Sparlösa Runestone

Runefacts|name=Sparlösa Runestone
rundataid=Vg 119
country=Sweden
region=Västergötland
city=Sparlösa
produced=800
artist=Alrik and/or Gisli
text_native=Old Norse : See article.
text_english= See article
picture=|

The Sparlösa Runestone in Västergötland is the second most famous Swedish runestone after the Rök Runestone. It was discovered in 1669 in the southern wall of the church of Sparlösa.

The runestone is famous for its depictions and its tantalizing and mysterious references to a great battle, the names "Eric" and "Alrik", the "father who resided in Uppsala" and the text "descending from the gods".

The stone provides an early attestation of the place name "Uppsala", and the two personal names Eric ("complete ruler") and Alrik ("everyone's ruler") are both royal names, known to have been worn by the semi-legendary Swedish Yngling dynasty at Uppsala. Moreover, the mention of a great battle is suggestive of the equally semi-legendary Swedish-Geatish wars that are mentioned in "Beowulf".

The stone is 1.77 metres tall and it is dated to c. 800, but it has a probably younger line added to it saying "Gisli made this memorial after Gunnar, his brother". The dating is based on the style of the images, such as a ship, which suggest the 8th century, like similar images from Gotland. However, a sail on the ship suggests a later dating than the 8th century.

Transliteration of the runes:
*A a¤iuls kaf ÷ airikis sunR kaf alrik- -
*B ---t---la kaf rau- at kialt(i) * ...a sa- faþiR ubsal faþiR suaþ a-a-u--ba ...-omas notu auk takaR ÷ aslriku lu--R ukþ-t a(i)u(i)sl
*C ...s---n(u)(R)-a-- þat sikmar aiti makuR airikis makin(i)aru þuno * aft aiuis uk raþ runoR þaR raki-ukutu iu þar suaþ aliriku lu(b)u faþi '
*D ui(u)-am ...--ukrþsar(s)k(s)nuibin- ---kunR(u)k(l)ius-- ...iu
*E : kisli : karþi : iftiR : kunar : bruþur [:] kubl : þisi

Transscription:
*A Æivisl gaf, Æiriks sunR, gaf Alrik [R] ...
*B ... gaf at gialdi [Þ] a(?) sa [t] faðiR Upsal(?), faðiR svað ... ... nætR ok dagaR. AlrikR R> ugð [i] t(?) Æivisl
*C ... þat Sigmarr hæiti maguR Æiriks. Mæginiaru(?) <þuno> aft Æivisl. Ok rað runaR þaR rægi [n] kundu þar, svað AlrikR faði.
*D ... ... ...
*E Gisli gærði æftiR Gunnar, broður, kumbl þessi.

Translation (from [http://web.telia.com/~u31109390/runes_and_ruins/sparlosa.htm] ):
*A Eyvísl(?), Eiríkr's son gave, Alríkr gave...
*B ... gave ... as payment. Then(?) the father sat(?) (in) Uppsala(?), the father that ... ... nights and days. Alríkr feared(?) not Eyvísl(?).
*C ... that Eiríkr's boy is called Sigmarr/celebrated-for-victories. Mighty battle(?) ... in memory of Eyvísl(?). And interpret the runes of divine origin there... , that Alríkr coloured.
*D ... ... ...
*E Gísli made this monument in memory of Gunnarr, (his) brother.

ources and external links

*Rundata
* [http://www.foteviken.se/sweden/vasterg/sparlosa/sparlosa.htm A Swedish language presentation with pictures at the Museum of Foteviken]
* [http://wadbring.com/historia/undersidor/sparlosa.htm A Swedish language presentation by Wadbring]