Lilla Vilunda runestones
The Lilla Vilunda runestones are three Viking Age memorial runestones that were erected by members of the same family and which are located at Lilla Vilunda in Upplands Väsby, Uppland, Sweden.
U 293
Runic inscription U 293 is the Rundata catalog number for an inscription on a gneiss stone that is 1.8 meters in height. The inscription consists of runic text carved on a serpent that encloses a Christian cross. The inscription is classified as being carved in runestone style Pr3 or Pr4, which is also known as Urnes style. This runestone style is characterized by slim and stylized animals that are interwoven into tight patterns. The animal heads are typically seen in profile with slender almond-shaped eyes and upwardly curled appendages on the noses and the necks. For stylistic reasons, the inscription has been attributed to the runemaster Visäte, who was active during the last half of the eleventh century in southern Uppland.
The runic text states that the stone is a memorial raised by two brothers named Forkunnr and Þórir in memory of their father Ketill. Consistent with the cross in the inscription, the text ends with a prayer for the soul of Ketill. The inscription also uses the word stæina or stones. Nearby this runestone is a cemetary with a tall menhir, and it has been suggested that the use of the plural stones refers to this stone.
Inscription
Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters
- ' forkuþr × auk ' þurir × lata ' reisa ' steina ' þisa ' eftR ' faþur sn ' ketil ' koþ hi-lbi + ant ' hns '[1]
Transcription into Old Norse
- Forkuðr ok ÞoriR lata ræisa stæina þessa æftiR faður sinn Kætil. Guð hi[a]lpi and hans.[1]
Translation in English
- Forkunnr and Þórir have raised these stones in memory of their father Ketill. May God help his spirit.[1]
U 294
Runic inscription U 294 is the Rundata catalog number for this inscription carved on a granite stone that is 2.1 meters in height. The inscription consists of runic text carved on several intertwined serpents. The inscription is classified as being carved in either runestone style Pr3 or Pr4, both of which are considered to be Urnes style.
The runic text states that it is a memorial raised by a woman named Guðlaug in memory of her husband Forkunnr, who himself had raised U 293. The text indicates that Ketilelfr also was responsible for having the inscription carved. Ketilelfr is likely to have been a relation to Forkunnr because his name has a common element with Forkunnr's father, Ketill. A common practice at that time in Scandinavia was the repeating one of the name elements from a member of one generation in the names of the children of the next generation to show a family connection.[2]
Inscription
Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters
- kuþrlauk * lit * stain hkua iftiR * forkun bonta * sin auk kitelfR[3]
Transcription into Old Norse
- Guðlaug let stæin haggva æftiR Forkunn, bonda sinn, ok KætilælfR(?).[3]
Translation in English
- Guðlaug had the stone cut in memory of Forkunnr, her husbandman; and Ketilelfr (also had it cut).[3]
U Fv1972;172
Runic inscription U Fv1972;172 is the Rundata catalog number for a granite runestone that is 1.6 meters in height. It was discovered while digging a trench for an electrical cable on December 19, 1971, and raised at this location. Its inscription consists of an intertwined serpent that is above a runic band that cuts across the bottom of the inscription. This inscription is classified as being carved in runestone style Pr4, which is also known as Urnes style. Similar to U 293, it has been attributed to the runemaster Visäte.
The runic text states that Guðlaug raised the runestone as a memorial to her husband, who is not named. It is believed that this inscription was carved after U 294, and thus it was not necessary to name her husband since it was already on the other runestone. Most of the text is on the runic band, but the runes bonta sn or bonda sinn ("her husbandman"), are carved on the serpent.
The Rundata designation for this Uppland inscription, U Fv1972;172, refers to the year and page number of the issue of Fornvännen in which the runestone was first described.
Inscription
Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters
- ' koþlauh ' reisti ' afR ' bonta sn[4]
Transcription into Old Norse
- Guðlaug ræisti æftiR bonda sinn.[4]
Translation in English
- Guðlaug raised (the stone) in memory of her husbandman.[4]
References
- ^ a b c Project Samnordisk Runtextdatabas Svensk - Rundata entry for U 293.
- ^ Peterson, Lena (2002). "Developments of Personal Names from Ancient Nordic to Old Nordic". In Bandle, Oskar; Elmevik, Lennart; et al. (eds.). The Nordic Languages: An International Handbook of the History of the North Germanic Languages. Vol. 1. Walter de Gruyter. pp. 745–753. ISBN 3-11-014876-5.
{{cite book}}: Explicit use of et al. in:|editor2-first=(help) p. 750. - ^ a b c Project Samnordisk Runtextdatabas Svensk - Rundata entry for U 294.
- ^ a b c Project Samnordisk Runtextdatabas Svensk - Rundata entry for U Fv1972;172.