Gunnar's bridge runestones

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The were probably two Gunnar's bridge runestones at Kullerstad in Östergötland, Sweden, where a man named Håkon dedicated a bridge to the memory of his son Gunnar. The second stone was discovered in a church only 500 metres away and is presently raised in the cemetery. The second stone informs that Håkon raised more than one stone in memory of his son and that the son died in the West.

Contents

[edit] Ög 162

Ög 162.
Ög 162.

Although the messages of most runestones are formulaic, some of them convey the sadness of those who raised them in memory of lost family members, like this runestone.[1]

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

+ hakun + karþi + bru + þasi + ian + su skal + haita + kunas + bru + iai saR + uaR × sua + hakunaR +

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

Hakon gærði bro þessi, en su skal hæita Gunnars bro, en saR vaR sunn HakonaR.

[edit] Translation in English

Hákon made this bridge and it will be called Gunnarr's bridge. And he was Hákon's son.

[edit] Ög Fv1970;310

Ög Fv1970;310.
Ög Fv1970;310.

This runestone was found in the exterior wall of the church of Kullerstad, in 1969, and it is presently raised in the cemetery. It informs that Håkon raised more than one memorial for his son and that he died in the West.

[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

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

[edit] Transcription into Old Norse

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

[edit] Translation in English

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

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Larsson 2002:148-149

[edit] Sources

[edit] External link