Velanda Runestone
Encyclopedia
The Velanda Runestone, designated as Vg 150 in the Rundata
catalog, is a runestone that is dated from the late tenth century or the early eleventh century and which is located in the village of Velanda, which is about 8 kilometers southeast of Trollhättan
, Västergötland
, Sweden
.
with the Younger Futhark
. Above the arch of the runic text band is the outline of an eagle head facing to the left. The stone was raised by a woman named Þyrvé in memory of her husband Ögmundr. The runic inscription states that he was miok goðan þegn or "a very good thegn
." The exact role of thanes in southern Sweden is a matter of debate, but the most common view is that these persons constituted a Nordic elite somehow connected to Danish power. It is thought that thane-stones point to areas where they came from. From such power centers they could be sent forth to rule border areas in so called tegnebyar. About fifty other runestones refer to the deceased being a thegn. Of these, four other runestones use exactly the same phrase, miok goðan þegn: Vg 73 Synnerby, Vg 108 Tängs gamla, Vg 137 Sörby, and DR 99 Bjerregrav.
The inscription asks the Norse pagan
god Thor
to hallow
the runestone. There are two other runestones that have similar invocations to Thor located in Sweden include Ög 136
in Rök and Sö 140 in Korpbron. Other runestones in Denmark that include invocations of or dedications to Thor in their inscriptions include DR 110 from Virring, DR 209
from Glavendrup, and DR 220
from Sønder Kirkeby. It has been noted that Thor is the only Norse god who is invoked on any Viking Age
runestones.
This runestone was discovered by a farmer named Jacobsson around 1910. It is known locally as the Velandastenen.
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 runestone that is dated from the late tenth century or the early eleventh century and which is located in the village of Velanda, which is about 8 kilometers southeast of Trollhättan
Trollhättan
Trollhättan is a city and the seat of Trollhättan Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 44,498 inhabitants in 2005. It is located 75 km north of Sweden's second-largest city, Gothenburg....
, Västergötland
Västergötland
', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....
, 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....
.
Description
The Velanda Runestone is inscribed in Old NorseOld 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....
with the Younger Futhark
Younger 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...
. Above the arch of the runic text band is the outline of an eagle head facing to the left. The stone was raised by a woman named Þyrvé in memory of her husband Ögmundr. The runic inscription states that he was miok goðan þegn or "a very 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...
." The exact role of thanes in southern Sweden is a matter of debate, but the most common view is that these persons constituted a Nordic elite somehow connected to Danish power. It is thought that thane-stones point to areas where they came from. From such power centers they could be sent forth to rule border areas in so called tegnebyar. About fifty other runestones refer to the deceased being a thegn. Of these, four other runestones use exactly the same phrase, miok goðan þegn: Vg 73 Synnerby, Vg 108 Tängs gamla, Vg 137 Sörby, and DR 99 Bjerregrav.
The inscription asks the Norse pagan
Norse paganism
Norse paganism is the religious traditions of the Norsemen, a Germanic people living in the Nordic countries. Norse paganism is therefore a subset of Germanic paganism, which was practiced in the lands inhabited by the Germanic tribes across most of Northern and Central Europe in the Viking Age...
god Thor
Thor
In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
to hallow
Hallow
To hallow is "to make holy or sacred, to sanctify or consecrate, to venerate". The adjective form hallowed, as used in The Lord's Prayer, means holy, consecrated, sacred, or revered.-Etymology:...
the runestone. There are two other runestones that have similar invocations to Thor located in Sweden include Ög 136
Rök Runestone
The Rök Runestone is one of the most famous runestones, featuring the longest known runic inscription in stone. It can now be seen by the church in Rök , Östergötland, Sweden...
in Rök and Sö 140 in Korpbron. Other runestones in Denmark that include invocations of or dedications to Thor in their inscriptions include DR 110 from Virring, DR 209
Glavendrup stone
The Glavendrup stone, designated as DR 209 by Rundata, is a runestone on the island of Funen in Denmark and dates from the early 10th century. It contains Denmark's longest runic inscription and ends in a curse.-Description:...
from Glavendrup, and DR 220
Sønder Kirkeby Runestone
The Sønder Kirkeby Runestone, listed as runic inscription DR 220 in the Rundata catalog, is a Viking Age memorial runestone that was discovered in Sønder Kirkeby, which is located about 5 kilometers east of Nykøbing Falster, Denmark.-Description:...
from Sønder Kirkeby. It has been noted that Thor is the only Norse god who is invoked on any 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,...
runestones.
This runestone was discovered by a farmer named Jacobsson around 1910. It is known locally as the Velandastenen.
Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters
- × þurui : risþi : stin : iftiR : ukmut : buta : sin : miuk : kuþan : þikn × þur : uiki ×
Transcription into Old Norse
- Þyrvi ræisti stæin æftiR Ogmund, bonda sinn, miok goðan þegn. Þorr vigi.
Translation in English
- Þyrvé raised the stone in memory of Ôgmundr, her husbandman, a very good Þegn. May Þórr hallow.
Other sources
- Larsson, Mats G. (2002). Götarnas Riken : Upptäcktsfärder Till Sveriges Enande. Bokförlaget Atlantis AB ISBN 9789174866414
External links
- Photograph of runestone - Swedish National Heritage Board