Västmanland Runic Inscription 22
Encyclopedia
Västmanland Runic Inscription 22 or Vs 22 is the Rundata
designation for a Viking Age
memorial
runestone that was originally located at Ulvsta, but has been moved to Svana, which is about seven kilometers north of Skultuna
, Västmanland County
, Sweden
, and which was in the historic province of Västmanland
.
on a serpent that encloses a central cross
, with the head of the serpent below the cross. The inscription, which is 0.95 meters in height and on a granite stone, is classified as probably being carved in runestone style Pr3, which is also known as Urnes style
. The uncertainty in the classification is due to the damaged ends of the runic text bands, which are used in the runestone classification system developed by Anne-Sophie Gräslund in the 1990s. In style Pr3, the ends of the runic bands have attached serpent heads depicted as seen in profile. Based on stylistic grounds, Vs 22 is attributed to a runemaster with the normalized
name of Litle, who signed the inscriptions on inscription Vs 20 in Prästgården (Romfartuna synod), Vs 27
in Grällsta, and possibly the now-lost Vs 28 in Grällsta. Other inscriptions attributed to Litle based on stylistic analysis include Vs 17
in Råby and Vs 32 in Prästgården (Västerfärnebo synod). This stone was first noted during the runestone surveys in Sweden during the 1600s, and was moved to its current location at Svana near a stream by a man named von Friesen.
The runic text states that the stone was raised by a brother in memory of a man named Rúnfastr, who died on a voyage. From the word order, it is unclear if the voyage was for a man named Runi, or if Runa is a name starting a new sentence. At one time, it was suggested that Runa referred to an island in Estonia, but later scholars have dismissed this suggestion for lack of convincing evidence. That Runa is a personal name is supported by similar examples found on inscriptions such as the now-lost U 790 in Mälby, U 957 in Vedyxa, Sö 383 in Linga, and possibly U 1003 in Frötuna. The runemaster used a punctuation mark to separate each word of the text, and used a bind rune
or ligature to combine the s-rune
and i-rune
in the word sinn. Vs 22 is the only inscription in Västmanland in which a bind rune was used.
The text indicates that Rúnfastr was among a band of drængia or "valiant men." A drengr in Denmark was a term mainly associated with members of a warrior group. It has been suggested that drengr along with thegn
was first used as a title associated with men from Denmark and Sweden in service to Danish kings, but, from its context in inscriptions, over time became more generalized and was used by groups such as merchants or the crew of a ship. In the limited context of the damaged text on Vs 22, the brother of Rúnfastr may also have been part of the band on the voyage as a brother-in-arms. Other inscriptions involving a drengr and sponsorship by a brother who may have been part of the band include DR 77 in Hjermind, DR 387 in Vester Marie, Ög 104 in Gillberga, Ög 111 in Landeryds, Sö 320 in Stäringe, and Vg 184 in Smula. Vs 22 is also among a group of inscriptions making such a general statement of a non-local death, which include Sö 49 in Ene, Sö 217 in Berga, Sm 48 in Torp, U 258 in Fresta, the now-lost U 349 in Odenslunda, the now-lost U 363 in Gådersta, U 948 in Danmarks, Vs 27 in Grällsta, Nä 29 in Apelboda, DR 330 in Gårdstånga, and DR 379 in Ny Larsker. The text uses the term faru, which is translated as "voyage," which was used to describe campaigns to the east in comparison to a viking voyage, which was to the west. Other stones using a version of the term faru include Sö 108 in Gredby and Sö 360 in Bjuddby.
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...
designation for 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 that was originally located at Ulvsta, but has been moved to Svana, which is about seven kilometers north of Skultuna
Skultuna
Skultuna is a locality situated in Västerås Municipality, Västmanland County, Sweden with 3,249 inhabitants in 2005.Skultuna is, in fact, Sweden's oldest industry and has an early 17th century brassworks, Skultuna Messingsbruk, and also two runestones....
, Västmanland County
Västmanland County
Västmanland County is a county or län in central Sweden. It borders to the counties of Södermanland, Örebro, Gävleborg, Dalarna and Uppsala...
, 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....
, and which was in the historic province of Västmanland
Västmanland
' is a historical Swedish province, or landskap, in middle Sweden. It borders Södermanland, Närke, Värmland, Dalarna and Uppland.The name comes from "West men", referring to the people west of Uppland, the core province of early Sweden.- Administration :...
.
Description
The inscription on Vs 22 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...
on a serpent that encloses a central 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...
, with the head of the serpent below the cross. The inscription, which is 0.95 meters in height and on a granite stone, is classified as probably being carved in runestone style Pr3, 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...
. The uncertainty in the classification is due to the damaged ends of the runic text bands, which are used in the runestone classification system developed by Anne-Sophie Gräslund in the 1990s. In style Pr3, the ends of the runic bands have attached serpent heads depicted as seen in profile. Based on stylistic grounds, Vs 22 is attributed to a runemaster with the normalized
Old Norse orthography
The orthography of the Old Norse language was diverse, being written in both Runic and Latin alphabets, with many spelling conventions, variant letterforms, and unique letters and signs. In modern times, scholars established a standardized spelling for the language. When Old Norse names are used in...
name of Litle, who signed the inscriptions on inscription Vs 20 in Prästgården (Romfartuna synod), Vs 27
Grällsta Runestone
The Grällsta Runestone, listed as Västmanland Runic Inscription 27 or Vs 27 in the Rundata catalog, is a Viking Age memorial runestone located in Grällsta, which is about nine kilometers northeast of Ransta, Västmanland County, Sweden, which was in the historic province of Västmanland...
in Grällsta, and possibly the now-lost Vs 28 in Grällsta. Other inscriptions attributed to Litle based on stylistic analysis include Vs 17
Västmanland Runic Inscription 17
Västmanland Runic Inscription 17 or Vs 17 is the Rundata designation for a Viking Age memorial runestone with an image of a ship that is located in Råby, which is about two kilometers east of Tortuna, Västmanland County, Sweden, which was in the historic province of Västmanland.-Description:The...
in Råby and Vs 32 in Prästgården (Västerfärnebo synod). This stone was first noted during the runestone surveys in Sweden during the 1600s, and was moved to its current location at Svana near a stream by a man named von Friesen.
The runic text states that the stone was raised by a brother in memory of a man named Rúnfastr, who died on a voyage. From the word order, it is unclear if the voyage was for a man named Runi, or if Runa is a name starting a new sentence. At one time, it was suggested that Runa referred to an island in Estonia, but later scholars have dismissed this suggestion for lack of convincing evidence. That Runa is a personal name is supported by similar examples found on inscriptions such as the now-lost U 790 in Mälby, U 957 in Vedyxa, Sö 383 in Linga, and possibly U 1003 in Frötuna. The runemaster used a punctuation mark to separate each word of the text, and used a bind rune
Bind rune
A bind rune is a ligature of two or more runes. They are extremely rare in Viking Age inscriptions, but are common in pre-Viking Age and in post-Viking Age inscriptions....
or ligature to combine the s-rune
Sowilo
Sól or Sunna is the Sun personified in Germanic mythology. One of the two Old High German Merseburg Incantations, written in the 9th or 10th century CE, attests that Sunna is the sister of Sinthgunt...
and i-rune
Isaz
*Isaz is the reconstructed Proto-Germanic name of the i-rune , meaning "ice". In the Younger Futhark it is called Iss in Icelandic and isa in Old Norse. As rune of the Anglo-Saxon futhorc, it is called is....
in the word sinn. Vs 22 is the only inscription in Västmanland in which a bind rune was used.
The text indicates that Rúnfastr was among a band of drængia or "valiant men." A drengr in Denmark was a term mainly associated with members of a warrior group. It has been suggested that drengr along with thegn
Thegn
The term thegn , from OE þegn, ðegn "servant, attendant, retainer", is commonly used to describe either an aristocratic retainer of a king or nobleman in Anglo-Saxon England, or as a class term, the majority of the aristocracy below the ranks of ealdormen and high-reeves...
was first used as a title associated with men from Denmark and Sweden in service to Danish kings, but, from its context in inscriptions, over time became more generalized and was used by groups such as merchants or the crew of a ship. In the limited context of the damaged text on Vs 22, the brother of Rúnfastr may also have been part of the band on the voyage as a brother-in-arms. Other inscriptions involving a drengr and sponsorship by a brother who may have been part of the band include DR 77 in Hjermind, DR 387 in Vester Marie, Ög 104 in Gillberga, Ög 111 in Landeryds, Sö 320 in Stäringe, and Vg 184 in Smula. Vs 22 is also among a group of inscriptions making such a general statement of a non-local death, which include Sö 49 in Ene, Sö 217 in Berga, Sm 48 in Torp, U 258 in Fresta, the now-lost U 349 in Odenslunda, the now-lost U 363 in Gådersta, U 948 in Danmarks, Vs 27 in Grällsta, Nä 29 in Apelboda, DR 330 in Gårdstånga, and DR 379 in Ny Larsker. The text uses the term faru, which is translated as "voyage," which was used to describe campaigns to the east in comparison to a viking voyage, which was to the west. Other stones using a version of the term faru include Sö 108 in Gredby and Sö 360 in Bjuddby.
Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters
- ... + ytR : runfast * bruþur + s=in : hn : toþr : i : faru + runo : ... (t)rka
Transcription into Old Norse
- ... æftiR Runfast, broður sinn. Hann [varð] dauðr i faru Runa ... drængia.
Translation in English
- ... in memory of Rúnfastr, his brother. He died on a voyage. Runa ... / He died on Runi's voyage ... of valiant men.