' sterkar * auk ' hioruarþr ' letu * reisa * þensa * stein at ' faþur sin keir(a) ' sum ' uestr ' sat ' i þikaliþi * kuþ hialbi salu

Old Norse transcription:

Stærkarr ok Hiorvarðr letu ræisa þennsa stæin at faður sinn Gæiʀa, sum vestr sat i þingaliði. Guð hialpi salu.

English translation:

"Styrkárr and Hjôrvarðr had this stone raised in memory of their father Geiri, who sat in the Assembly's retinue in the west. May God help (his) soul."[12]

Södermanland

Sö 14
Sö 14.

This runestone is found at the church of Gåsinge. It is carved in runestone style Fp, which is the classification for text bands with attached serpent or beast heads depicted as seen from above. It was raised by two women in memory of their husband and father. He took part in an expedition in the west, possibly with Canute the Great.

Latin transliteration:

rakna * raisti * stain * þansi * at * suin * buta * sit * auk * sifa * auk * r-knburk * at * sit * faþur * kuþ * hil[b]i * at * [hat]s * uit * iak * þet * uaʀ * sui- * uestr * miþ * kuti

Old Norse transcription:

Ragna ræisti stæin þannsi at Svæin, bonda sinn, ok Sæfa ok R[a]gnborg at sinn faður. Guð hialpi and hans. Væit iak, þæt vaʀ Svæi[nn] vestr með Gauti/Knuti.

English translation:

"Ragna raised this stone in memory of Sveinn, her husbandman, and Sæfa and Ragnbjôrg in memory of their father. May God help his spirit. I know that Sveinn was in the west with Gautr/Knútr."[13]

Sö 53
17th century drawing by Johan Peringskiöld.

This runestone was documented during the Swedish surveys of runestones in the 17th century as being located in Valstad. Part of the stone was later found in a wall of a shed at a courtyard and another below a cottege. The courtyard along with several nearby houses were later destroyed in 1880. The stone is now considered to be lost. It is classified as possibly being in runestone style RAK and was raised in memory of a son who died in the west.

Latin transliteration:

[lafʀ * raisþi * stain * þansi : iftiʀ * sulfu * sun sin : han uarþ : uastr * tauþr]

Old Norse transcription:

Olafʀ ræisþi stæin þannsi æftiʀ Sylfu/Solfu, sun sinn. Hann varð vestr dauðr.

English translation:

"Ólafr raised this stone in memory of Sylfa/Solfa, his son. He died in the west."[14]

Sö 62
Sö 62.

This runestone is found at Hässlö, today Hässle, and is carved in runestone style Pr1. It was raised in memory of a son who died on the western route.

Latin transliteration:

kuni : rasti stan : þansi : a ragna : sun san : kuþan : i uak : uaþ : taþʀ uastr

Old Norse transcription:

Gunni ræisti stæin þannsi at Ragna, sun sinn goðan, i veg varð dauðr vestr.

English translation:

"Gunni raised this stone in memory of Ragni, his good son; (he) died on the western route."[15]

Sö 106
Sö 106.

The Kjula Runestone is a famous runestone that is carved in runestone style Pr1. It is located in Kjula at the old road between Eskilstuna and Strängnäs, which was also the location for the local assembly.[16]

It tells of a man called Spjót ("spear") who had taken part in extensive warfare in western Europe. It is held to have been raised by the same aristocratic family as the Ramsund carving nearby and the Bro Runestone in Uppland. Several Scandinavian authorities such as Sophus Bugge, Erik Braghte, and Elias Wessén have discussed the runestone and how extensive the warfare of Spjót could have been. Spjót, meaning "Spear", is a unique name and it may have been a name he earned as a warrior.

The text uses the term vestarla for "in the west" without specifying a location. Four other Viking runestones similarly use this term, Sö 137, Sö 164, Sö 173, and Sm 51.[17]

Latin transliteration:

alrikʀ ¤ raisti ¤ stain × sun × siriþaʀ × at × sin faþur × sbiut ×× saʀ × uisitaula × um × uaʀit : hafþi × burg × um brutna : i : auk × um barþa +× firþ × han × kar(s)aʀ + kuni + alaʀ ×

Old Norse transcription:

Alrikʀ ræisti stæin, sunn Sigriðaʀ, at sinn faður Spiut, saʀ vestarla um vaʀit hafði, borg um brutna i ok um barða, færð hann karsaʀ kunni allaʀ.

English translation:

"Alríkr, Sigríðr's son, raised the stone in memory of his father Spjót, who had been in the west, broken down and fought in townships. He knew all the journey's fortresses."[18]

Sö 137
Side B of Sö 137.

This is one of the runestones at Aspa and is classified as being carved in runestone style RAK. It was engraved with both long-branch runes and staveless runes. In the last row all the words but the last one were written with staveless runes.

Latin transliteration:

A þura : raisþi : stin : þ--si at : ubi : buanti : sin
B : stain : saʀ:si : stanr : at : ybi : o þik*staþi : at ¶ : þuru : uar : han : uestarla : uakti : karla ¶ [sa þar] * sunr þaþ * raknasuatau(k)i(f)maʀ[sua]

Old Norse transcription:

A Þora ræisþi stæin þ[ann]si at Øpi, boanda sinn.
B Stæinn saʀsi standr at Øpi a þingstaði at Þoru ver. Hann vestarla væknti(?) karla, sa þaʀ sunʀ það. …

English translation:

A "Þóra raised this stone in memory of Œpir, her husbandman."
B "This stone stands in memory of Œpir, on the Assembly-place in memory of Þóra's husband. He armed(?) (his) men in the west. The son saw this there ..."[19]

Sö 159
Sö 159.

This runestone is tentatively categorized as being in runestone style RAK, and is located in Österberga. It has both long-branch runes and staveless runes. It was raised in memory of a father who had been in the west for a long time.

Latin transliteration:

: ikialtr : ak : aluiʀ : raisþu : stain : þansi : at : þurbiurn : faþur : sin : han uaistr hafʀ uf uaʀit leki rorikʀ * kumytr biu * kunlaifʀ hiuku runaʀ

Old Norse transcription:

Ingialdr ok Alveʀ/Ølveʀ ræisþu stæin þannsi at Þorbiorn, faður sinn. Hann vestr hafʀ of vaʀit længi. Hrøʀikʀ(?), Guðmundr, <biu>, Gunnlæifʀ hiuggu runaʀ.

English translation:

"Ingjaldr and Ôlvir raised this stone in memory of Þorbjôrn, their father. He has been long in the west. Hrœríkr(?), Guðmundr, <biu> (and) Gunnleifr cut the runes."[20]

Sö 164
Sö 164.

This runestone is found at Spånga and it sports not only long-branch runes, but also cipher runes made of both short-twig runes and staveless runes. The ornamentation is a ship where the mast is an artful cross. It is the only runestone with both text and iconography that refer to a ship.[21] It was raised in memory of a man who took part in an expedition to the west where he was buried, and refers to him heroically in alliterative verse or prose.[21] This runestone is attributed to a runemaster named Traen.[22]

Latin transliteration:

kuþbirn : uti : þaiʀ r(a)isþu : stan þansi : at : kuþmar : f(a)þur : sin : stuþ : triki:l(a) : i * stafn skibi : likʀ uistarla uf huln sar tu :

Old Norse transcription:

Guðbiorn, Oddi, þæiʀ ræisþu stæin þannsi at Guðmar, faður sinn. Stoð drængila i stafn skipi, liggʀ vestarla of hulinn(?), saʀ do.

English translation:

"Guðbjôrn (and) Oddi, they raised this stone in memory of Guðmarr, their father. He who died stood valiantly in the staff of the ship; (now) lies inhumed in the west."[22]

Sö 173
The three raised stones at Tystberga.
The runestone Sö 173.

In the village of Tystberga there are three raised stones.[23] Two of them are runestones called Sö 173 and Sö 374, of which the last one has a cross.[23] Both inscriptions are from the 11th century and tell of the same family.[23] They probably refer to Viking expeditions both westwards and eastwards.[23]

The location was first described by Lukas Gabb during the nationwide revision of pre-historic monuments that took place in the 17th century.[23] In a paddock at the state owned homestead of Tystberga there was a flat stone lying with runes and next to it there was another flat stone that was leaning.[23] In addition, there was a large square stone surrounded with rows of smaller stones, which Gadd described as a "fairly large cemetery".[23] Not far from the stones, there were also two giant passage graves, about 20 paces long.[23]

There is a depiction of the cross-less stone from the 17th century, made by Johan Hadorph and Johan Peringskiöld.[23] This depiction has helped scholars reconstruct the parts that are damaged today.[23] The runestone was raised anew by Richard Dybeck in 1864.[23] In 1936, Ivar Schnell examined the stone, and he noted that there was a large stone next to it.[23] When this stone was raised, they discovered that it was also a runestone, and it was probably the one that had been previously described by Lukas Gadd as the "square stone".[23] In the vicinity, Schnell found a destroyed stone without runes which probably was the leaning stone described by Gadd.[23] Since they would hinder agriculture, the three stones were re-erected at a distance of 60 metres, at the side of the road.[23] The stone circle and the other monuments described by Gadd could not be found anymore.[23]

Regarding the names of the sponsors of the stone, the runes mani can be interpreted in two ways, since runic texts never repeat two runes consecutively.[23] One possibility is that it refers to Máni, the moon, and the other alternative is the male name Manni which is derived from maðr ("man").[23] The runes mus:kia are more challenging and the older interpretation that it was Mus-Gea is nowadays rejected.[23] It is probably a nominalization of myskia which means "darken" as during sunset, and one scholar has suggested that it could mean "sunset" and "twilight" and refer to e.g. a hair colour.[23] A second theory is that the name refers to the animal bat.[23] It is also disputed whether it is a man's name or a woman's name, but most scholars think that it refers to a woman.[23] The name Myskia appears in a second runic inscription, Sö 13 from Gatstugan, and it may refer to the same person.[23] The inscription echos the m-runes () from the sponsors' names in the shape of the tongues of the two serpents.[24]

The last part of the cross-less inscription is both unusual and partly problematic.[23] The word ystarla could without context be interpreted as both "westwards" and "eastwards", but since an austarla appears later in the inscription, it is agreed that ystarla means "westwards".[23] It is unusual, but not unique, that the y-rune () represents the v phoneme.[23] An additional reason for this interpretation is the fact that it would allow the last part of the inscription to be interpreted as a poem in the meter fornyrðislag.[23] This would explain the use of the rune since vestarla permits alliteration with um vaʀit.[23] It is not known whether he refers to Hróðgeirr (Roger) or Holmsteinn, but most think that it is Holmsteinn who had been westwards.[23] The plural ending -u in the verb form dou shows that both Hróðgeirr and Holmsteinn died in the Ingvar expedition.[23]

Latin transliteration:

A mus:kia : a(u)[k :] (m)an(i) : litu : rasa : ku[(m)(l) : þausi : at : b]ruþur * (s)in : hr(u)þkaiʀ * auk : faþur sin hulm:stain *
B * han hafþi * ystarla u(m) : uaʀit * lenki : tuu : a:ustarla : meþ : inkuari

Old Norse transcription:

A Myskia ok Manni/Mani letu ræisa kumbl þausi at broður sinn Hroðgæiʀ ok faður sinn Holmstæin.
B Hann hafði vestarla um vaʀit længi, dou austarla með Ingvari.

English translation:

A "Myskja and Manni/Máni had these monuments raised in memory of their brother Hróðgeirr and their father Holmsteinn."
B "He had long been in the west; died in the east with Ingvarr."[25]

Sö 217
Sö 217.

This runestone in runestone style Fp is located in Sorunda. It is raised in memory of a father who died in a war expedition led by a commander named Guðvé. Erik Brate argues that it was the same expedition as the one mentioned on the Grinda Runestone and where the targets are reported to have been England and Saxony.[26]

Latin transliteration:

+ suertikr : nuk + kari : auk : kuþmutr : auk : skari : auk : knutr : raistu : stain : þena : aftiʀ : utruk * faþur : sin : is fel * i liþi : kuþuis +

Old Norse transcription:

Sværtingʀ ok Kari ok Guðmundr ok Skari ok Knutr ræistu stæin þenna æftiʀ Otrygg, faður sinn, es fell i liði Guðvis.

English translation:

"Svertingr and Kári and Guðmundr and Skári and Knútr raised this stone in memory of Ótryggr, their father, who fell in Guðvé's retinue."[27]

Sö 260
Sö 260.

This runestone is located in Södra Beteby, and it may be one of the Hakon Jarl Runestones. It is not only the stone that has been found on the farm, but also a hoard of several hundred English coins.[28] More Anglo-Saxon pennies of this period have been found in Sweden than in England due to the Danegelds.[28]

Omeljan Pritsak argues that this Hakon is the same as the one who is mentioned on the Bro Runestone and whose son Ulf was in the west, i.e. in England.[29] This Swedish Hakon Jarl would then actually be the Norwegian Hákon Eiríksson.[29]

Latin transliteration:

… … ...a : stin : eftiʀ : ierunt : sun : sia : aʀ * uaʀ : uestþr : meþ ulfi : suni * hakunar *

Old Norse transcription:

… … [ræis]a stæin æftiʀ Iarund, sun sinn, eʀ vaʀ vestr með Ulfi, syni Hakonaʀ.

English translation:

"... … raise the stone in memory of Jôrundr, his son, who was in the west with Ulfr, Hákon's son."[30]

Sö 319
Sö 319.

This runestone was found in Sannerby, but was moved to the park of the manor house Stäringe, where it is now raised beside the runestone Sö 320. It is carved in runestone style RAK.

Latin transliteration:

: finiþr : kiarþi : kuml : þaisi : eftiʀ : kaiʀbiurn : faþur sin :: han uarþ : tauþr uestr

Old Norse transcription:

Finnviðr(?) gærði kuml þessi æftiʀ Gæiʀbiorn, faður sinn. Hann varð dauðr vestr.

English translation:

"Finnviðr(?) made these monuments in memory of Geirbjôrn, his father. He died in the west."[31]

Östergötland

Ög 68
Ög 68.

This runestone was found at the church of Ekeby, and it was moved into the church porch in 1961. It is carved in runestone style RAK. It mentions the death of a man named Kyela who died while participating in an expedition westwards under a chieftain named Væringr. Erik Brate considers this Væringr to be the one who is mentioned on runestone Ög 111, below.[32]

Latin transliteration:

suina × karþi × bru × þesi × eftiʀ × ouint × bruþur × sin × han × uas × uesteʀ × tauþeʀ × i × uereks × (k)ai-i

Old Norse transcription:

Svæina gærði bro þessi æftiʀ Øyvind, broður sinn. Hann vas vestr dauðr i Værings <kai-i>.

English translation:

"Sveina made this bridge in memory of Eyvindr, his brother. He died in the west on Væringr's ..."[33]

Ög 83
Ög 83.

Ög 83 is one of the runestones of Högby and it is tentatively categorized as being in runestone style Pr1-Pr2. In this style the serpent or beast heads at the ends of the text bands are depicted in profile, but the serpents or beasts are not as elongated and stylized as in the Urnes style. It was made in memory of a son who died in the West.

Latin transliteration:

* þura * sati * stin * þasi * aftiʀ * suin * sun * sin * ʀs * uʀstr * o * ualu

Old Norse transcription:

Þora satti stæin þannsi æftiʀ Svæin, sun sinn, es vestr a <ualu>

English translation:

"Þóra placed this stone in memory of Sveinn, her son, who died in the west in <ualu>."[34]

Ög 111
Ög 111.

This inscription in runestone style Fp is located in the wall of the church of Landeryd. It was raised by a man named Væringr in memory of a brother who had served under Canute the Great. Erik Brate considers this Væringr to be same man as the one who is mentioned on runestone Ög 68, above.[32] The cross is in Ringerike style.[35]

Latin transliteration:

* uirikʀ : resti : stan : eftiʀ : þialfa : bruþur : sin : trak : þan : aʀ * uaʀ * miʀ * knuti :

Old Norse transcription:

Væringʀ ræisti stæin æftiʀ Þialfa, broður sinn, dræng þann, eʀ vaʀ með Knuti.

English translation:

"Væringr raised the stone in memory of Þjalfi , his brother, the valiant man who was with Knútr."[36]

Ög Fv1970;310
Ög Fv1970;310.

This runestone from the first half of the 11th century was discovered in June 1969 in the cemetery wall some 40 metres from the gate of the church of Kullerstad.[37] The engraved side had been facing inwards. The stone was raised next to the entrance to the church. It is in light red granite and it is 1.84 m tall (1.55 m above the soil) and 84 cm wide. The length of the runes is between 12 and 15 cm. It was raised by Hákon in memory of his son Gunnarr and both men are also known from the runestone Ög 162 at Gunnar's bridge located about one-half km north of the church. The inscription on Ög 162 relates that Hákon named the bridge in memory of his son Gunnarr. The runestone which was discovered at the church was probably the main memorial, but it reports that at least two memorials had been raised in Gunnarr's memory. It is consequently likely that both runestones formed a twinned memorial at Gunnar's bridge, and they were probably made by the same runemaster.[37]

Latin transliteration:

hakun + raiþi × kuml × þausi × eftiʀ × kunar + sun × sin × han × uarþ × taurþ × uastr +

Old Norse transcription:

Hakon ræisþi kumbl þausi æftiʀ Gunnar, sun sinn. Hann varð dauðr vestr.

English translation:

"Hákon raised these monuments in memory of Gunnarr, his son. He died in the west."[38]

Västergötland

Vg 61
Vg 61.

This runestone is raised at Härlingstorp. It is carved in runestone style RAK and was raised in memory of a man who died on the western route. Only two other runestones, Viking runestones DR 330 and 334, use the phrase i vikingu, literally "in Viking," and here with the combination of "on the western route" probably indicates that he died during the wars in England.[39]

Latin transliteration:

: tula : sati : sten : þ... ...[iʀ kʀ : sun] : sin : harþa × kuþon : trok : sa × uarþ : tuþr : o : uastr:uakm : i : uikiku :

Old Norse transcription:

Tola satti stæin þ[annsi æft]iʀ Gæiʀ, sun sinn, harða goðan dræng. Sa varð dauðr a vestrvegum i vikingu.

English translation:

"Tóla placed this stone in memory of Geirr, her son, a very good valiant man. He died on a Viking raid on the western route."[40]

Vg 197
Vg 197.

This runestone is found on the cemetery of the church of Dalum. It was raised in memory of two brothers of which one died in the east and the other one died in the west.

Latin transliteration:

tuki * auk * þiʀ * bryþr * ristu * stin * þesi * eftiʀ : bryþr : sina * eʀ : uarþ * tu(þ)r uestr : en * anar : au(s)tr :

Old Norse transcription:

Toki ok þæiʀ brøðr ræistu stæin þennsi æftiʀ brøðr sina. Eʀ varð dauðr vestr, en annarr austr.

English translation:

"Tóki and his brothers raised this stone in memory of their brothers. One died in the west, another in the east."[41]

Småland

Sm 10
Sm 10.

This runestone is found at the Cathedral of Växjö near its western wall. It is raised by a man who entitled himself "the Viking" and is classified as being carved in runestone style Pr2, which is also known as Ringerike style. It was discovered in 1813 under plaster in the wall of the cathedral. The inscription starts at the head of the serpent, and the inscription is carved in the circular band that follows the sides of the stone until it reaches the x. The prayer is read from bottom-up in the right hand rectangle. The runes tyki are found above the serpent's head in the central rectangle, whereas the runes uikikr are found in the left-hand rectangle. The epithet Viking indicates that Tóki had taken part in Viking expeditions and it was probably used to distinguish him from other men named Tóki in the region.[42]

Latin transliteration:

-u(k)i tyki × uikikr reisti * stein * e(f)tir : kunar : sun : kirims × kuþ healbi sel hans

Old Norse transcription:

[T]oki, Toki Vikingʀ, ræisti stæin æftiʀ Gunnar, sun Grims. Guð hialpi salu hans!

English translation:

"Tóki, Tóki the Viking, raised the stone in memory of Gunnarr, Grímr's son. May God help his soul!"[43]

Sm 42
Sm 42.

This runestone in style RAK is located in Tuna. It was raised in memory of Özurr who was in the service of a king named Harald, who was probably the English king Harold Harefoot.[44][45] Serving as a skipari or "seaman" on the king's longship was a great honour and Özurr was consequently part of the king's retinue,[44] the þingalið. Other runestones unsing the title skipari include DR 82 in Sønder Vinge, DR 218 in Tågerup, DR 275 in Solberga, DR 363 in Sturkö, DR 379 in Ny Larsker, Sö 171 in Esta, and Sö 335 in Ärja.[46] On this runestone, the runemaster used a bind rune to combine the s-rune and k-rune in skipari.[47] According to a local tradition, "ancient coins" were once found near the stone, and these coins were possibly Özur's payment from his service in England.[44]

Latin transliteration:

tumi × risti : stin : þansi : iftiʀ × asur : bruþur × sin × þan : aʀ : uaʀ : s=kibari : hrhls : kunuks

Old Norse transcription:

Tumi/Tummi/Domi ræisti stæin þannsi æftiʀ Assur, broður sinn, þann eʀ vaʀ skipari Haralds kunungs.

English translation:

"Tumi/Tummi/Dómi raised this stone in memory of Ôzurr, his brother, he who was King Haraldr's seaman."[48]

Sm 51
Sm 51.

This runestone is located near the old exterior wall of the cemetery of the church of Forsheda. It was discovered in 1866 during the rebuilding of the church. It is classified as being carved in runestone style RAK and was raised in memory of a man who died vestarla or westwards.

Latin transliteration:

tusti × (r)...(i) ...tin × efti(ʀ) kuno × mak × sin × þ... ...---s × … × uistar- × uar- …

Old Norse transcription:

Tosti r[æist]i [s]tæin æftiʀ Gunna, mag sinn, … … … vestar[la] var[ð] …

English translation:

"Tosti raised the stone in memory of Gunni, his kinsman-by-marriage … … … was westwards ..."[49]

Gotland

G 370
G 370.

This runestone is located at Hablingbo Church. The stone was discovered in 1988 while conducting excavation for a grave at the church cemetery, and was then moved to the church tower.[50] It is classified as being carved in runestone style Pr3 and was raised in memory of a man who died when travelling in the west with vikingum or the Vikings. The inscription is considered to be an early use of the plural form of the word Vikings in Sweden, although it is also used on U 617 at Bro and on the Viking runestone DR 216 from Denmark.[50]

Latin transliteration:

uatar : auk … hilkaiʀ : raistu : stain : iftir … hailka … f-þur : sin : hn : uahʀ -istr : farin miþ uikikum

Old Norse transcription:

Hvatarr ok Hæilgæiʀʀ(?) ræistu stæin aftiʀ Hæilga, f[a]ður sinn. Hann var [v]estr farinn með vikingum.

English translation:

"Hvatarr and Heilgeirr(?) raised the stone in memory of Helgi, their father. He travelled to the west with the Vikings."[51]

Scania

DR 266
Runestone DR 266

This runestone, classified as being carved in runestone style RAK, was documented during the survey of runestones in the 17th century by Ole Worm as being located at Uppåkra, but it was later moved about 200 meters during the 19th century to Stenshöggård.

Latin transliteration:

A nafni × risþi × stin × þasi ¶ aftiʀ × tuka × bruþur × si[n]
B han × uarþ × uistr ¶ tuþr

Old Norse transcription:

A Nafni resþi sten þæssi æftiʀ Toka, broþur sin.
B Han warþ wæstr døþr.

English translation:

A "Nafni raised this stone in memory of Tóki, his brother."
B "He died in the west."[52]

DR 330
Runestone DR 330

This 11th century runestone was discovered at the church at Gårdstånga in 1867, but it is now located at "runestone hill" in Lund. It is classified as being carved in runestone style RAK. Although the runic text has been damaged, it describes the relationship between the men using the word felaga or "partner," which is related to félag, a mechantile partnership or financial joint venture.

Latin transliteration:

A ...usti : auk : kunar : ...u : stina : þasi : aiftiʀ : kn... ¶ … ...biurn : filaka : si(n)(-)
B : þiʀ : trikaʀ : uaʀu : u--(-) --isiʀ : i * uikiku

Old Norse transcription:

A Tosti(?) ok Gunnar … stena þæssi æftiʀ … [ok] ...biorn, felaga sin[a].
B Þeʀ drængiaʀ waʀu w[iþa] [un]esiʀ i wikingu.

English translation:

A "Tosti(?) and Gunnarr … these stones in memory of … [and] ...-bjôrn, their partners."
B "These valiant men were widely renowned on Viking raids."[53]

DR 334
Runestone DR 334

This runestone is carved in runestone style RAK and is part of the Västra Strö monument, which has five standing stones and two runestones, DR 334 and DR 335. The monument was in good shape when documented by Ole Worm in 1643, but a survey in 1876 found that all of the stones had fallen except one. The monument was restored in 1932 by the Lund Kulturen. The inscription on DR 334 is considered to have been carved by the same runemaster who did DR 335, which memorializes a deceased ship owner. Both memorial runestones were also sponsored by the same man, Faðir, who on DR 334 memorializes his deceased brother Ôzurr, who died i wikingu or on a Viking raid or expedition.[54] It has been suggested that all three men may have participated on this raid or expedition.[54]

The stone is known locally as the Västra Ströstenen 1.

Latin transliteration:

faþiʀ : lit : hukua : runaʀ : þisi : uftiʀ : osur : bruþur : sin : is : nur : uarþ : tuþr : i : uikiku :

Old Norse transcription:

Faþiʀ let hoggwa runaʀ þæssi æftiʀ Azur, broþur sin, æs nor warþ døþr i wikingu.

English translation:

"Faðir had these runes cut in memory of Ôzurr, his brother, who died in the north on a Viking raid."[55]

Denmark

DR 216
DR 216

This runestone originates from Tirsted on the island of Lolland, Denmark. It is the earliest native Scandinavian document that mentions Sweden together with the runestones DR 344 and Sö Fv1948;289. It is raised in memory of a Viking who died in Sweden and according to one reading, he fought in the retinue of Freygeirr.[56] It is on permanent display at the Danish National Museum.

Latin transliteration:

A osraþr auk hiltu(-)-ʀ raisþu stain þansi aft froþa fronti sin sin ian han uas þo foink uaiʀa ian han uarþ tauþr o suoþiauþu auk uas furs i frikis ioþi þo aliʀ uikikaʀ

Old Norse transcription:

Asraþr ok Hildu[ng]ʀ/Hildv[ig]ʀ/Hildu[lf]ʀ resþu sten þænsi æft Fraþa/Fræþa, frænda sin sin, æn han was þa fækn(?) wæʀa, æn han warþ døþr a Sweþiuþu ok was fyrst(?) i(?) Friggis(?) liði(?) þa alliʀ wikingaʀ.

English translation:

"Asrathr and Hildung/Hildvig/Hildulf erected this stone after Fretha, their kinsman, … he died in Sweden and was first .... of every Viking."[57]

Notes
  1. http://realscandinavia.com/runestones-words-from-the-viking-age/
  2. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidnikel/2020/02/17/the-stunning-viking-runestones-of-scandinavia/
  3. The poem for Sö 106 at Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages Archived September 12, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. Entry U 349 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  5. Entry U 363 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  6. Pritsak 1981:342.
  7. Entry U 504 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  8. Entry U 611 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  9. Enoksen 1998:125.
  10. Enoksen 1998:127.
  11. Pritsak 1981:339.
  12. Entry U 668 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  13. Entry Sö 14 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  14. Entry Sö 53 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  15. Entry Sö 62 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  16. Pritsak 1981:409.
  17. Zilmer 2005:229.
  18. Entry Sö 106 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  19. Entry Sö 137 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  20. Entry Sö 159 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  21. Jesch 2001:120.
  22. Entry Sö 164 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  23. The article Tystberga Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine on the site of the Swedish National Heritage Board, retrieved May 20, 2007.
  24. Note 23 in Düwel, Klaus; Nowak, Sean, eds. (1998). Runeninschriften als Quellen Interdisziplinärer Forschung. Walter de Gruyter. p. 469. ISBN 3-11-015455-2.
  25. Entry Sö 173 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  26. Brate 1922:62.
  27. Entry Sö 217 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  28. Jansson 1980:35.
  29. Pritsak 1981:412.
  30. Entry Sö 260 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  31. Entry Sö 319 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  32. Pritsak 1981:383.
  33. Entry Ög 68 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  34. Entry Ög 83 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  35. Fuglesang 1998:201.
  36. Entry Ög 111 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  37. Svärdström 1970:310-311.
  38. Entry Ög Fv1970;310 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  39. Jesch 2001:54-56.
  40. Entry Vg 61 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  41. Entry Vg 197 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  42. The local information plaque, signed by County Administrative Board, the National Heritage Society and the Museum of Småland.
  43. Entry Sm 10 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  44. Jansson 1980:37.
  45. Pritsak 1981:343.
  46. Strid 2002:739.
  47. MacLeod 2002:127, 154.
  48. Entry Sm 42 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  49. Entry Sm 51 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  50. Gustavson 1990:23-26.
  51. Entry G 370 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  52. Entry DR 266 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  53. Entry DR 330 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  54. Jesch 2001:56, 180-81.
  55. Entry DR 334 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.
  56. Pritsak 1981:399.
  57. Entry DR 216 in Rundata 2.0 for Windows.

Sources
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