England Runestones

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Main article: Viking Runestones.

Runestones that mention expeditions outside of Scandinavia
Viking Runestones England Runestones Hakon Jarl Runestones Varangian Runestones Baltic expeditions runestones Greece Runestones Italy Runestones Ingvar Runestones Serkland Runestones

The England Runestones is a group of c. 30 runestones that refer to Viking Age voyages to England.^[1] They constitute one of the largest groups of runestones that mention voyages to other countries, and they are comparable in number only to the c. 30 Greece Runestones^[2] and the 26 Ingvar Runestones, of which the latter refer to a Viking expedition to the Middle East. They were engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark.

The Anglo-Saxon rulers paid large sums, Danegelds, to Vikings, who mostly came from Denmark and who arrived to the English shores during the 990s and the first centuries of the 11th century. Some runestones relate of these Danegelds, such as the Yttergärde runestone, U 344, which tells of Ulf of Borresta who received the danegeld three times, and the last one he received from Canute the Great. Canute sent home most of the Vikings who had helped him conquer England, but he kept a strong bodyguard, the Þingalið, and its members are also mentioned on several runestones.^[3]

The vast majority of the runestones, 27, were raised in modern-day Sweden and 17 in the oldest Swedish provinces around lake Mälaren. In contrast, modern-day Denmark has no such runestones, but there is a Danish runestone in Scania that mentions London. There is also a runestone in Norway and a Swedish one in Schleswig, Germany.

Some Vikings, such as Guðvér did not only attack England, but also Saxony, as reported by the Grinda Runestone Sö 166 in Södermanland:^[1]

Grjótgarðr (and) Einriði, the sons made (the stone) in memory of (their) able father. Guðvér was in the west; divided (up) payment in England; manfully attacked townships in Saxony.[1][4]

Below follows a presentation of the Greece Runestones based on information collected from the Rundata project, organized according to location. The transcriptions from runic inscriptions into standardized Old Norse are in the Swedish and Danish dialect to facilitate comparison with the inscriptions, while the English translation provided by Rundata give the names in standard dialect (the Icelandic and Norwegian dialect).

[edit] Uppland

There are eight runestones in Uppland that mention voyages to England. Several of them were raised in memory of men who had partaken in the Danegeld in England.

[edit] U 194

This secluded runestone is located in a grove near Väsby, Uppland, Sweden. It was raised by a Viking in commemoration of his receiving one danegeld in England. It is in style Pr3 and together with U 344, it has been said to be the earliest example of the Urnes style in Uppland.^[5]

Latin transliteration:

al|i| |l|it raisa stain þino| |oftiR sik sialfan ' hon tuk| |knuts kialt a| |anklanti ' kuþ hialbi hons ant

Old Norse transcription:

Ali/Alli let ræisa stæin þenna æftiR sik sialfan. Hann tok Knuts giald a Ænglandi. Guð hialpi hans and.

English translation:

"Áli/Alli had this stone raised in memory of himself. He took Knútr's payment in England. May God help his spirit."^[6]

[edit] U 241

This runestone is one of the Lingsberg Runestones. It is located on the courtyard of the estate Lingsberg in Uppland, Sweden. It was raised by the grandchildren of Ulfríkr in commemoration of his receiving two danegelds in England. It is in the style Pr3.

Latin transliteration:

n tan auk huskarl ' auk sua(i)n ' l(i)tu rita stin aftiR ' ulfrik ' faþurfaþur sino ' hon hafþi o| |onklanti tuh kialt| |takit + kuþ hialbi þiRa kiþka salu| |uk| |kuþs muþ(i)

Old Norse transcription:

En Dan ok Huskarl ok Svæinn letu retta stæin æftiR Ulfrik, faðurfaður sinn. Hann hafði a Ænglandi tu giald takit. Guð hialpi þæiRa fæðga salu ok Guðs moðiR.

English translation:

"And Danr and Húskarl and Sveinn had the stone erected in memory of Ulfríkr, their father's father. He had taken two payments in England. May God and God's mother help the souls of the father and son."^[7]

[edit] U 344

The runestone U 344, in the style Pr3, was found in 1868, at Yttergärde, by Richard Dybeck,^[8] but it is today raised at the church of Orkesta, see Orkesta Runestones. Together with U 194, it is considered to be the earliest example of the Urnes style in Uppland.^[5]

The runes are written from right to left with the orientation of the runes going in the same direction, but the last words outside the runic band have the usual left-right orientation.^[8] It can be dated to the first half of the 11th century because of its use of the ansuz rune for the a and æ phomenes, and because of its lack of dotted runes.^[9]

This stone is notable because it commemorates that the Viking Ulf of Borresta had taken three danegelds in England.^[8] The first one was with Skagul Toste in 991,^[10] the second one with Thorkel the High in 1012^[10] and the last one with Canute the Great in 1018.^[10] Since there were many years between the danegelds, it is likely that Ulfr returned to Sweden after each danegeld to live as as a wealthy magnate.^[11] It is a remarkable feat in itself to summarize his adventurous life in so few unsentimental words.^[11][12]

Latin transliteration:

in ulfr hafiR o| |onklati ' þru kialt| |takat þit uas fursta þis tusti ka-t ' þ(a) ---- (þ)urktil ' þa kalt knutr

Old Norse transcription:

En UlfR hafiR a Ænglandi þry giald takit. Þet vas fyrsta þet's Tosti ga[l]t. Þa [galt] Þorkætill. Þa galt Knutr.

English translation:

"And Ulfr has taken three payments in England. That was the first that Tosti paid. Then Þorketill paid. Then Knútr paid."^[13]

[edit] U 539

This runestone is located at the church of Husby-Sjuhundra. It is one of the older runestones as it is in the style RAK. It is raised in memory of Sveinn who intended to go to England but died on route in Jutland. Omeljan Pritsak comments that Sveinn probably died in the Limfjord, Jutland, as the fjord was usually the starting point for campaigns against England.^[14] Jansson dates Svein's death to 1015, when Canute the Great's great invasion fleet had been assembled in the Limfjord, a fleet that had many young warriors from Uppland.^[15] When the fleet departed for England, Sveinn was no longer aboard.^[15]

The hope that God and God's mother would treat the man better than he deserved is an expression that appears on several runestones, and it is not understood as an expression of his having a bad character but it is a request that he should be favoured in the afterlife.^[16]

Latin transliteration:

A tiarfR × uki × urika × uk ' uiki × uk × iukiR × uk × kiRialmR × þiR bryþr × aliR × litu × risa ×

B stin þina × iftiR × suin × bruþur × sin × saR × uarþ × tuþr a × iut(l)ati × on skulti

C fara × til × iklanþs × kuþ × ialbi × (o)ns × at uk salu × uk| ×| kus muþiR × betr × þan an karþi til

Old Norse transcription:

A DiarfR ok Orøkia ok Vigi ok IogæiRR ok GæiRhialmR, þæiR brøðr alliR letu ræisa

B stæin þenna æftiR Svæin, broður sinn. SaR varð dauðr a Iutlandi. Hann skuldi

C fara til Ænglands. Guð hialpi hans and ok salu ok Guðs moðiR bætr þan hann gærði til.

English translation:

A "Djarfr and Órœkja and Vígi and Jógeirr and Geirhjalmr, all of these brothers had"

B "this stone raised in memory of Sveinn, their brother. He died in Jútland. He meant to"

C "travel to England. May God and God's mother help his spirit and soul better than he deserved."^[17]

[edit] U 616

This runestone is located at Tång, and it is raised in memory of a man who died in battle in England. It is in the style Pr1, but the runemaster is considered to have had little experience in the craft. Latin transliteration:

fir--(r)iui : lit rita * kuml : yfitiRr : fnþur : sih : baosa : auk : boruþur : kuru- * kuþ hi=a=l-... * ul kuru -ial uti * a| |akla--

Old Norse transcription:

<fir--riui> let retta kuml æftiR faður sinn Bosa(?)/Bausa(?) ok broður <kuru->. Guð hial[pi] <ul> <kuru> [f]ioll uti a Ængla[ndi].

English translation:

"<fir--riui> had the monument erected in memory of his father Bósi(?)/Bausi(?) and (his) brother <kuru->. May God help <ul> <kuru> fell abroad in England."^[18]

[edit] U 812

This runestone in the style Pr2 is raised at the church of Hjälsta. It is raised in memory of a man's father who died in England.

Latin transliteration:

× faþur × sin × saR × uarþ × tauþr × o eg×loti ×

Old Norse transcription:

faður sinn. SaR varð dauðr a Ænglandi.

English translation:

"his father. He died in England."^[19]

[edit] U 978

This stone is located in the wall of the church of Gamla Uppsala. It is in the style Pr2 and it is made of sandstone. It was made by a man who called himself "traveller to England" in memory of his father. Latin transliteration:

sihuiþr ...-i + stain + þina + iklats+fari + iftir + uitarf + faþ(u)(r) [+ -... ...sia]... ...ku---

Old Norse transcription:

Sigviðr [ræist]i stæin þenna Ænglandsfari æftiR Vidiarf, faður ... ... ...

English translation:

"Sigviðr, traveller to England, raised this stone in memory of Védjarfr, (his) father ... ... ..."^[20]

[edit] U 1181

This fragmented runestone in style Fp is located at Lilla Runhällen and it was raised by a man who had travelled to England in memory of himself. Latin transliteration:

...-(i) × lit × (a)kua ... ...[k × sa](l)fan × ek-...ns*fari ' a(f)i × kunu-s *

Old Norse transcription:

... let haggva ... [si]k sialfan, Æng[la]ndsfari, afi <kunu-s>.

English translation:

"... had (the stone) cut ... (in memory of) himself, traveller to England, grandfather of <kunu-s>."^[21]

[edit] Södermanland

There are six known runestones in Södermanland that mention men who had travelled to England.

[edit] Sö 46

This runestone was found in Hormesta, and it is one of the older runestone being in style RAK. It is raised by two men in memory of their brother who died in England.

Latin transliteration:

iskil : auk : knauþimanr : raistu : stain : þansi : at : bruþur : sin : suera : as : uarþ : tauþr * o * eklanti kuml * kiarþu : þatsi : [kitil slakR]

Old Norse transcription:

Æskell ok Gnauðimandr(?) ræistu stæin þannsi at broður sinn Sværra(?), es varð dauðr a Ænglandi. Kumbl giærðu þatsi Kætill [ok] StakkR.

English translation:

"Áskell and Gnauðimaðr(?) raised this stone in memory of their brother Sverri(?), who died in England. Ketill and Stakkr made this monument."^[22]

[edit] Sö 55

This runestone in Bjudby is style Pr2 and it is raised by a man in memory of his son Hefnir who went to England and back, and instead of having a warrior's death overseas, he died at home. Due to the use of the ansuz rune for the o phoneme, Erik Brate argues that Hefnir participated in a late 11th century expedition to England.^[23] He suggests that Hefnir was part of the invasion force sent to England by Sweyn Estridsson, in 1069, and which was intended to defeat William the Conqueror's Normans.^[24] The invasion had been planned for two years, but William the conqueror bought off the commander of the force who was Sweyn Estridsson's brother Asbjörn.^[24]

Latin transliteration:

þorstain (l)(i)... ...sa : stain : þena : ... sik : sialfan : auk : sun : sin : hefni : uaR til : enklans : ukr : trenkr : farin : uarþ : þa * haima : at : harmi tauþr kuþ hialbi : sialu : þaima bruni : auk : sloþi : þaiR ...(u) stan þena

Old Norse transcription:

Þorstæinn le[t ræi]sa stæin þenna [æftiR] sik sialfan ok sun sinn Hæfni. VaR til Ænglands ungR drængR farinn, varð þa hæima at harmi dauðr. Guð hialpi sialu þæiRa. Bruni ok Sloði þæiR [rist]u stæin þenna.

English translation:

"Þorsteinn had this stone raised in memory of himself and his son Hefnir. The young valiant man travelled to England; then died grievously at home. May God help their souls. Brúni and Slóði, they carved this stone."^[25]

[edit] Sö 83

This runestone has disappeared but it was located at the church of Tumbo and it was possibly in style Pr4. It was made by the runemaster Näsbjörn, and what little remained of the stone when it was discovered said that a man drowned in England.

Latin transliteration:

[...an : truknaþi : i eklans : han...]

Old Norse transcription:

[H]ann drunknaði i Ænglands ...

English translation:

"He drowned in England's ..."^[26]

[edit] Sö 160

This runestone is located at the church of Råby. Like the Kolsta Runestone, it is raised in memory of a man who died in the assembly retinue (þingalið) in England.^[27]

Latin transliteration:

: aybirn : raisþi : stain : þansi : at : karþi : han uarþ : tauþr : o| |oklati i liþi

Old Norse transcription:

Øybiorn ræisþi stæin þannsi at Skærði. Hann varð dauðr a Ænglandi i liði.

English translation:

"Eybjôrn raised this stone in memory of Skerðir. He died in the retinue in England."^[28]

[edit] Sö 166

This runestone which is located in Grinda is in the style RAK and is consequently one of the older runestones. It is raised in memory of a father who divided up gold in England and attacked some towns in northern Germany. According to Omeljan Pritsak, the gold which was divided was part of the danegeld,^[29] and Erik Brate argues that it was the same expedition as the one mentioned on the Berga Runestone.^[30]

Latin transliteration:

: kriutkarþr : ainriþi : suniR : kiarþu : at : faþur : snialan : kuþuiR : uaR uastr : a : aklati : kialti : skifti : burkiR : a : sahks:lanti : suti : kaula

Old Norse transcription:

Griutgarðr, Æinriði, syniR, giærðu at faður sniallan. GuðveR vaR vestr a Ænglandi, gialdi skifti, borgiR a Saxlandi sotti karla.

English translation:

"Grjótgarðr (and) Einriði, the sons made (the stone) in memory of (their) able father. Guðvér was in the west; divided (up) payment in England; manfully attacked townships in Saxony."^[31]

[edit] Sö 207

This runestone is located at the church of Överselö. It is in sandstone and in the style Fp. It is in memory of a father who travelled to England.

Latin transliteration:

kuþr... ... (f)aþur sin * fur * hfila * hn * til * iklans * kuþ halbi * sil hns

Old Norse transcription:

Guð... ... faður sinn. For hæfila hann til Ænglands. Guð hialpi sal hans.

English translation:

"Guð-... ... his father. He competently travelled to England. May God help his soul."^[32]

[edit] Västmanland

In Västmanland, there are three runestones that refer to voyages to England.

[edit] Vs 5

This runestone is located in the garden of the farm Vändle and it is tentatively categorized as being in style Fp. It is raised in memory of a man who travelled to England.

Latin transliteration:

[kra-hni- × lit × resa × s... ...] + uas × farin + til + ekla-s [× (t)u i × sbelbuþa × --s(a)þu × helb]i × kuþ [× se... ... ... sigi * iuk × -u...]

Old Norse transcription:

<kra-hni-> let ræisa s[tæin] ... vas farinn til Ængla[nd]s. Do i Spiallbuða ... Hialpi Guð se[lu hans] ... Siggi hiogg [r]u[naR].

English translation:

"<kra-hni-> had the stone raised ... travelled to England, died in Spjallboði's ... May God help his soul ... Siggi cut the runes."^[33]

[edit] Vs 9

This runestone is located near the bridge of Saltängsbron and it is in the style Pr3. It is in memory of a man who died in England.

Latin transliteration:

× kisl × lit × kera × buru × eftR × osl × sun × sin × han u(a)[rþ] × tyþr × a eklati × kuþ ialbi × has × ont auk × selu

Old Norse transcription:

Gisl let gærva bro æftiR Asl/Ôsl, sun sinn. Hann varð dauðr a Ænglandi. Guð hialpi hans and ok selu.

English translation:

"Gísl had the bridge made in memory of Ásl/Ôsl, his son. He died in England. May God help his spirit and soul."^[34]

[edit] Vs 18

This runestone is located in Berga and it is in the style Fp. It is made by the same runemaster as Ingvar runestone Vs 19.

Latin transliteration:

(k)hunaltr * liet resa * sthin * þensa * iftir * kerfast * sun sen * trek| |kuþan * auk * uas farin * til eklans * hiolbi * kuþ * salu * hans

Old Norse transcription:

Gunnaldr let ræisa stæin þennsa æftiR GæiRfast, sun sinn, dræng goðan, ok vas farinn til Ænglands. Hialpi Guð salu hans.

English translation:

"Gunnvaldr had this stone raised in memory of Geirfastr, his son, a good valiant man. And (he) had travelled to England. May God help his soul."^[35]

[edit] Gästrikland

In Gästrikland, there is only one runestones that mentions a voyage to England.

[edit] Gs 8

This is a fragment that remains of a runestone. It was found in Västra Hästbo near the church of Torsåker, and today it is almost hidden behind a pillar inside the church. It is in sandstone and it is one of the older runestones as it is in the style RAK. It was raised in memory of a man who went to England.

Latin transliteration:

asmuntr -... ...faþ-... han : uas : uist : --- ikla-ti ...k=uust--

Old Norse transcription:

Asmundr ... ... Hann vas vestr [ut a] Ængla[n]di ...

English translation:

"Ásmundr ... ... He was abroad in the west in England ..."^[36]

[edit] Östergötland

In Östergötland, there are two runestones that mention men who travelled to England, and both men died there.

[edit] Ög 104

This runestone is located in Gillberga. It is in the style Fp and it is raised in memory of a brother who died in England.

Latin transliteration:

: ruþr : risti : stin : þinsi : iftiR : tuk- : bruþur : sin : saR : uarþ : trbin : a : ilati : triR : arþa : kuþr :

Old Norse transcription:

Rauðr ræisti stæin þennsi æftiR Tok[a], broður sinn, saR varð drepinn a Ænglandi, drængR harða goðr.

English translation:

"Rauðr raised this stone in memory of Tóki, his brother, a very good valiant man, who was killed in England."^[37]

[edit] Ög Fv1950;341

This runestone is dated to c. 1025, and it was raised in memory of a father who died in England. It was discovered in 1950 lying with the text downwards on the property of the farm Kallerstad, only 200 metres from Ög 113. It was probably found in its original location since a road used to pass the stone. The stone had been broken into two pieces, but was reassembled and raised outside of the county museum of Linköping. The stone is in greyish red granite and it is 3.95 m tall (2.98 above soil) and 1.43 m wide, and the surface is quite weathered. The name Vígfastr is otherwise unattested on runestones and also the name Helga was quite rare.^[38] It is in the style Fp.^[39]

Latin transliteration:

...-iur- : auk : as-iurn : þiR : ristu : stin : þasi : eft-R : uikfast : faþur : sin : es uas : tuþr : o : eklati : sun : helgu

Old Norse transcription:

...[b]ior[n] ok As[b]iorn þæiR ræistu stæin þasi æft[i]R Vigfast, faður sinn, es vas dauðr a Ænglandi, sun Hælgu.

English translation:

"...-bjôrn and Ásbjôrn, they raised this stone in memory of Vígfastr, their father, Helga's son. He died in England."^[39]

[edit] Småland

In Småland, there are five or six runestones that mention voyages to England. One of them (Sm 77) mentions a man who was a marshal (stallari) in England.

[edit] Sm 5

This runestone is located in Transjö. It is one of the older stones as it is in the style RAK. The runes are unusual as the m-runes are dotted () and the k-runes have a stroke to the left instead of to the right. It is raised in memory of a son who died in England.

Latin transliteration:

A : kotr : sati : sten : þana : eftR : ketil :

B : sun : sin : han : faR :

C : mana : mesr o:niþikR : eR a : eklati : ali : tunþi

Old Norse transcription:

A Gautr satti stæin þenna æftiR Kætil,

B sun sinn. Hann vaR

C manna mæstr oniðingR, eR a Ænglandi aldri tyndi.

English translation:

A "Gautr placed this stone in memory of Ketill"

B "his son. He was"

C "the most unvillainous of men, who forfeited his life in England."^[40]

[edit] Sm 27

This runestone is raised on the cemetery of the church of Berga. It is in the style RAK and it is consequently one of the older runestones. It is raised in memory of a man who died in England.

Latin transliteration:

--rþr * ris(t)i * kuml * þe... ... ...-aþis * o * eklanti *

Old Norse transcription:

[Þo]rðr ræisti kumbl þe[ssi]/þe[tta] ... [ænd]aðis a Ænglandi.

English translation:

"Þórðr raised this/these(?) monument(s) ... met his end in England."^[41]

[edit] Sm 29

This runestone is located in Ingelstad. It is in the style RAK and it is consequently one of the older runestones. It was raised in memory of a father who died in England.

Latin transliteration:

...r rsþi * stin * iftiR * þur--(R) * fa-ur * sin * saR * etaþis * o * -klanti *

Old Norse transcription:

... ræisþi stæin æftiR Þor[gæi]R, fa[ð]ur sinn. SaR ændaðis a [Æ]nglandi.

English translation:

"... raised the stone in memory of Þorgeirr, his father. He met his end in England."^[42]

[edit] Sm 77

This runestone is located in Sävsjö, and it is raised by Vrái in memory of a brother who died in England. Later, Vrái would also receive a memorial, the nearby Komstad Runestone which tells that Vrái had been the marshall (stallari) of an earl Hakon,^[43] who was probably the earl Håkon Eiriksson.^[29][44]

Latin transliteration:

: urai : sati : stin : þonsi : eftiR : kuna : bruþur : sin : han : uaR tauþr : o : iklati

Old Norse transcription:

Vrai satti stæin þannsi æftiR Gunna, broður sinn. Hann vaR dauðr a Ænglandi.

English translation:

"Vrái placed this stone in memory of Gunni, his brother. He died in England."^[45]

[edit] Sm 101

The Nävelsjö runestone is located at the estate of Nöbbelesholm, and it is raised in memory of a father who died in England and was buried by his brother in Bath, Somerset.

Latin transliteration:

: kun(t)(k)el : sati : sten : þansi : eftiR : kunar : faþur : sin : sun : hruþa : halgi : lagþi : han : i : sten:þr : bruþur : sin : a : haklati : i : baþum

Old Norse transcription:

Gunnkell satti stæin þannsi æftiR Gunnar, faður sinn, sun Hroða. Hælgi lagði hann i stæinþro, broður sinn, a Ænglandi i Baðum.

English translation:

"Gunnkell placed this stone in memory of Gunnarr, his father, Hróði's son. Helgi, his brother, laid him in a stone coffin in Bath in England."^[46]

[edit] Sm 104

This fragment of a runestone is located in the atrium of the church of Vetlanda and what remains appears to say "in the west in England".

Latin transliteration:

...(l)ika : uastr * a * i...-ti

Old Norse transcription:

... vestr a Æ[nglan]di(?).

English translation:

"... in the west in England(?)."^[47]

[edit] Västergötland

[edit] Vg 20

This runestone is located in Västanåker, and it is in the style RAK. It is raised in memory of a son who died in England.

Latin transliteration:

... risti × stin × iftiR × kurmar × sun × sin + iaR × uaR + trbin × a × iklanti ×

Old Norse transcription:

... ræisti stæin æftiR Guðmar(?), sun sinn. ER vaR drepinn a Ænglandi.

English translation:

"... raised the stone in memory of Guðmarr(?), his son, who was killed in England."^[48]

[edit] Vg 187

This runestone is located at the church of Vist. It is in the style RAK and it is thus one of the older runestones. It is raised in memory of a brother who died in England.

Latin transliteration:

+ giRi * sati * stin * þana * eftiR * kuþa * bruþur * sin * eR * a ok*lanti * altri * tynþi ×

Old Norse transcription:

GæiRi satti stæin þenna æftiR Guða, broður sinn. ER a Ænglandi aldri tynði.

English translation:

"Geiri placed this stone in memory of Guði, his brother, who forfeited his life in England."^[49]

[edit] Scania

[edit] DR 337

This runestone is located in Valleberga at "runestone hill" in Lund. It is one of the older runestones as it is in the style RAK.

Latin transliteration:

A : suin : auk : þurgutr : kiaurþu : kubl : þisi ¶ eftiR : mana ¶ auk * suina

B kuþ : hialbi : siaul : þeRa : uel : ian : þeR : likia : i : luntunum

Old Norse transcription:

A Swen ok Þorgotr/Þorgundr gærþu kumbl þæssi æftiR Manna ok Swena.

B Guþ hialpi siol þeRa wæl, æn þeR liggia i Lundunum.

English translation:

A "Sveinn and Þorgautr/Þorgunn made this monument in memory of Manni and Sveini."

B "May God well help their souls. And they lie in London."^[50]

[edit] Germany

[edit] DR 6

This runestone is located in Schleswig Cathedral. The ornamentation shows that it was made by a Swede. It was made in memory of a man who lay dead in a location called Skía in Old Norse in England. According to Omeljan Pritsak, Skía was probably Shoeburg in Essex or Skidby in Yorkshire.^[51]

Latin transliteration:

A ... l(i)t (:) r(i)(s)(a) : stain : e...

B ...-an : s(u)(l)... ¶ ... ...(a)uþr : ... ¶ ...(n) : auk : kuþmuntr : þaR [:] [r]... ...[(a)R]

C : a enklanti : i skiu (:) -uilis : kr... ... ...

Old Norse transcription:

B ... ... ... [d]øþr ... ... ok Guþmundr þeR r[istu run]aR.

C A Ænglandi i Skiu [h]wilis. Kr[istr](?) ... ...

English translation:

A "... had the stone raised in memory of"

B "... ... ... dead ... ... and Guðmundr, they carved the runes."

C "(He) rests at Skía in England. Christ ... ..."^[52]

[edit] Norway

[edit] N 184

This runestone is located in Galteland in Aust-Agder. It is an older runestone as it is in the style RAK. It was raised in memory of a son who died in the army of Canute the Great when he attacked England.

Latin transliteration:

arn×[stin] × risti × stin × þi[na] × iftir × bior × [s]un × sin × [sa × uar] tuþr × i liþi × þ[(o)s × knutr soti × iklot +] ¶ × in is ko[þ]

Old Norse transcription:

Arnsteinn reisti stein þenna eptir Bjór, son sinn. Sá varð dauðr í liði, þá's Knútr sótti England. Einn er Guð.

English translation:

"Arnsteinn raised this stone in memory of Bjórr his son who died in the retinue when Knútr attacked England. God is one."^[53]

[edit] Notes

[edit] Sources

• Brate, Erik. (1922). Sverges runinskrifter. Stockholm, Bokförlaget Natur och kultur.[1]
• Enoksen, Lars Magnar. (1998). Runor : historia, tydning, tolkning. Historiska Media, Falun. ISBN 91-88930-32-7
• Harrison, D. & Svensson, K. (2007). Vikingaliv. Fälth & Hässler, Värnamo. ISBN: 978-91-27-35725-9.
• Horn Fuglesang, Signe. (1998). Swedish runestones of the eleventh century: ornament and dating, Runeninschriften als Quellen interdisziplinärer Forschung (K.Düwel ed.). Göttingen
• Jansson, S. B. F. (1950). Några nyligen uppdagade runstenar, in Stenberger, M. (ed) Fornvännen årgång 45.[2] pp. 330-344.
• Jansson, S. B. F. (1980). Runstenar. STF, Stockholm. ISBN 91-7156-015-7
• Jansson, S. B. F. (1987), Runes in Sweden, ISBN 917844067x 
• Pritsak, Omeljan. (1981). The origin of Rus'. Cambridge, Mass.: Distributed by Harvard University Press for the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute. ISBN 0-674-64465-4
• Nordisk runnamslexikon by Lena Peterson at the Swedish Institute for Linguistics and Heritage (Institutet för språk och folkminnen).
• Rundata

[edit] External links

• An English Dictionary of Runic Inscriptions of the Younger Futhark, at the university of Nottingham