Baltic area runestones

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Clickable map of the geographic distribution of the Baltic expeditions Runestones in southern Sweden (modern administrative borders and cities are shown)

The Baltic area runestones are Viking runestones in memory of men who took part in peaceful or warlike expeditions across the Baltic Sea, where Finland and the Baltic states are presently located.

Beside the runestones treated in this article and in the main article Varangian runestones, there are many other runestones that talk of eastward voyages such as the Greece runestones, Italy runestones, and inscriptions left by the Varangian Guard. Other runestones that deal with Varangian expeditions include the Ingvar runestones (erected in honor or memory of those who travelled to the Caspian Sea with Ingvar the Far-Travelled).^[1] In addition, there were also voyages to Western Europe mentioned on runestones that are treated in the articles Viking runestones, England runestones and Hakon Jarl runestones.

Below follows a presentation of the runestones based on the Rundata project. The transcriptions into Old Norse are mostly 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 180

This runestone is possibly in style Pr4 and it is located at the church of Össeby-Garn. It was made by the runemaster Visäte. The stone commemorates a man who either died in Viborg, Jutland, or in Vyborg, Karelia. Part of the inscription's text "he died in Véborg" is written on the design's cross, which may have indicated to those at home that Sigsteinn, while dying abroad, had received proper Christian burial treatment.^[2]

+

sihatr

Sighvatr

*

uk

ok

+

þurbiorn

Þorbiorn

+

uk

ok

*

þurkri(m)

Þorgrimʀ

+

uk

ok

*

erinmontr

Ærinmundr

'×

litu

letu

×

reisn

ræisa

+

stein

stæin

+

aftiʀ

æftiʀ

+

broþur

broður

+

sin

sinn

+

sikstnin

Sigstæin.

+

hn

Hann

to

do

i

uib(u)(r)kum

Viborgum.

Sighvatr and Þorbjǫrn and Þorgrímr and Erinmundr had the stone raised in memory of their brother Sigsteinn. He died in Véborg."

U 214

This runestone from c. 1100 is in the style RAK. It is in the wall of the porch of the church of Vallentuna. The U 215 contains the first part of the message. The stones were carved in memory of a man who drowned in Holmr's sea, but runologists are divided on the meaning of the expression. One interpretation proposed by Jansson is that it means the "Novgorodian sea" and refers to the Gulf of Finland.^[3] The runestone provides the earliest Swedish attestation of an end rhyme,^[4] whereas the earliest Old Norse attestation is Höfuðlausn composed by Egill Skallagrímsson.^[5]

...

uk

ok

×

inkiber

Ingebærg

×

eftiʀ

æftiʀ

×

buanta

boanda

×

sin

sinn.

'

han

Hann

'

troknaþi

drunknaði

÷

a

'

holms

Holms

'

hafi

hafi,

'

skreþ

skræið

'

knar

knarr

'

hans

'

i

'

kaf

kaf,

þriʀ

'

eniʀ

æiniʀ

'

kamo

kvamu

'

af

af.

"... and Ingibjǫrg in memory of her husbandman. He drowned in Holmr's sea - his cargo-ship drifted to the sea-bottom - only three came out (alive)."

Swedish translation:

"... och Ingeberg efter bonde sin. Han drunknade på Holms hav, skred knarr hans i kvav, tre endast kommo av."

U 346

This runestone has disappeared but it was located at the church of Frösunda. It was made by the runemaster Åsmund Kåresson in style Pr3-Pr4, and it was raised in memory of a man who died in Virland. It contains the same message as U 356.

[rahnfriþr

Ragnfriðr

*

lit

let

rt

retta

stain

stæin

þino

þenna

'

aftiʀ

æftiʀ

biurno

Biorn,

sun

þaiʀa

þæiʀa

kitilmuntaʀ

Kætilmundaʀ.

'

hon

Hann

'

fil

fell

a

urlati

Virlandi.

'

kuþ

Guð

hialbi

hialpi

hons

hans

ant

and

auk|

ok

|kuþs

Guðs

muþiʀ

moðiʀ.

'

osmunr

Asmundr

mar'kaþi

markaði

runaʀ

ritar]

rettaʀ.

"Ragnfríðr had this stone erected in memory of Bjǫrn, her son and Ketilmundr's. He fell in Virland. May God and God's mother help his spirit. Ásmundr marked the right runes."

U 356

This runestone in style Pr3 is located in Ängby. It was made by the runemaster Åsmund Kåresson^[6] for a lady in memory of her son who died in Virland. It contains the same message as U 346.

ra(h)nfriþr

Ragnfriðr

'

lit

let

rasa

ræisa

stain

stæin

þino

þenna

'

aftiʀ

æftiʀ

biurn

Biorn,

*

sun

þaiʀa

þæiʀa

*

kitilmun(t)aʀ

Kætilmundaʀ.

'

kuþ

Guð

mialbi

hialpi

hons

hans

(a)nt

and

auk|

ok

|kuþs

Guðs

(m)uþiʀ

moðiʀ.

hon

Hann

fil

fell

a

uirlanti

Virlandi.

*

in

En

osmuntr

Asmundr

markaþi

markaði.

"Ragnfríðr had this stone raised in memory of Bjǫrn, her son and Ketilmundr's. May God and God's mother help his spirit. He fell in Virland. And Ásmundr marked."

U 439

This runestone in style Fp is one of the Ingvar Runestones and due to uncertainties as to the decipherment also one of the Serkland Runestones. It was located at Steninge Palace, but it is lost. Johan Bureus, one of the first prominent Swedish runologists, visited Steninge on May 8, 1595, and made a drawing of the runestone which stood by the jetty.^[7] Only 50 years later it had disappeared and in a letter written in 1645 it was explained that the stone had been used in the construction of a new stone jetty.^[7] The inscription contained an Old Norse poem.^[8]

[harlaif

Hærlæif

×

auk

ok

×

þurkarþr

Þorgærðr

×

litu

letu

×

raisa

ræisa

×

stain

stæin

×

þina

þenna

at

×

sabi

Sæbiorn,

faþur

faður

sin

sinn.

×

is|

Es

|sturþi

styrði

×

austr

×

skibi

skipi

×

maþ

með

ikuari

Ingvari

a/a|

a

|askalat-/skalat-]

Æistaland(?)/Særkland[i](?).

"Herleif and Þorgerðr had this stone raised in memory of Sæbjǫrn, their father, who steered a ship east with Ingvarr to Estonia(?)/Serkland(?)."

U 533

This runestone is in the wall inside the porch of the church of Roslags-Bro. It is in style Pr1, and it was raised in memory of a man who died in Virland (in Estonia). The style shows that it was made by the runemaster Torbjörn Skald.^[4]

*

sigruþ

Sigruð

*

lit

let

+

raisa

ræisa

*

stain

stæin

*

eftir

æftiʀ

+

anunt

Anund,

*

sun

*

sin

sinn.

*

han

Hann

uas

vas

'

tribin

drepinn

+

a

+

uirlanti

Virlandi.

"Sigþrúðr had the stone raised in memory of ǫnundr, her son. He was killed in Virland."

U 582

This runestone has disappeared but it was located at the church of Söderby-Karl. It was possibly in style Pr1 and it commemorated a son who died in what is called Finland. At this time, Finland referred to the south-western part of what today is Finland.^[9]

[biarn

Biorn

huk

ok

*

ikulfriþ

Igulfrið

:

raistu

ræistu

:

stain

stæin

:

aftʀ

æftiʀ

:

utrik

Otrygg,

:

sun

:

sain

sinn.

*

han

Hann

*

uaʀ

vaʀ

:

tribin

drepinn

:

o

a

*

fin*lonti]

Finnlandi.

"Bjǫrn and Ígulfríðr raised the stone in memory of Ótryggr, their son. He was killed in Finland."

U 698

This runestone has disappeared but it was located at the church of Veckholm. It was in style Pr2-Pr3. The inscription was considered difficult to read, but it refers to a man who fell in Livonia, and possibly in an expedition led by Freygeirr.

P

[sufar

<sufar>

lit

let

:

aristn

ræisa

*

þin

stæin

*

afir

æftiʀ

*

askir

Asgæiʀ,

sun

:

sin

sinn.

:

han

Hann

*

ut

uti

fai

fioll

:

a

liflai|n|þ|i|

Liflandi

|i|

i

|i|n|þ|i

liði

*

frai...]

Frøy[gæiʀs](?).

Q

[sufar

<sufar>

lit

let

:

aristn

ræisa

*

þin

stæin

*

afir

æftiʀ

*

askir

Asgæiʀ,

sun

:

sin

sinn.

:

han

Hann

*

ut

fai

fioll

:

a

liflai|n|þ|

Lifland

i|

i

|i|n|þ|i

liði

*

frai...]

Frøy[gæiʀs](?).

"<sufar> had the stone raised in memory of Ásgeirr, his son. He fell in Lífland, abroad in Freygeirr's(?) retinue."

Södermanland

Sö 39

This is a runic inscription on bedrock at Åda. It is in style Pr3 and it commemorates a brother who drowned in Livonia.

:

hermoþr

Hærmoðr

:

lit

let

:

hagua

haggva

:

at

:

barkuiþ

Bergvið/Barkvið,

:

bruþur

broður

:

sin

sinn.

:

h[an]

Hann

trukn-þi

drunkn[a]ði

:

[a]

a

lf:lanti

Liflandi.

:

"Hermóðr had (the rock) cut in memory of Bergviðr/Barkviðr, his brother. He drowned in Lífland."

Sö 198

This runestone in style Fp is found in Mervalla on the island of Selaön in lake Mälaren. It is raised in memory of a man who regularly sailed a valuable knarr to Zemgale, passing Cape Kolka (Dómisnes). North of the Cape there is a long underwater reef which probably was infamous among the sailors of the Viking Age, and this is probably why Sigríðr wanted posterity to know that her husband had often passed it.^[10] The expression dyrum knærri ("valued cargo-ship") is an instrumental dative and it also appears in a famous stanza by the Icelander Egill Skallagrímsson.^[10] Egill had written that his mother had promised him a fast ship so that he could sail with the Vikings and^[10]

standa upp í stafni

stýra dýrum knerri^[10]

Stand in the stern,

Steer a dear vessel,

siriþ

Sigrið

*

lit

let

*

resa

ræisa

*

stan

stæin

*

[þin](a)

þenna

[*]

(a)(t)

at

*

suen

Svæin,

*

sin

sinn

*

[b]unta

bonda.

*

h[n]

Hann

*

uft

oft

*

siklt

siglt

*

til

*

simk(a)(l)(a)

Sæimgala,

*

t(u)ru[m]

dyrum

*

knari

knærri,

*

um

*

tumisnis

Domisnæs.

"Sigríðr had this stone raised in memory of Sveinn, her husbandman. He often sailed a valued cargo-ship to Seimgalir, around Dómisnes."

Gästrikland

Gs 13

This runestone in sandstone is found in the church of the holy trinity in Gävle. It is in style Pr2 and it commemorates a brother name Egill who died in Tavastia. Åsmund Kåresson was one of the runemasters. Egill probably fell in a leidang expedition, led by Freygeirr who was a military leader.^[9]^[11]

×

brusi

Brusi

lit

let

rita

retta

s-...

s[tæin

...

þenna]

[(a)]b--ʀ

æf[ti]ʀ

(i)h(i)(l)

Ægil,

brur

broður

sin

sinn.

:

in

En

h-n

h[a]nn

uarþ

varð

tauþr

dauðr

a

tafstalonti

Tafæistalandi,

×

þo

þa

brusi

Brusi

furþi

førði

lank

læiðang(?)

lans

lands

'

abtiʀ

æftiʀ

[br](u)r

broður

sin

sinn.

h(o)[n]

Hann

fur

for

(m)iʀ

meðr

fraukiʀi

Frøygæiʀi.

kuþ

Guð

hialbi

hialpi

hons|

hans

|salu|

salu

|uk|

ok

|kuþ(s)

Guðs

(m)(u)[þiʀ

moðiʀ.

'

suain

Svæinn

'

uk

ok

osmunrt

Asmundr

'

þaiʀ

þæiʀ

markaþu]

markaðu.

+

Translation by Sven B.F Jansson 1981: "Brúsi had this stone erected in memory of Egill, his brother. And he died in Tafeistaland, when Brúsi brought (= led?) the land's levy(?) (= army) in memory of , his brother. He travelled with Freygeirr. May God and God's mother help his soul. Sveinn and Ásmundr, they marked." Translation by Henrik Williams 2005: "Brúsi had this stone erected in memory of Egill, his brother. And he died in Tafeistaland, when Brúsi bore long-spear (=battle standard) after his brother. He travelled with Freygeirr. May God and God's mother help his soul. Sveinn and Ásmundr, they marked."

Västergötland

Vg 181

This runestone in style Pr1 is found at Frugården. It was raised in memory of a man who died in Estonia.

kufi

Gufi

:

rsþi

ræisti

:

stin

stæin

:

þesi

þennsi

:

eftʀ

æftiʀ

:

ulaf

Olaf,

:

sun

:

sin

sinn,

*

trk

dræng

*

hrþa

harða

*

kuþan

goðan.

*

hn

Hann

*

uarþ

varð

*

trbin

drepinn

*

i

*

estlatum

Æistlandum.

*

hu(a)rþ(r)

Havarðr(?)

*

iuk

hiogg

*

s---

s[tæin].

"Gufi raised this stone in memory of Ólafr, his son, a very good valiant man. He was killed in Estonia. Hávarðr(?) cut the stone."

Gotland

G 135

This runestone, originally located in Sjonhems, tells of the same family as G 134 and G 136, and it was made in memory of a man who died in Vindau (Ventspils, Latvia).^[12]

þina

Þenna

:

eftir

æftiʀ

:

a(i)---

Æi...

:

---

...

:

--rþ

[va]rð

:

tauþr

dauðr

:

a

:

ui(t)au

Vindau/Vindö.

:

systriʀ

Systriʀ

:

[tuaʀ]

tvaʀ

...-ʀ

...

:

bryþr

brøðr

:

þria

þria.

:

roþanþr

Hroðvaldr(?)

:

auk

ok

:

roþkutr

Hroðgautr,

:

roþar

Hroðarr

:

auk

ok

:

þorstain

Þorstæinn,

:

þiʀ

þæiʀ

:

iʀu

eʀu

:

faþur:bryþr

faðurbrøðr.

This (one) in memory of Ei-... (who) died at Vindey/Vindö. Two sisters ... three brothers. Hróðvaldr(?) and Hróðgautr, Hróðarr and Þorsteinn, they are the father's brothers."

G 319

This is a late runic inscription on a grave which is dated to the early 13th century. It is located in Rute Church and it commemorates a man who died in Finland.

si[h]tris

Sigtryggs(?)

:

aruar[r]

arfaʀ

:

litu

letu

:

giera

gæra

:

st[a]en

stæinn

:

yfir

yfiʀ

:

auþu-l-

Auðv[a]l[d](?),

:

broþur

broður

:

sin

sinn,

:

a

:

finlandi

Finnlandi

:

do

:

aglia...

<aglia...>.

"Sigtryggr's(?) heirs had the stone made over Auðvaldr(?), their brother, who died in Finland ..."

References and sources

References

^ e.g., Jones 1968:267.
^ Andrén 2003:414.
^ Pritsak 1981:369
^ ^a ^b Jansson 1980:26
^ Jansson 1980:26-27
^ "Angby Stone" in The New Encyclopædia Britannica. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 399.
^ ^a ^b An article at the homepage of the local heritage society of Märsta. Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved January 14, 2007.
^ "U 439, at Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages". Archived from the original on 2007-09-01. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
^ ^a ^b Jansson 1980:24
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Jansson 1980:30
^ Pritsak 1981:357
^ Pritsak 1981:345

Sources

Andrén, Anders (2003). "The Meaning of Animal Art: An Interpretation of Scandinavian Rune-Stones". In Veit, Ulrich (ed.). Spuren und Botschaften: Interpretationen Materieller Kultur. Waxmann Verlag. ISBN 3-8309-1229-3.
Jansson, Sven B. F. (1980). Runstenar. STF, Stockholm. ISBN 91-7156-015-7
Jones, Gwyn (2001) [1968]. A History of the Vikings. London; New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-280134-1.
Peterson, Lena. Nordisk Runnamnslexikon Swedish Institute for Linguistics and Heritage (Institutet för språk och folkminnen).
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
Project Samnordisk Runtextdatabas Svensk - Rundata
Williams, Henrik. (2005). Vittnat runstenen från Söderby (Gs 13) om Sveriges första ledungståg? Runfilologi och konsten att läsa som det står. ISSN 0349-0416

External links

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

[1] e.g., Jones 1968:267.

[2] Andrén 2003:414.

[Pritsak369-3] Pritsak 1981:369

[Jansson26-4] Jansson 1980:26

[Jansson26f-5] Jansson 1980:26-27

[Brit-6] "Angby Stone" in The New Encyclopædia Britannica. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 399.

[hembygd-7] An article at the homepage of the local heritage society of Märsta. Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved January 14, 2007.

[8] "U 439, at Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages". Archived from the original on 2007-09-01. Retrieved 2007-11-05.

[Jansson24-9] Jansson 1980:24

[Jansson30-10] Jansson 1980:30

[Pritsak357-11] Pritsak 1981:357

[Pritsak345-12] Pritsak 1981:345

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

v t e Runestones
Western route and unspecified expeditions abroad	Viking runestones (main) England runestones Hakon Jarl runestones Gunnar's bridge runestones
Eastern route	Varangian runestones (main) Baltic area runestones Greece runestones Italy runestones Ingvar runestones
Other journeys	Nä 29, U 158, U 258, U 605, U 614, 699, U 925, U 948, U 954, 1028, U 1048, Sö 16, Sö 47, Sö 49, Sö 174, Sö 333, Sö 360, Vg 40, Vg 81, Sm 48, G 207, DR 259, DR 330, N 239
Jomsvikings and the Battle of Fýrisvellir	Högby Runestone Hällestad Runestones Sjörup Runestone Karlevi Runestone Egtved Runestone Aars stone
Viking Age women	Vs 24, U 15, U 337, U 455, U 489, U 861, Sr 139, Vg 67, N 68, N 225, DR 55, DR 114, DR 143 Gerlög and Inga: Färentuna Runestones, Hillersjö stone, Snottsta and Vreta stones Estrid: Broby bro Runestones, Hargs bro runic inscriptions, Uppland Rune Inscriptions 101, 143 and 147
Norse mythology and Old Norse religion	"May Thor hallow": Vg 150, Sö 140 (?), DR 110, DR 209, DR 220 Thor's hammer: U 1161, Vg 113, Sö 86, Sö 111, DR 26, DR 48, DR 120 Cursed stones: Vg 67, DR 81, DR 83, DR 209, DR 230, DR 338, DR 357, DR 360 Other: Sö 154, Ög 136, Ög 181, Öl 1, Vg 63, Vg 119, Thorwald's Cross
Runestone monuments	Jarlabanke Runestones, Hunnestad Monument, Jelling stones
Other	Sö 113
Resources	List of runestones Rundata Runic inscriptions online interactive map Runic transliteration and transcription

Uppland

U 180

U 214

U 346

U 356

U 439

U 533

U 582

U 698

Södermanland

Sö 39

Sö 198

Gästrikland

Gs 13

Västergötland

Vg 181

Gotland

G 135

G 319

See also

References and sources

External links