Egtved Runestone
The Egtved Runestone or DR 37 is a Viking Age runestone engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark runic alphabet. It was discovered in 1863, by a master mason named Anders Nielsen from Starup, in the southern part of the cemetery of Egtved church.[1] It is dated to the period 900–1020.[1] The stone is in granite and measures 80 cm in height, 55 cm in width and 43 cm in thickness.[1] The style of the runestone is the runestone style RAK.[2]
In an article Lis Jacobsen (Jacobsen 1935: 185–94) discussed possible interpretations that were not included in the standard work Danmarks Runeindskrifter 1941-42.[1] She pointed out that the phrase "brōðiʀ æft brōður" and "stæinn sāsi" connect the inscription to a group of warrior band inscriptions, i.e. the Hällestad Runestones and the Sjörup Runestone,[1] which are connected to the Jomsvikings and the legendary Battle of the Fýrisvellir in Uppland, Sweden.[3] However, the inscription is challenging to read and Jacobsen's interpretation is rather uncertain.[1] Jacobsen suggests that the runes suiu refer to the location Svia in Vaksala parish, Uppland, Sweden; an interpretation that is contested (Peterson 2007: 321).[1] However, the Scandinavian Runic-text Database accepts Jacobsen's analysis and does not add a question mark to it, as can be seen below.[2]
Inscription
Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters
- ... ... ...at ' fai(n) ['] (t)u ÷ i suiu ' raist ¶ ... ...uþiʀ ' aft ' bruþur ¶ stain ' sasi ' skarni ' ...[2]
Old Norse transcription:
- ... ... ... Fain, do i Swiu. Rest ... [br]oþiʀ æft broþur. Sten sasi ... ...[2]
English translation:
- "... ... ... (the) Coloured, (who) died in Svía. Raised ... brother in memory of brother. This stone ... ... "[2]
References
- Danske Runeindskrifter, Nationalmuseet, accessed December 30, 2020.
- Scandinavian Runic-text Database - Rundata.
- Enoksen 1998:113
Sources
- Enoksen, Lars Magnar. (1998). Runor : historia, tydning, tolkning. Historiska Media, Falun. ISBN 91-88930-32-7
- Jacobsen, Lis (1935): Syv runestenstolkninger Aarbøger for Nordisk Oldkyndighed og Historie 1935 p. 167-224. København