Baltic expeditions runestones

The Baltic expeditions runestones are Varangian Runestones in memory of men who took part in peaceful or warlike expeditions across the Baltic Sea, where Finland and the Baltic States are presently located.

Beside the runestones treated in this article and in the main article Varangian Runestones, there are many other runestones that talk of eastward voyages such as the Greece Runestones, Italy Runestones, and inscriptions left by the Varangian Guard. Other runestones that deal with Varangian expeditions include the Serkland Runestones (dealing with expeditions to the Middle East) and the Ingvar Runestones (erected in honor or memory of those who travelled to the Caspian Sea with Ingvar the Far-Travelled). ["e.g.", Jones 267.] In addition, there were also voyages to Western Europe mentioned on runestones that are treated in the articles Viking Runestones, England Runestones and Hakon Jarl Runestones.

Below follows a presentation of the runestones based on the Rundata project. The transcriptions into Old Norse are mostly in the Swedish and Danish dialect to facilitate comparison with the inscriptions, while the English translation provided by Rundata gives the names in the de facto standard dialect (the Icelandic and Norwegian dialect):

Uppland

U 180

This runestone is possibly in style Pr4 and it is located at the church of Össeby-Garn. It was made by the runemaster Visäte. The stone commemorates a man who either died in Viborg, Jutland, or in Vyborg, Karelia.

Latin transliteration:

: + sihatr * uk + þurbiorn + uk * þurkri(m) + uk * erinmontr '× litu × reisn + stein + aftiR + broþur + sin + sikstnin + hn to i uib(u)(r)kum

Old Norse transcription:

: "Sighvatr ok Þorbiorn ok ÞorgrimR ok Ærinmundr letu ræisa stæin æftiR broður sinn Sigstæin. Hann do i Viborgum."

English translation:

: "Sighvatr and Þorbjôrn and Þorgrímr and Erinmundr had the stone raised in memory of their brother Sigsteinn. He died in Véborg."

U 214

This runestone from c. 1100 is in the style RAK. It is in the wall of the porch of the church of Vallentuna. The U 215 contains the first part of the message. The stones were carved in memory of a man who drowned in Holmr's sea, but runologists are divided on the meaning of the expression. One interpretation proposed by Jansson is that it means the "Novgorodian sea" and refers to the Gulf of Finland.Pritsak 1981:369] The runestone provides the earliest Swedish attestation of end rhyme, whereas the earliest Old Norse attestation is "Höfuðlausn" composed by Egill Skallagrímsson.Jansson 1980:26-27]

Latin transliteration:

: ... uk × inkiber × eftiR × buanta × sin ' han ' troknaþi ÷ a ' holms ' hafi ' skreþ ' knar ' hans ' i ' kaf þriR ' eniR ' kamo ' af

Old Norse transcription:

: "... ok Ingebærg æftiR boanda sinn. Hann drunknaði a Holms hafi, skræið knarr hans i kaf, þriR æiniR kvamu af."

English translation:

: "... and Ingibjôrg in memory of her husbandman. He drowned in Holmr's sea - his cargo-ship drifted to the sea-bottom - only three came out (alive)."

U 346

This runestone has disappeared but it was located at the church of Frösunda. It was made by the runemaster Åsmund Kåresson in style Pr3-Pr4, and it was raised in memory of a man who died in Virland. It contains the same message as U 356.

Latin transliteration:

: [rahnfriþr * lit rt stain þino ' aftiR biurno sun þaiRa kitilmuntaR ' hon ' fil a urlati ' kuþ hialbi hons ant auk| |kuþs muþiR ' osmunr mar'kaþi runaR ritar]

Old Norse transcription:

: "Ragnfriðr let retta stæin þenna æftiR Biorn, sun þæiRa KætilmundaR. Hann fell a Virlandi. Guð hialpi hans and ok Guðs moðiR. Asmundr markaði runaR rettaR."

English translation:

: "Ragnfríðr had this stone erected in memory of Bjôrn, her son and Ketilmundr's. He fell in Virland. May God and God's mother help his spirit. Ásmundr marked the right runes."

U 356

This runestone in style Pr3 is located in Ängby. It was made by the runemaster Åsmund Kåresson for a lady in memory of her son who died in Virland. It contains the same message as U 346.

Latin transliteration:

: ra(h)nfriþr ' lit rasa stain þino ' aftiR biurn * sun þaiRa * kitilmun(t)aR ' kuþ mialbi hons (a)nt auk| |kuþs (m)uþiR hon fil a uirlanti * in osmuntr markaþi

Old Norse transcription:

: "Ragnfriðr let ræisa stæin þenna æftiR Biorn, sun þæiRa KætilmundaR. Guð hialpi hans and ok Guðs moðiR. Hann fell a Virlandi. En Asmundr markaði."

English translation:

: "Ragnfríðr had this stone raised in memory of Bjôrn, her son and Ketilmundr's. May God and God's mother help his spirit. He fell in Virland. And Ásmundr marked."

U 439

. [ [http://skaldic.arts.usyd.edu.au/db.php?table=mss&id=15335 U 439, at Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages.] ]

Latin transliteration:

: [harlaif × auk × þurkarþr × litu × raisa × stain × þina at × sabi faþur sin × is| |sturþi × austr × skibi × maþ ikuari a/a| |askalat-/skalat-]

Old Norse transcription:

: "Hærlæif ok Þorgærðr letu ræisa stæin þenna at Sæbiorn, faður sinn. Es styrði austr skipi með Ingvari a Æistaland(?)/Særkland [i] (?)."

English translation:

: "Herleif and Þorgerðr had this stone raised in memory of Sæbjôrn, their father, who steered a ship east with Ingvarr to Estonia(?)/Serkland(?)."

U 533

This runestone is in the wall inside the porch of the church of Roslags-Bro. It is in style Pr1, and it was raised in memory of a man who died in Virland (in Estonia). The style shows that it was made by the runemaster Torbjörn Skald.Jansson 1980:26]

Latin transliteration:

: * sigruþ * lit + raisa * stain * eftir + anunt * sun * sin * han uas ' tribin + a + uirlanti

Old Norse transcription:

: "Sigruð let ræisa stæin æftiR Anund, sun sinn. Hann vas drepinn a Virlandi."

English translation:

: "Sigþrúðr had the stone raised in memory of Ônundr, her son. He was killed in Virland."

U 582

This runestone has disappeared but it was located at the church of Söderby-Karl. It was possibly in style Pr1 and it commemorated a son who died in what is called "Finland". At this time, "Finland" referred to the south-western part of what today is Finland.Jansson 1980:24]

Latin transliteration:

: [biarn huk * ikulfriþ : raistu : stain : aftR : utrik : sun : sain * han * uaR : tribin : o * fin*lonti]

Old Norse transcription:

: "Biorn ok Igulfrið ræistu stæin æftiR Otrygg, sun sinn. Hann vaR drepinn a Finnlandi."

English translation:

: "Bjôrn and Ígulfríðr raised the stone in memory of Ótryggr, their son. He was killed in Finland."

U 698

This runestone has disappeared but it was located at the church of Veckholm. It was in style Pr2-Pr3. The inscription was considered difficult to read, but it refers to a man who fell in Livonia, and possibly in an expedition led by Freygeirr.

Latin transliteration:

: P [sufar lit : aristn * þin * afir * askir sun : sin : han * ut fai : a liflai|n|þ|i| |i| |i|n|þ|i * frai...] : Q [sufar lit : aristn * þin * afir * askir sun : sin : han * ut fai : a liflai|n|þ| i| |i|n|þ|i * frai...]

Old Norse transcription:

: P " let ræisa stæin æftiR AsgæiR, sun sinn. Hann uti fioll a Liflandi i liði Frøy [gæiRs] (?).": Q " let ræisa stæin æftiR AsgæiR, sun sinn. Hann ut fioll a Lifland i liði Frøy [gæiRs] (?)."

English translation:

: " had the stone raised in memory of Ásgeirr, his son. He fell in Lífland, abroad in Freygeirr's(?) retinue."

Södermanland

ö 39

This is a runic inscription on bedrock at Åda. It is in style Pr3 and it commemorates a brother who drowned in Livonia.

Latin transliteration:

: : hermoþr : lit : hagua : at : barkuiþ : bruþur : sin : h [an] trukn-þi : [a] lf:lanti :

Old Norse transcription:

: "Hærmoðr let haggva at Bergvið/Barkvið, broður sinn. Hann drunkn [a] ði a Liflandi."

English translation:

: "Hermóðr had (the rock) cut in memory of Bergviðr/Barkviðr, his brother. He drowned in Lífland."

ö 198

This runestone in style Fp is found in Mervalla on the island of Selaön in lake Mälaren. It is raised in memory of a man who used to sail a valuable knarr to Zemgale and who used to pass Cape Kolka ("Dómisnes"). North of the Cape there is a long underwater reef which probably was infamous among the sailors of the Viking Age, and this is probably why Sigríðr wanted posterity to know that her husband had often passed it.Jansson 1980:30] The expression "dyrum knærri" ("valued cargo-ship") is an instrumental dative and it also appears in a famous stanza by the Icelander Egill Skallagrímsson. Egill had written that his mother had promised him a fast ship so that he could sail with the Vikings and

Latin transliteration:

: siriþ * lit * resa * stan * [þin] (a) [*] (a)(t) * suen * sin * [b] unta * h [n] * uft * siklt * til * simk(a)(l)(a) * t(u)ru [m] * knari * um * tumisnis

Old Norse transcription:

: "Sigrið let ræisa stæin þenna at Svæin, sinn bonda. Hann oft siglt til Sæimgala, dyrum knærri, um Domisnæs."

English translation:

: "Sigríðr had this stone raised in memory of Sveinn, her husbandman. He often sailed a valued cargo-ship to Seimgalir, around Dómisnes."

Gästrikland

Gs 13

This runestone in sandstone is found in the church of the holy trinity in Gävle. It is in style Pr2 and it commemorates a brother name Egill who died in Tavastia. Åsmund Kåresson was one of the runemasters. Egill probably fell in a leidang expedition, led by Freygeirr who was a military leader.Pritsak 1981:357]

Latin transliteration:

: × brusi lit rita s-... ... [(a)] b--R (i)h(i)(l) brur sin : in h-n uarþ tauþr a tafstalonti × þo brusi furþi lank lans ' abtiR [br] (u)r sin h(o) [n] fur (m)iR fraukiRi kuþ hialbi hons| |salu| |uk| |kuþ(s) (m)(u) [þiR ' suain ' uk osmunrt ' þaiR markaþu] +

Old Norse transcription:

: "Brusi let retta s [tæin þenna] æf [ti] R Ægil, broður sinn. En h [a] nn varð dauðr a Tafæistalandi, þa Brusi førði læiðang(?) lands æftiR broður sinn. Hann for meðr FrøygæiRi. Guð hialpi hans salu ok Guðs moðiR. Svæinn ok Asmundr þæiR markaðu."

English translation:

: "Brúsi had this stone erected in memory of Egill, his brother. And he died in Tafeistaland, when Brúsi brought (= led?) the land's levy(?) (= army) in memory of , his brother. He travelled with Freygeirr. May God and God's mother help his soul. Sveinn and Ásmundr, they marked."

Västergötland

Vg 181

This runestone in style Pr1 is found at Frugården. It was raised in memory of a man who died in Estonia.

Latin transliteration:

: kufi : rsþi : stin : þesi : eftR : ulaf : sun : sin * trk * hrþa * kuþan * hn * uarþ * trbin * i * estlatum * hu(a)rþ(r) * iuk * s---

Old Norse transcription:

: "Gufi ræisti stæin þennsi æftiR Olaf, sun sinn, dræng harða goðan. Hann varð drepinn i Æistlandum. Havarðr(?) hiogg s [tæin] ."

English translation:

: "Gufi raised this stone in memory of Ólafr, his son, a very good valiant man. He was killed in Estonia. Hávarðr(?) cut the stone."

Gotland

G 135

This runestone tells of the same family as G 134 and G 136, and it was made in memory of a man who died in Vindau (Ventspils, Latvia).Pritsak 1981:345]

Latin transliteration:

: þina : eftir : a(i)--- : --- : --rþ : tauþr : a : ui(t)au : systriR : [tuaR] ...-R : bryþr : þria : roþanþr : auk : roþkutr : roþar : auk : þorstain : þiR : iRu : faþur:bryþr

Old Norse transcription:

: "Þenna æftiR Æi... ... [va] rð dauðr a Vindau/Vindö. SystriR tvaR ... brøðr þria. Hroðvaldr(?) ok Hroðgautr, Hroðarr ok Þorstæinn, þæiR eRu faðurbrøðr."

English translation:

: "This (one) in memory of Ei-... (who) died at Vindey/Vindö. Two sisters ... three brothers. Hróðvaldr(?) and Hróðgautr, Hróðarr and Þorsteinn, they are the father's brothers."

G 319

This is a late runic inscription on a grave which is dated to the early 13th century. It is located in the church of Rute and it commemorates a man who died in Finland.

Latin transliteration:

: si [h] tris : aruar [r] : litu : giera : st [a] en : yfir : auþu-l- : broþur : sin : a : finlandi : do : aglia...

Old Norse transcription:

: "Sigtryggs(?) arfaR letu gæra stæinn yfiR Auðv [a] l [d] (?), broður sinn, a Finnlandi do ."

English translation:

: "Sigtryggr's(?) heirs had the stone made over Auðvaldr(?), their brother, who died in Finland ..."

Notes

ources

*Jansson, Sven B. (1980). "Runstenar". STF, Stockholm. ISBN 91-7156-015-7
*Jones, Gwyn. "A History of the Vikings". New York: Oxford University Press, 1968.
* [http://www.sofi.se/servlet/GetDoc?meta_id=1472 Peterson, Lena. "Nordisk runnamnslexikon"] Swedish Institute for Linguistics and Heritage (Institutet för språk och folkminnen).
*Pritsak, Omeljan. (1981). "The origin of Rus"'. Cambridge, Mass.: Distributed by Harvard University Press for the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute. ISBN 0-674-64465-4
*Rundata

External links

* [http://runicdictionary.nottingham.ac.uk/index.php An English Dictionary of Runic Inscriptions of the Younger Futhark, at the university of Nottingham]