Karlevi Runestone

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Coordinates: 56.61° N 16.45° E

The Karlevi Runestone or Öl 1 is commonly dated to the late 10th century,[1] located near the Kalmarsund straight in Karlevi on the island of Öland, Sweden. It is one of the most notable and prominent runestones. The inscription is partly in prose, partly in verse. It is the only example of a complete scaldic stanza preserved on a runestone. The verse is composed in the "lordly meter" the dróttkvætt. It is notable for mentioning Thor's daughter Þrúðr and Viðurr, one of the names for Odin, in kennings for "chieftain". In the second half of the stanza a reference is made to Denmark, but it is not clear what exactly this means in this poetic context.[2]

The stone is contemporary with the Battle of the Fýrisvellir and it is consequently possible that the stone was raised by Jomsvikings in memory of their lord.[3]

The runes:

  • + s-a... --(s)- i(a)s * satr * aiftir * si(b)(a) * kuþa * sun * fultars * in hons ** liþi * sati * at * u * -ausa-þ-... +: fulkin : likr : hins : fulkþu : flaistr (:)* uisi * þat * maistar * taiþir : tulka * þruþar : traukr : i : þaimsi * huki * munat : raiþ:uiþur : raþa : ruk:starkr * i * tanmarku : --ntils : iarmun**kruntar : urkrontari : lonti

Transliteration and translation (provided by Rundata):

Transcription into Old Norse (the Swedish-Danish dialect):

S[t]æ[inn] [sa]s[i] es sattr æftiR Sibba Goða, sun Fuldars, en hans liði satti at ... ...

Fulginn liggR hinns fylgðu,
flæstr vissi þat, mæstaR
dæðiR dolga ÞruðaR
draugR i þæimsi haugi;
munat Ræið-Viðurr raða
rogstarkR i Danmarku
[Æ]ndils iarmungrundaR
uRgrandaRi landi.
Older translation:

This stone is set up in memory of Sibbi Góði/Goði, son of Foldarr, and his retinue set on ...

Hidden lies the one
whom followed (most know that)
the greatest deeds,
Þrud's warrior of battles,
in this mound.
Never will a more honest,
hard-fighting 'wagon-Viðurr' upon
Endill's expanses rule the land in Denmark.
Newer translation:

This stone is placed in memory of Sibbi the good, Fuldarr's son, and his retinue placed on ... ...

He lies concealed,
he who was followed
by the greatest deeds (most men knew that),
a chieftain (battle-tree of [the Goddess] Þrúðr)
in this howe;
Never again shall such a battle-hardened sea-warrior (Viðurr-of-the-Carriage of [the Sea-king]
Endill's mighty dominion ( = God of the vessels of the the sea) ),
rule unsurpassed over land in Denmark.

A more idiomatic English translation of the poetic stanza is provided by Foote & Wilson (1970:329):

Tree of Thrúd of hostilities, the man whom the greatest virtues accompanied - most men know that - lies buried in this mound; a more upright chariot-Vidur of wondrous-wide ground of Endil will not rule, strife-strong, land in Denmark.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Zilmer, Kristel (diss. 2005), "He drowned in Holmr's sea": Baltic traffic in early Nordic sources, Tartu University Press, pp. p. 76-80, ISBN 9949110890, <http://www.utlib.ee/ekollekt/diss/dok/2005/b1734458x/zilmer.pdf> 
  2. ^ Zilmer, p. 79.
  3. ^ The article Karlevistenen in Nordisk familjebok (1910).

[edit] Sources and external links

[edit] Bibliography

  • Foote & Wilson (1970): The Viking Achievement.
  • Jansson Sven B.F.: Runinskrifter i Sverige. 1984. 201 pages.
  • Salberger, Evert: Dedikationen på Karlevi-stenen, mansnamn och versform. Sydsvenska ortnamnssällskapets årsskrift 1997. pp. 88-115.
  • Strid, Jan Paul: Runstenar. Malmö 1991. 119 pages.
  • Söderberg, Sven: Sveriges runinskrifter. Bd 1, Ölands runinskrifter. Stockholm 1900-1906.
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