Lund 1 Runestone
Encyclopedia
The Lund 1 Runestone, designated as DR 314 in the Rundata
catalog, is a Viking Age
memorial
runestone originally located on the grounds of the Allhelgona church
in Lund
, Scania
, Sweden
.
during the Viking Age, is dated as being carved after the Jelling stones
of Denmark.
The two wolves on Side C are apparently armed with a shield and sword strapped to their bodies. The depiction of the wolves show a mane and pointed ears similar to that of the wolf on inscription DR 284 of the Hunnestad Monument
and on the DR 271
in Tullstorp. The man's mask between the two wolves is similar to those depicted on two other runestones in Scania, inscriptions DR 258 in Bösarp and DR 335
in Västra Strö. The lion face mask on Side D is similar to that depicted on the inscription DR 66 from Denmark, which is also known as the Århus 4 image stone or the Mask Stone. Other inscriptions with facial masks include DR 62 in Sjelle, DR 81
in Skern, the now-lost DR 286
in Hunnestad, Vg 106 in Lassegården, Sö 86
in Åby ägor, Sö 112 in Kolunda, Sö 167 in Landshammar, Sö 367
in Släbro, Nä 34
in Nasta, U 508 in Gillberga, U 670 in Rölunda, U 678 in Skokloster, U 824
in Örsundsbro, U 1034
in Tensta, and U 1150 in Björklinge, and on the Sjellebro Stone
.
The runic text states that the stone is a memorial raised by a man named Þorgísl in memory of his two brothers, Ólafr and Óttarr. The text refers to "stones" that were raised, so the original memorial consisted of at least one additional raised stone. Ólafr and Óttarr are described as being landmennr góða, or "good landowners." A similar Old Norse
phrase praising the deceased, landmanna beztr meaning "best of landholders," is present on the inscriptions on memorial runestones Sö 338 in Turinge and DR 133 in Skivum, Denmark. Landmennr is sometimes translated as "land-men." Some believe that the term land-men refers to a title that is something higher than a simple free farmer, such as a rich farmer or squire, although there is dispute regarding this.
The name of the father of the stones sponsor, Ásgeirr Bjôrn, has several name elements that were common at that time in Scandinavia
. Ásgeirr means "Divine Spear" and contains a name element referring to the Æsir
, the Norse pagan
gods, while Bjôrn means "Bear." Þorgísl also contains a god's name as a element and means "Thor
's Hostage."
The Lund 1 Runestone was discovered in the ruins of a monastery in 1682, where it had apparently been re-used as material in the construction of that building. Before the historic significance of runestones was understood, they were often used as materials in the construction of roads, bridges, and buildings. The stone was found broken at two locations, but in 1868 it was repaired and raised at the Lundagård
. Since 1957 the runestone has been located outside of the library at the Lund University
. Locally the runestone is referred to as the Lundastenen ("the Lund Stone") or the Lundagårdsstenen ("the Lundagård Stone").
Rundata
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...
catalog, is a Viking Age
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
memorial
Memorial
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
runestone originally located on the grounds of the Allhelgona church
Allhelgonakyrkan
Allhelgonakyrkan is a church in Lund, Skåne, Sweden. It was built in 1891 and is situated roughly 600 meters north of Lund Cathedral.-External links:*...
in Lund
Lund
-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...
, Scania
Scania
Scania is the southernmost of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden, constituting a peninsula on the southern tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, and some adjacent islands. The modern administrative subdivision Skåne County is almost, but not totally, congruent with the...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
Description
The Lund 1 Runestone is a granite stone pillar nearly four meters in height that has inscriptions carved on its four sides. There are runic inscriptions carved on sides A and B of the stone, images of two animals identified as wolves and a man's mask on side C, and the mask of a lion face on side D. The runic inscriptions are classified as being carved in runestone style RAK, which is the classification of the oldest inscriptions. This is the runestone style classification of inscriptions where the ends of the text bands are straight and there are no attached serpent or animal heads. The inscription, which has a Danish Rundata catalog number because Scania was part of the historical DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
during the Viking Age, is dated as being carved after the Jelling stones
Jelling stones
The Jelling stones are massive carved runestones from the 10th century, found at the town of Jelling in Denmark. The older of the two Jelling stones was raised by King Gorm the Old in memory of his wife Thyra...
of Denmark.
The two wolves on Side C are apparently armed with a shield and sword strapped to their bodies. The depiction of the wolves show a mane and pointed ears similar to that of the wolf on inscription DR 284 of the Hunnestad Monument
Hunnestad Monument
The Hunnestad Monument , listed as DR 282 through 286 in the Rundata catalog, were once located at Hunnestad in Marsvinsholm north-west of Ystad, Sweden. It was the largest and most famous of the Viking Age monuments in Scania, and in Denmark, only comparable to the Jelling stones...
and on the DR 271
Tullstorp Runestone
The Tullstorp Runestone is a Viking Age memorial runestone, listed as DR 271 in the Rundata catalog, that is located in Tullstorp, Scania, Sweden.-Description:...
in Tullstorp. The man's mask between the two wolves is similar to those depicted on two other runestones in Scania, inscriptions DR 258 in Bösarp and DR 335
Västra Strö 2 Runestone
The Västra Strö 2 Runestone, listed as DR 335 in the Rundata catalog, is a Viking Age memorial runestone located at the Västra Strö Monument, which is at a church that is about four kilometers northwest of Eslöv, Skåne County, Sweden.-Description:...
in Västra Strö. The lion face mask on Side D is similar to that depicted on the inscription DR 66 from Denmark, which is also known as the Århus 4 image stone or the Mask Stone. Other inscriptions with facial masks include DR 62 in Sjelle, DR 81
Skern Runestone
The Skern Runestone, designated as Danish Runic Inscription 81 or DR 81 in the Rundata catalog, is a Viking Age memorial runestone located in Skjern, Denmark. The stone features a facial mask and an inscription which ends in a curse...
in Skern, the now-lost DR 286
Hunnestad Monument
The Hunnestad Monument , listed as DR 282 through 286 in the Rundata catalog, were once located at Hunnestad in Marsvinsholm north-west of Ystad, Sweden. It was the largest and most famous of the Viking Age monuments in Scania, and in Denmark, only comparable to the Jelling stones...
in Hunnestad, Vg 106 in Lassegården, Sö 86
Södermanland Runic Inscription 86
thumb|300px|right|A drawing of runic inscription Sö 86 published in 1876.Sö 86 is the Rundata catalog number for a Viking Age memorial runic inscription located in Åby, Södermanland, Sweden...
in Åby ägor, Sö 112 in Kolunda, Sö 167 in Landshammar, Sö 367
Södermanland Runic Inscription 367
Södermanland Runic Inscription 367 or Sö 367 is the Rundata catalog designation for a Viking Age memorial runestone located in Släbro, which is one kilometer north of Nyköping, Södermanland County, Sweden, which was in the historic province of Södermanland...
in Släbro, Nä 34
Nasta Runestone
The Nasta Runestone, listed as Nä 34 in the Rundata catalog, is a Viking Age memorial runestone located in Nasta, which is 3 kilometers northwest of Glanshammar, Örebro County, Sweden, which was in the historic province of Närke.-Description:...
in Nasta, U 508 in Gillberga, U 670 in Rölunda, U 678 in Skokloster, U 824
Uppland Runic Inscription 824
Uppland Runic Inscription 824 is the Rundata catalog number for a Viking Age memorial runestone located at Holms, which is about eight kilometers east of Örsundsbro, Uppsala County, Sweden. The inscription features a facial mask and a bind rune in the text....
in Örsundsbro, U 1034
Uppland Runic Inscription 1034
Uppland Runic Inscription 1034 or U 1034 is the Rundata catalog number for a runic inscription on a runestone located at the Tensta church in Uppland, Sweden, that was carved in the late 11th or early 12th century...
in Tensta, and U 1150 in Björklinge, and on the Sjellebro Stone
Sjellebro Stone
The Sjellebro Stone is a Viking Age image stone located at Sjellbro, which is about 12 kilometers southeast of Randers, Denmark. The stone is inscribed with a facial mask.-Description:...
.
The runic text states that the stone is a memorial raised by a man named Þorgísl in memory of his two brothers, Ólafr and Óttarr. The text refers to "stones" that were raised, so the original memorial consisted of at least one additional raised stone. Ólafr and Óttarr are described as being landmennr góða, or "good landowners." A similar Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
phrase praising the deceased, landmanna beztr meaning "best of landholders," is present on the inscriptions on memorial runestones Sö 338 in Turinge and DR 133 in Skivum, Denmark. Landmennr is sometimes translated as "land-men." Some believe that the term land-men refers to a title that is something higher than a simple free farmer, such as a rich farmer or squire, although there is dispute regarding this.
The name of the father of the stones sponsor, Ásgeirr Bjôrn, has several name elements that were common at that time in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
. Ásgeirr means "Divine Spear" and contains a name element referring to the Æsir
Æsir
In Old Norse, áss is the term denoting a member of the principal pantheon in Norse paganism. This pantheon includes Odin, Frigg, Thor, Baldr and Tyr. The second pantheon comprises the Vanir...
, the Norse pagan
Norse paganism
Norse paganism is the religious traditions of the Norsemen, a Germanic people living in the Nordic countries. Norse paganism is therefore a subset of Germanic paganism, which was practiced in the lands inhabited by the Germanic tribes across most of Northern and Central Europe in the Viking Age...
gods, while Bjôrn means "Bear." Þorgísl also contains a god's name as a element and means "Thor
Thor
In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
's Hostage."
The Lund 1 Runestone was discovered in the ruins of a monastery in 1682, where it had apparently been re-used as material in the construction of that building. Before the historic significance of runestones was understood, they were often used as materials in the construction of roads, bridges, and buildings. The stone was found broken at two locations, but in 1868 it was repaired and raised at the Lundagård
Lundagård (park)
Lundagård is a park located in Lund, Sweden. It is situated between the Lund University main building in the North, and Lund Cathedral in the South with Kungshuset in between. The park was for a long time a walled garden separating "town" from "gown". Today, the one remaining gates, is the...
. Since 1957 the runestone has been located outside of the library at the Lund University
Lund University
Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...
. Locally the runestone is referred to as the Lundastenen ("the Lund Stone") or the Lundagårdsstenen ("the Lundagård Stone").
Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters
- §A + þu(r)[kisl ÷ sun ÷ i]sgis ÷ biarnaR ÷ sunaR ÷ risþi ÷ sti[no ÷ þisi] ÷ (u)(f)tiR ÷ bruþr +
- §B + sino ÷ baþa ÷ ulaf ÷ uk ÷ utar ÷ lanmitr ÷ kuþa +
Transcription into Old Norse
- §A Þorgísl, sonr Ásgeirs Bjarnar sonar, reisti steina þessa eptir brœðr
- §B sína báða, Ólaf ok Óttar, landmennr góða.
Translation in English
- §A Þorgísl, son of Ásgeirr Bjôrn's son, raised these stones in memory of both of his brothers,
- §B Ólafr and Óttarr, good landholders.
External links
- Maskesten - Billedsten fra Vikingtiden - Arild Hauge webpage on mask stones
- Photograph of the inscription on side A - Swedish National Heritage Board
- Photograph of the mask on side D - Swedish National Heritage Board