The inscription on the Hillersjö stone, which is 2.8 by 1.0 meters, consists of runic text in the younger futhark that is carved on an intertwined serpent. The main text is written on the serpent with extraneous information, such as the fact that "Þorbjôrn Skald carved the runes," carved outside of the serpent.[1] The inscription is classified as being carved in runestone style Pr4, which is also known as Urnes style. This runestone style is characterized by slim and stylized animals that are interwoven into tight patterns. The animal heads are typically seen in profile with slender almond-shaped eyes and upwardly curled appendages on the noses and the necks.
The runic text indicates that Gerlög married with Germund when she was very young, and they had a son who is not named. Germund drowned and the son died. Then Gerlög remarried with Gudrik and they had several children, but only one survived, who was named Inga. Inga married Ragnfast of Snottsta and they had a son who is not named. Both Ragnfast and the son died and so Inga inherited the estate Snottsta. Inga then married Eric, but both soon died without leaving any children. This meant that Gerlög inherited her daughter's property. It has been noted that the chain of inheritance documented on the Hillersjö stone, including how property passed to women through their children, is consistent with the inheritance rules later codified in the 1296 Uppland Law.[2]
This text is completed with information from runestone U 20/U 21, where it is said that both Gudrik (Gerlög's second husband and Inga's father) and Eric (Inga's second husband) had died.
The estate Snottsta (also spelled Snåttsta) still exists. At Snottsta and the neighboring Vreta there are several other runestones that complete the saga of Inga that are called the Snottsta and Vreta stones.
The runic text begins with the imperative Rað þu! which is translated as "Interpret!" Other runestones with similar imperitive exclamations in their runic texts include U 328 in Stora Lundby and Sö 158 in Österberga.[3] On the Hillersjö stone, Rað þu! is carved on the eye of the serpent, perhaps indicating that the stone as a record of inheritance was intended for the public.[1]
The inscription is signed by the runemaster Þorbjôrn Skald, who also signed the runestone U 532 at Roslags-Bro. Other inscriptions have been attributed to him, including several stones signed only with "Þorbjôrn." He was likely selected as the runemaster for his composition of the Hillersjö stone's text in alliterative verse known as höjningar, a traditional style which uses half-lines characterized by two stressed and accented or rising syllables.[4]
The Stockholm County Museum presents the story of Gerlög and Inga as a dramatic real life family saga which was documented for posterity on this runestone sometime between 1060 and 1100.[5] Local theater associations nearby have conducted plays which recreate the rather dramatic tale of Gerlög.
Inscriptionedit
raþ|
Rað
|þu
þu!
kaiʀmuntr
Gæiʀmundr
-ik
[f]ikk
*
kaiʀ[l]a[uk
Gæiʀlaug
*]
(m)aytumi|
møydomi
|i
i.
þa
Þa
*
finku
fingu
*
þau
þau
sun
sun,
*
aþ
aðan
han
hann
*
truknaþi
drunknaði.
*
in
En
sun
sunn
to
do
:
siþan
siðan.
:
þa
Þa
+
fi(k)
fikk
(h)(u)-
ho[n]
--þrik
[Gu]ðrik.
*
ha-
Ha[nn]
...
...
(þ)(i)nsa
þennsa.
*
þa
Þa
*
finku
fingu
þa(u)
þau
[bar](n)
barn.
...
(i)(n)
En
maʀ
maʀ
ain
æin
lifþi
lifði;
*
[hu]n
hon
hit
het
'
...g[a]
[In]ga.
'
h(a)...
Ha[na]
fik
fikk
raknfastr
Ragnfastr
*
i
i
*
snutastaþum
Snutastaðum.
*
þa
Þa
uarþ
varð
han
hann
tauþr
dauðr
*
auk
ok
*
sun
sunn
*
siþan
siðan.
*
in
En
*
moþir
moðiʀ
kuam
kvam
+
at
at
sunar
sunaʀ
'
arfi
arfi.
'
þa
Þa
'
fik
fikk
hun
hon
'
airik
Æirik.
'
þar
Þar
'
uarþ
varð
hun
hon
tauþ
dauð.
'
þar
Þar
kuam
kvam
'
gaiʀlauk
Gæiʀlaug
at
at
arfi
arfi
'
inku
Ingu,
tutur
dottur
sinar
sinnaʀ.
þurbiur(n)
Þorbiorn
'
skalt
Skald
'
risti
risti
runar
runaʀ.
raþ| |þu kaiʀmuntr -ik * kaiʀ[l]a[uk *] (m)aytumi| |i þa * finku * þau sun * aþ han * truknaþi * in sun to : siþan : þa + fi(k) (h)(u)- --þrik * ha- ... (þ)(i)nsa * þa * finku þa(u) [bar](n) ... (i)(n) maʀ ain lifþi * [hu]n hit ' ...g[a] ' h(a)... fik raknfastr * i * snutastaþum * þa uarþ han tauþr * auk * sun * siþan * in * moþir kuam + at sunar ' arfi ' þa ' fik hun ' airik ' þar ' uarþ hun tauþ ' þar kuam ' gaiʀlauk at arfi ' inku tutur sinar þurbiur(n) ' skalt ' risti runar
Rað þu! Gæiʀmundr [f]ikk {} Gæiʀlaug {} møydomi i. Þa {} fingu {} þau sun, {} aðan hann {} drunknaði. {} En sunn do {} siðan. {} Þa {} fikk ho[n] [Gu]ðrik. {} Ha[nn] ... þennsa. {} Þa {} fingu þau barn. {} En maʀ æin lifði; {} hon het {} [In]ga. {} Ha[na] fikk Ragnfastr {} i {} Snutastaðum. {} Þa varð hann dauðr {} ok {} sunn {} siðan. {} En {} moðiʀ kvam {} at sunaʀ {} arfi. {} Þa {} fikk hon {} Æirik. {} Þar {} varð hon dauð. {} Þar kvam {} Gæiʀlaug at arfi {} Ingu, dottur sinnaʀ. Þorbiorn {} Skald {} risti runaʀ.
Interpret! Geirmundr got Geirlaug (to wife) in her maidenhood. Then they got a son, before he (= Geirmundr) drowned. And then the son died. Then she got Guðríkr. He ... this. Then they got children. And one maid lived; she was called Inga. Ragnfastr of Snutastaðir got her (to wife). Then he died, and thereafter the son. And the mother came to inherit from her son. Then she got Eiríkr. Then she died. Then Geirlaug came to inherit from Inga, her daughter. Þorbjôrn Skald carved the runes.[6]
Galleryedit
In the summer of 2007, the U 29 inscription no longer had any visible paint and was partly overgrown.
Later, in 2010/2010, the inscription was restored and the runes is yet again visible.
The farm Snottsta or Snåttsta, Old Norse: Snotastaðir, is still in the same location after 1000 years.
^Herschend, Frands (2001). "Pegas på Tusentalet - Attityder till Runstensdiktning" (PDF). Fornvännen. 96. Swedish National Heritage Board: 23–33. ISSN 1404-9430. Retrieved 26 August 2010. pp. 30-31.
^Estrid 2006-10-11 at the Wayback Machine - Stockholm Läns Museum presentation.
^Project Samnordisk Runtextdatabas Svensk - Rundata entry for U 29. August 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
External linksedit
An English Dictionary of Runic Inscriptions of the Younger Futhark, at the university of Nottingham
Photograph of runestone - Swedish National Heritage Board
hillersjö, stone, listed, rundata, catalog, located, hillersjö, which, about, four, kilometers, north, stenhamra, färingsö, runic, younger, futhark, inscription, that, tells, norse, tragic, real, life, family, saga, gerlög, daughter, inga, longest, runic, insc. The Hillersjo stone listed in the Rundata catalog as U 29 and located at Hillersjo which is about four kilometers north of Stenhamra on Faringso is a runic Younger Futhark inscription that tells in Old Norse the tragic real life family saga of Gerlog and her daughter Inga It is the longest runic inscription in Uppland and the second longest one in Sweden after the Rok runestone Hillersjo stoneCreated11th centuryDiscoveredHilleshog Uppland SwedenRundata IDU 29StylePr4RunemasterTHorbjorn skaldText NativeOld Norse See articleTranslationSee article Contents 1 Description 2 Inscription 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDescription editThe inscription on the Hillersjo stone which is 2 8 by 1 0 meters consists of runic text in the younger futhark that is carved on an intertwined serpent The main text is written on the serpent with extraneous information such as the fact that THorbjorn Skald carved the runes carved outside of the serpent 1 The inscription is classified as being carved in runestone style Pr4 which is also known as Urnes style This runestone style is characterized by slim and stylized animals that are interwoven into tight patterns The animal heads are typically seen in profile with slender almond shaped eyes and upwardly curled appendages on the noses and the necks The runic text indicates that Gerlog married with Germund when she was very young and they had a son who is not named Germund drowned and the son died Then Gerlog remarried with Gudrik and they had several children but only one survived who was named Inga Inga married Ragnfast of Snottsta and they had a son who is not named Both Ragnfast and the son died and so Inga inherited the estate Snottsta Inga then married Eric but both soon died without leaving any children This meant that Gerlog inherited her daughter s property It has been noted that the chain of inheritance documented on the Hillersjo stone including how property passed to women through their children is consistent with the inheritance rules later codified in the 1296 Uppland Law 2 This text is completed with information from runestone U 20 U 21 where it is said that both Gudrik Gerlog s second husband and Inga s father and Eric Inga s second husband had died The estate Snottsta also spelled Snattsta still exists At Snottsta and the neighboring Vreta there are several other runestones that complete the saga of Inga that are called the Snottsta and Vreta stones The runic text begins with the imperative Rad thu which is translated as Interpret Other runestones with similar imperitive exclamations in their runic texts include U 328 in Stora Lundby and So 158 in Osterberga 3 On the Hillersjo stone Rad thu is carved on the eye of the serpent perhaps indicating that the stone as a record of inheritance was intended for the public 1 The inscription is signed by the runemaster THorbjorn Skald who also signed the runestone U 532 at Roslags Bro Other inscriptions have been attributed to him including several stones signed only with THorbjorn He was likely selected as the runemaster for his composition of the Hillersjo stone s text in alliterative verse known as hojningar a traditional style which uses half lines characterized by two stressed and accented or rising syllables 4 The Stockholm County Museum presents the story of Gerlog and Inga as a dramatic real life family saga which was documented for posterity on this runestone sometime between 1060 and 1100 5 Local theater associations nearby have conducted plays which recreate the rather dramatic tale of Gerlog Inscription editrath Rad thuthu kaiʀmuntrGaeiʀmundr ik f ikk kaiʀ l a ukGaeiʀlaug m aytumi moydomi ii thaTHa finkufingu thauthausunsun athadanhanhann truknathidrunknadi inEnsunsunntodo sithansidan thaTHa fi k fikk h u ho n thrik Gu drik ha Ha nn th i nsathennsa thaTHa finkufingutha u thau bar n barn i n Enmaʀmaʀainaeinlifthilifdi hu nhonhithet g a In ga h a Ha na fikfikkraknfastrRagnfastr ii snutastathumSnutastadum thaTHauarthvardhanhanntauthrdaudr aukok sunsunn sithansidan inEn mothirmodiʀkuamkvam atatsunarsunaʀ arfiarfi thaTHa fikfikkhunhon airikAEirik tharTHar uarthvardhunhontauthdaud tharTHarkuamkvam gaiʀlaukGaeiʀlaugatatarfiarfi inkuIngu tuturdottursinarsinnaʀ thurbiur n THorbiorn skaltSkald ristiristirunarrunaʀ rath thu kaiʀmuntr ik kaiʀ l a uk m aytumi i tha finku thau sun ath han truknathi in sun to sithan tha fi k h u thrik ha th i nsa tha finku tha u bar n i n maʀ ain lifthi hu n hit g a h a fik raknfastr i snutastathum tha uarth han tauthr auk sun sithan in mothir kuam at sunar arfi tha fik hun airik thar uarth hun tauth thar kuam gaiʀlauk at arfi inku tutur sinar thurbiur n skalt risti runarRad thu Gaeiʀmundr f ikk Gaeiʀlaug moydomi i THa fingu thau sun adan hann drunknadi En sunn do sidan THa fikk ho n Gu drik Ha nn thennsa THa fingu thau barn En maʀ aein lifdi hon het In ga Ha na fikk Ragnfastr i Snutastadum THa vard hann daudr ok sunn sidan En modiʀ kvam at sunaʀ arfi THa fikk hon AEirik THar vard hon daud THar kvam Gaeiʀlaug at arfi Ingu dottur sinnaʀ THorbiorn Skald risti runaʀ Interpret Geirmundr got Geirlaug to wife in her maidenhood Then they got a son before he Geirmundr drowned And then the son died Then she got Gudrikr He this Then they got children And one maid lived she was called Inga Ragnfastr of Snutastadir got her to wife Then he died and thereafter the son And the mother came to inherit from her son Then she got Eirikr Then she died Then Geirlaug came to inherit from Inga her daughter THorbjorn Skald carved the runes 6 Gallery edit nbsp In the summer of 2007 the U 29 inscription no longer had any visible paint and was partly overgrown nbsp Later in 2010 2010 the inscription was restored and the runes is yet again visible nbsp The farm Snottsta or Snattsta Old Norse Snotastadir is still in the same location after 1000 years See also editList of runestonesReferences edit a b Jesch Judith 1991 Women in the Viking Age Boydell Press p 56 ISBN 978 0 85115 360 5 Page Raymond Ian 1995 Chronicles of the Vikings Records Memorials and Myths University of Toronto Press p 75 ISBN 978 0 8020 0803 9 Gustavson Helmer Snaedal Brink T 1981 Runfynd 1980 PDF Fornvannen 76 Swedish National Heritage Board 186 202 ISSN 1404 9430 Retrieved 24 August 2010 p 197 Herschend Frands 2001 Pegas pa Tusentalet Attityder till Runstensdiktning PDF Fornvannen 96 Swedish National Heritage Board 23 33 ISSN 1404 9430 Retrieved 26 August 2010 pp 30 31 Estrid Archived 2006 10 11 at the Wayback Machine Stockholm Lans Museum presentation Project Samnordisk Runtextdatabas Svensk Rundata entry for U 29 Archived August 7 2011 at the Wayback MachineExternal links editAn English Dictionary of Runic Inscriptions of the Younger Futhark at the university of Nottingham Photograph of runestone Swedish National Heritage Board59 23 17 N 17 42 18 E 59 38806 N 17 70500 E 59 38806 17 70500 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hillersjo stone amp oldid 1212251194, 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