Gunderup Runestone
Encyclopedia
The Gunderup Runestone, or DR 143, is located in Gunderup, North Jutland County
, Jutland
, Denmark
. It is notable because it is one of few runestones raised in commemoration of a woman.
The runic text states that it was raised by Tóki in memory of his step-father who was either named Api or Ebbi and of his mother Tófa. It is one of only two runestones in Denmark that memorialize both parents, the second being the now-lost DR 201 from Allerup. That stepsons did not usually inherit under local law is indicated by the text, which goes on to indicate that Api/Ebbi made Tóki his heir through some process. The text also describes the father as being þægn goþan or "a good thegn
," a phrase that is also used on two Swedish runestones, Vg 8 from Hjälstads and, in its plural form, on Sö 34 from Tjuvstigen. A thegn was a class of retainer, and about fifty memorial runestones in Denmark and Sweden mention that the deceased was a thegn.
The runestone, which is known locally as the Gunderup-sten 1, is currently stored at the church in Gunderup.
North Jutland County
North Jutland County is a former county in northern Denmark. It was located on the eastern half of Vendsyssel-Thy and the northernmost part of the Jutland peninsula. It was the largest county in Denmark, but with a relatively low population. The county seat was Aalborg, Denmark's fourth largest...
, Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. It is notable because it is one of few runestones raised in commemoration of a woman.
Description
The Gunderup Runestone was first documented in 1629 as being located on a hill, but was later used for construction materials. The stone is granite and has a height of 2.46 meters. The inscription consists of two sections of runic text and is classified as being carved in runestone style RAK. This is the classification for inscriptions where the ends of the runic bands are straight and do not have any beast or serpent heads attached. The inscription is dated as being carved in 900-960.The runic text states that it was raised by Tóki in memory of his step-father who was either named Api or Ebbi and of his mother Tófa. It is one of only two runestones in Denmark that memorialize both parents, the second being the now-lost DR 201 from Allerup. That stepsons did not usually inherit under local law is indicated by the text, which goes on to indicate that Api/Ebbi made Tóki his heir through some process. The text also describes the father as being þægn goþan or "a good 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...
," a phrase that is also used on two Swedish runestones, Vg 8 from Hjälstads and, in its plural form, on Sö 34 from Tjuvstigen. A thegn was a class of retainer, and about fifty memorial runestones in Denmark and Sweden mention that the deceased was a thegn.
The runestone, which is known locally as the Gunderup-sten 1, is currently stored at the church in Gunderup.
Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters
- A : tuki : raisþi : stini : þoisi : auk : karþi : kub(l) (:) ¶ : þausi : aft aba : mak : sin : þaikn : kuþan : auk :
- B : tufu : muþur : sino : þau : lika : baþi : i : þaum : hauki : ¶ abi : uni : tuka : fiaR : sins : aft : sik :
Transcription into Old Norse
- A Toki resþi stena þæssi ok gærþi kumbl þøsi æft Apa/Æbba, mag sin, þægn goþan, ok
- B Tofu, moþur sina. Þø liggia bæþi i þem høgi. Api/Æbbi unni Toka feaR sins æft sik.
Translation in English
- A Tóki raised these stones and made this monument in memory of Api/Ebbi, his kinsman-by-marriage, a good þegn, and
- B Tófa, his mother. Both of them lie in this mound. Api/Ebbi granted Tóki his wealth after himself.