Nasta Runestone
Encyclopedia
The Nasta Runestone, listed as Nä 34 in the Rundata
catalog, is a Viking Age
memorial
runestone located in Nasta, which is 3 kilometers northwest of Glanshammar, Örebro County
, Sweden
, which was in the historic province of Närke
.
within a runic text band that arches around the edge of the stone, and a depiction of a beast and an intertwined serpent and a facial mask. The inscription on this granite stone, which is 2.25 meters in height, is classified as perhaps being carved in runestone style Pr3, which is also known as Urnes style
. This is the classification for runic bands with beast or serpent heads depicted in profile with almond shaped eyes. The question regarding the proper classification for Nä 34 is that the runic text band has no attached beast or serpent heads, but the depiction of the serpent and beast depicted have some characteristics typical of the Urnes style. The facial mask on this stone, which is just under the arch of the text band, is a common motif and is found on several other Scandinavia
n runestones including DR 62 in Sjelle, DR 66 in Århus, DR 81
in Skjern, DR 258 in Bösarp, the now-lost DR 286
in Hunnestad, DR 314
in Lund, DR 335
in Västra Strö, Vg 106 in Lassegården, Sö 86
in Åby ägor, Sö 112 in Kolunda, Sö 167 in Landshammar, Sö 367
in Släbro, U 508 in Gillberga, U 670 in Rölunda, U 678 in Skokloster, U 824
in Holms, U 1034
in Tensta, and U 1150 in Björklinge, and on the Sjellebro Stone
. The stone was noted as being on a pile of rocks during the initial survey of Swedish runestones in the 1600s by Johannes Bureus
. As it was near a main road, the stone was raised in 1672 by Johan Hadorph
for the Eriksgata
of king Charles XI
. It was noted that local people in the 1700s sometimes bit the stone as a cure for toothaches and left pins or nails on the stone as offerings for good crops. In 1952 the stone was moved six meters from the south side to the north side of the road.
The runic text states that the stone was raised as a memorial by a woman named Þórheiðr for her son named Lyðbjôrn, who is described in Old Norse
as being nytan, which is a rare word that is translated as "capable" but may mean "bright and cheerful." The text is very worn and was somewhat damaged in the 1840s when a farmer attempted to "improve" the inscription.
The stone is known locally as the Nastastenen or, since it is the only runestone in the Rinkaby synod, as the Rinkabystenen.
Rundata
The Scandinavian Runic-text Data Base is a project involving the creation and maintenance of a database of runic inscriptions. The project's goal is to comprehensively catalog runestones in a machine-readable way for future research...
catalog, is a Viking Age
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
memorial
Memorial
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
runestone located in Nasta, which is 3 kilometers northwest of Glanshammar, Örebro County
Örebro County
Örebro County is a county or län in central Sweden. It borders the counties of Västra Götaland, Värmland, Dalarna, Västmanland, Södermanland and Östergötland.- Province :...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, which was in the historic province of Närke
Närke
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Svealand in south central Sweden. It is bordered by Västmanland to the north, Södermanland to the east, Östergötland to the southeast, Västergötland to the southwest, and Värmland to the northwest...
.
Description
The inscription on Nä 34 consists of runic text in the younger futharkYounger Futhark
The Younger Futhark, also called Scandinavian runes, is a runic alphabet, a reduced form of the Elder Futhark, consisting of only 16 characters, in use from ca. 800 CE...
within a runic text band that arches around the edge of the stone, and a depiction of a beast and an intertwined serpent and a facial mask. The inscription on this granite stone, which is 2.25 meters in height, is classified as perhaps being carved in runestone style Pr3, which is also known as Urnes style
Urnes style
The Urnes style was the last phase of Scandinavian animal art during the second half of the 11th century and in the early 12th century. The preceding phases of Scandinavia's Viking Age animal ornamentation are usually categorized as Oseberg style, Borre style, Jelling style, Mammen style and...
. This is the classification for runic bands with beast or serpent heads depicted in profile with almond shaped eyes. The question regarding the proper classification for Nä 34 is that the runic text band has no attached beast or serpent heads, but the depiction of the serpent and beast depicted have some characteristics typical of the Urnes style. The facial mask on this stone, which is just under the arch of the text band, is a common motif and is found on several other Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n runestones including DR 62 in Sjelle, DR 66 in Århus, DR 81
Skern Runestone
The Skern Runestone, designated as Danish Runic Inscription 81 or DR 81 in the Rundata catalog, is a Viking Age memorial runestone located in Skjern, Denmark. The stone features a facial mask and an inscription which ends in a curse...
in Skjern, DR 258 in Bösarp, the now-lost DR 286
Hunnestad Monument
The Hunnestad Monument , listed as DR 282 through 286 in the Rundata catalog, were once located at Hunnestad in Marsvinsholm north-west of Ystad, Sweden. It was the largest and most famous of the Viking Age monuments in Scania, and in Denmark, only comparable to the Jelling stones...
in Hunnestad, DR 314
Lund 1 Runestone
The Lund 1 Runestone, designated as DR 314 in the Rundata catalog, is a Viking Age memorial runestone originally located on the grounds of the Allhelgona church in Lund, Scania, Sweden.-Description:...
in Lund, DR 335
Västra Strö 2 Runestone
The Västra Strö 2 Runestone, listed as DR 335 in the Rundata catalog, is a Viking Age memorial runestone located at the Västra Strö Monument, which is at a church that is about four kilometers northwest of Eslöv, Skåne County, Sweden.-Description:...
in Västra Strö, Vg 106 in Lassegården, Sö 86
Södermanland Runic Inscription 86
thumb|300px|right|A drawing of runic inscription Sö 86 published in 1876.Sö 86 is the Rundata catalog number for a Viking Age memorial runic inscription located in Åby, Södermanland, Sweden...
in Åby ägor, Sö 112 in Kolunda, Sö 167 in Landshammar, Sö 367
Södermanland Runic Inscription 367
Södermanland Runic Inscription 367 or Sö 367 is the Rundata catalog designation for a Viking Age memorial runestone located in Släbro, which is one kilometer north of Nyköping, Södermanland County, Sweden, which was in the historic province of Södermanland...
in Släbro, U 508 in Gillberga, U 670 in Rölunda, U 678 in Skokloster, U 824
Uppland Runic Inscription 824
Uppland Runic Inscription 824 is the Rundata catalog number for a Viking Age memorial runestone located at Holms, which is about eight kilometers east of Örsundsbro, Uppsala County, Sweden. The inscription features a facial mask and a bind rune in the text....
in Holms, U 1034
Uppland Runic Inscription 1034
Uppland Runic Inscription 1034 or U 1034 is the Rundata catalog number for a runic inscription on a runestone located at the Tensta church in Uppland, Sweden, that was carved in the late 11th or early 12th century...
in Tensta, and U 1150 in Björklinge, and on the Sjellebro Stone
Sjellebro Stone
The Sjellebro Stone is a Viking Age image stone located at Sjellbro, which is about 12 kilometers southeast of Randers, Denmark. The stone is inscribed with a facial mask.-Description:...
. The stone was noted as being on a pile of rocks during the initial survey of Swedish runestones in the 1600s by Johannes Bureus
Johannes Bureus
Johannes Thomae Bureus Agrivillensis was a Swedish antiquarian, polymath and mystic. He was royal librarian, tutor, and adviser of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden....
. As it was near a main road, the stone was raised in 1672 by Johan Hadorph
Johan Hadorph
Johan Hadorph was a Swedish director-general of the Central Board of National Antiquities. In 1667, he was appointed assessor at the government agency for antiquities, and in 1679, he became its director-general...
for the Eriksgata
Eriksgata
Eriksgata is the name of the traditional journey of the newly elected medieval Swedish kings through the important provinces to have their election confirmed by the local assemblies...
of king Charles XI
Charles XI of Sweden
Charles XI also Carl, was King of Sweden from 1660 until his death, in a period in Swedish history known as the Swedish empire ....
. It was noted that local people in the 1700s sometimes bit the stone as a cure for toothaches and left pins or nails on the stone as offerings for good crops. In 1952 the stone was moved six meters from the south side to the north side of the road.
The runic text states that the stone was raised as a memorial by a woman named Þórheiðr for her son named Lyðbjôrn, who is described in Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
as being nytan, which is a rare word that is translated as "capable" but may mean "bright and cheerful." The text is very worn and was somewhat damaged in the 1840s when a farmer attempted to "improve" the inscription.
The stone is known locally as the Nastastenen or, since it is the only runestone in the Rinkaby synod, as the Rinkabystenen.
Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters
- : þureiþ : lit : raisa : stein : eftir : lyþbyurn : sun sin : nutan :
Transcription into Old Norse
- Þorhæiðr let ræisa stæin æftiR Lyðbiorn, sun sinn nytan.
External links
- Photograph in 1995 - Swedish National Heritage Board