Gunnar's bridge runestones

The were probably two Gunnar's bridge runestones at Kullerstad in Östergötland, Sweden, where a man named Håkon dedicated a bridge to the memory of his son Gunnar. The second stone was discovered in a church only 500 metres away and is presently raised in the cemetery. The second stone informs that Håkon raised more than one stone in memory of his son and that the son died in the West.

Ög 162

Although the messages of most runestones are formulaic, some of them convey the sadness of those who raised them in memory of lost family members, like this runestone.Larsson 2002:148-149]

Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

+ hakun + karþi + bru + þasi + ian + su skal + haita + kunas + bru + iai saR + uaR × sua + hakunaR +

Transcription into Old Norse

Hakon gærði bro þessi, en su skal hæita Gunnars bro, en saR vaR sunn HakonaR.

Translation in English

Hákon made this bridge and it will be called Gunnarr's bridge. And he was Hákon's son.

Ög Fv1970;310

This runestone was found in the exterior wall of the church of Kullerstad, in 1969, and it is presently raised in the cemetery. It informs that Håkon raised more than one memorial for his son and that he died in the West.

Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

hakun + raiþi × kuml × þausi × eftiR × kunar + sun × sin × han × uarþ × taurþ × uastr +

Transcription into Old Norse

Hakon ræisþi kumbl þausi æftiR Gunnar, sun sinn. Hann varð dauðr vestr.

Translation in English

Hákon raised these monuments in memory of Gunnarr, his son. He died in the west.

Notes

ources

*Larsson, Mats G (2002). "Götarnas Riken : Upptäcktsfärder Till Sveriges Enande". Bokförlaget Atlantis AB ISBN 9789174866414
*Rundata
* [http://www.kulturarvostergotland.se/default.asp?frmMain=/tplShowArticle.asp&ClientID=0&CategoryID=5184&ArticleID=200101 Kulturarv Östergötland] , a site maintained by the County Museum of Östergötland.

External links

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