Dynna stone
Encyclopedia
The Dynna Stone is a runestone from the late Viking
period that was originally located in Gran
, Norway
.
, is a roughly 3 meter tall, triangular slab of pinkish-red sandstone
with runic inscriptions running down one of its edges, and with carved images on the front. The stone was erected ca. AD 1040 - 1050, and its imagery is considered among the first Christian
pictorial art in Norway
. The rather crude images on the front of the stone slab depict the nativity scene
of Matthew
2:1-12, including the infant Jesus, the Star of Bethlehem
and the three wise men
on horseback. The two women mentioned in the runic inscription were likely familiar with the story of the Epiphany. It has been suggested that the use of the term "handiest" (or "most skilled") in the runic text for the dead girl was a reference to her textile or embroidery designs, and that the images on the stone may represent these designs.
The Stone's inscription is in the younger futhark
, although their use is inconsistent with long-branch and short-twig runes used in some places. Sometimes the carver used both the long-branch and short-twig forms of the same rune within the same word.
The reference to bridge-building in the runic text is fairly common in rune stones during this time period. Some are Christian references related to passing the bridge into the afterlife. At this time, the Catholic Church sponsored the building of roads and bridges through the use of indulgence
s in return for intercession for the soul. There are many examples of these bridge stones dated from the eleventh century, including runic inscriptions Sö 101, U 489, and U 617. Although the Dynna Stone uses Christian imagry and text, the stone was raised among the old family grave mounds, an indication of cultic continuity even after the conversion to Christianity.
The Dynna stone shows that Hadeland was closely connected to countries abroad such as Scotland as stones similar to this one are found in Scotland. In one of the twin churches at Gran (Nicolai church) a stone similar to the Dynna stone was found in the wall above the door between the top of the door and ceiling. It was seen in 1823 and last in 1828.
The Dynna stone was acquired by the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History in Oslo
in 1879. Until then it had been used as a salt lick
for cattle at the Nordre Dynna farm near Gran. The stone is still part of the museum’s permanent medieval exhibition. A copy of the stone can be found atop a Viking Age grave mound at the Hadeland Folkemuseum
in Gran.
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
period that was originally located in Gran
Gran, Norway
is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hadeland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Jaren. There is also a village of Gran located within the municipality....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Description
The Dynna Stone, listed as N 68 under RundataRundata
The Scandinavian Runic-text Data Base is a project involving the creation and maintenance of a database of runic inscriptions. The project's goal is to comprehensively catalog runestones in a machine-readable way for future research...
, is a roughly 3 meter tall, triangular slab of pinkish-red sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
with runic inscriptions running down one of its edges, and with carved images on the front. The stone was erected ca. AD 1040 - 1050, and its imagery is considered among the first Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
pictorial art in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The rather crude images on the front of the stone slab depict the nativity scene
Nativity scene
A nativity scene, manger scene, krippe, crèche, or crib, is a depiction of the birth of Jesus as described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke...
of Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
2:1-12, including the infant Jesus, the Star of Bethlehem
Star of Bethlehem
In Christian tradition, the Star of Bethlehem, also called the Christmas Star, revealed the birth of Jesus to the magi, or "wise men", and later led them to Bethlehem. The star appears in the nativity story of the Gospel of Matthew, where magi "from the east" are inspired by the star to travel to...
and the three wise men
Biblical Magi
The Magi Greek: μάγοι, magoi), also referred to as the Wise Men, Kings, Astrologers, or Kings from the East, were a group of distinguished foreigners who were said to have visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh...
on horseback. The two women mentioned in the runic inscription were likely familiar with the story of the Epiphany. It has been suggested that the use of the term "handiest" (or "most skilled") in the runic text for the dead girl was a reference to her textile or embroidery designs, and that the images on the stone may represent these designs.
The Stone's inscription is in the younger futhark
Younger Futhark
The Younger Futhark, also called Scandinavian runes, is a runic alphabet, a reduced form of the Elder Futhark, consisting of only 16 characters, in use from ca. 800 CE...
, although their use is inconsistent with long-branch and short-twig runes used in some places. Sometimes the carver used both the long-branch and short-twig forms of the same rune within the same word.
The reference to bridge-building in the runic text is fairly common in rune stones during this time period. Some are Christian references related to passing the bridge into the afterlife. At this time, the Catholic Church sponsored the building of roads and bridges through the use of indulgence
Indulgence
In Catholic theology, an indulgence is the full or partial remission of temporal punishment due for sins which have already been forgiven. The indulgence is granted by the Catholic Church after the sinner has confessed and received absolution...
s in return for intercession for the soul. There are many examples of these bridge stones dated from the eleventh century, including runic inscriptions Sö 101, U 489, and U 617. Although the Dynna Stone uses Christian imagry and text, the stone was raised among the old family grave mounds, an indication of cultic continuity even after the conversion to Christianity.
The Dynna stone shows that Hadeland was closely connected to countries abroad such as Scotland as stones similar to this one are found in Scotland. In one of the twin churches at Gran (Nicolai church) a stone similar to the Dynna stone was found in the wall above the door between the top of the door and ceiling. It was seen in 1823 and last in 1828.
The Dynna stone was acquired by the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in 1879. Until then it had been used as a salt lick
Salt lick
A mineral lick is a natural mineral deposit where animals in nutrient-poor ecosystems can obtain essential mineral nutrients...
for cattle at the Nordre Dynna farm near Gran. The stone is still part of the museum’s permanent medieval exhibition. A copy of the stone can be found atop a Viking Age grave mound at the Hadeland Folkemuseum
Hadeland Folkemuseum
Hadeland Folkemuseum is a regional museum for Hadeland . It was founded in 1913, and is located in Tingelstad in Gran. The museum is situated along Kongevegen , the road from Oslo to Bergen which passes through Hadeland...
in Gran.
Inscription
A transliteration of the runic inscription reads:- × kunuur × kirþi × bru × þririks tutir × iftir osriþi × tutur × sina × su uas mar hanarst × o haþalanti
External links
- Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, Oslo (In Norwegian)