Uppland Runic Inscription Fv1948;168
Encyclopedia
This runic inscription, designated as U Fv1948;168 in the Rundata
catalog, is on a Viking Age
memorial
runestone to two sons that is located in Alsike
, Uppsala County
, Sweden
, which is in the historic province of Uppland
.
carved on a serpent that is intertwined in an intricate design. In the upper center of the design is a Christian cross
. The inscription is classified as being carved in runestone style Pr5, 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.
The runic text states that the stone was raised by the parents and two brothers in memory of Gagi and Harðr. The father's name Sibbi is likely a nickname
, and, based upon the names of two of the two sons, Sigmundr and Sigfastr, may be short for Sigbjórn. A common practice at that time in Scandinavia
was the repeating one of the name elements from a parent's name in the names of the children to show the family connection. The inscription is signed by the runemaster
Öpir
, who was active during the late 11th century and early 12th century in Uppland. His signature, ybir risti or ØpiR risti ("Œpir carved"), is separated from the rest of the runic text and is located on the left side of the inscription, inside of the serpent, and under the cross. His style is sufficiently distinctive that this inscription would have been attributed to him even without his signature being present.
The Rundata designation for this Uppland inscription, U Fv1948;168, refers to the year and page number of the issue of Fornvännen
in which the runestone was first described.
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 on 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 to two sons that is located in Alsike
Alsike, Sweden
Alsike is a locality situated in Knivsta Municipality, Uppsala County, Sweden with 1,682 inhabitants in 2005. Alsike is located about 50 km north of Stockholm and only 25 km away from Arlanda Airport. It is also the location of Alsike Abbey.-See also:...
, Uppsala County
Uppsala County
Uppsala County is a county or län on the eastern coast of Sweden. It borders the counties of Stockholm, Södermanland, Västmanland, Gävleborg, and the Baltic Sea.- Province :For History, Geography and Culture see: Uppland...
, 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....
, which is in the historic province of Uppland
Uppland
Uppland is a historical province or landskap on the eastern coast of Sweden, just north of Stockholm, the capital. It borders Södermanland, Västmanland and Gästrikland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea...
.
Description
This runestone was discovered on December 5, 1947 during restoration work at the church in Alsike. Before the historic significance of runestones was understood, they were often reused as materials in the construction of buildings, roads, and bridges. The stone was repaired and raised next to the church in 1948. The inscription on this granite stone, which is 1.9 meters in height, consists of runic text in the younger futharkYounger 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...
carved on a serpent that is intertwined in an intricate design. In the upper center of the design is a Christian cross
Christian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
. The inscription is classified as being carved in runestone style Pr5, which is also known as Urnes style
Urnes style
The Urnes style was the last phase of Scandinavian animal art during the second half of the 11th century and in the early 12th century. The preceding phases of Scandinavia's Viking Age animal ornamentation are usually categorized as Oseberg style, Borre style, Jelling style, Mammen style and...
. 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.
The runic text states that the stone was raised by the parents and two brothers in memory of Gagi and Harðr. The father's name Sibbi is likely a nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
, and, based upon the names of two of the two sons, Sigmundr and Sigfastr, may be short for Sigbjórn. A common practice 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,...
was the repeating one of the name elements from a parent's name in the names of the children to show the family connection. The inscription is signed by the runemaster
Runemaster
A runemaster or runecarver is a specialist in making runestones.Most early medieval Scandinavians were probably literate in runes, and most people probably carved messages on pieces of bone and wood. However, it was difficult to make runestones, and in order to master it one also needed to be a...
Öpir
Öpir
Öpir or Öper was a runemaster who flourished during the late 11th century and early 12th century in Uppland, Sweden...
, who was active during the late 11th century and early 12th century in Uppland. His signature, ybir risti or ØpiR risti ("Œpir carved"), is separated from the rest of the runic text and is located on the left side of the inscription, inside of the serpent, and under the cross. His style is sufficiently distinctive that this inscription would have been attributed to him even without his signature being present.
The Rundata designation for this Uppland inscription, U Fv1948;168, refers to the year and page number of the issue of Fornvännen
Fornvännen
Fornvännen is a Swedish academic journal in the fields of archaeology and Medieval art. It is published quarterly by the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters in Stockholm, Sweden. The journal's contributions are written in the Scandinavian languages, English, or German with summaries in English...
in which the runestone was first described.
Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters
- sibi * uk * ikriþ * litu * raisa * stain * iftiR * g-ha * uk * at * harþ * suni * sina * sihimuntr * uk * sihikfastr * bryþr * sina ybir risti
Transcription into Old Norse
- Sibbi ok Ingrið letu ræisa stæin æftiR G[a]ga(?) ok at Harð, syni sina, Sigmundr ok Sigfastr [at] brøðr sina. ØpiR risti.
Translation in English
- Sibbi and Ingríðr had the stone raised in memory of Gagi(?) and in memory of Harðr, their sons; Sigmundr and Sigfastr in memory of their brothers. Œpir carved.