The Aarhus Runestones or Ålum Runestones are six Viking Age runestones which were discovered in and around the city of Aarhus, Denmark. The stones are officially titled Aarhus 1 through 6 and they are all memorial stones created in memory or honor of a person. All six stones are kept and displayed at Moesgård Museum and one of the stones is known as the Aarhus Stone or Mask Stone and features the carving of a mask which has become the official symbol of Moesgård Museum.
DR 63 also known as Aarhus Stone 1 is from c. 970–1020 and has been known since Ole Worm's time in Aarhus when it was used as building material in a wall of the cloister connecting the Church of Our Lady to the priory. Traces of mortar and the carving of the stone suggests it has been used in other structures prior to being placed in the Church of Our Lady. At some point it disappeared from the church but was found in the harbor bulwark in 1866. The stone is of granite and measures 65 cm × 87 cm × 42 cm (26 in × 34 in × 17 in) although it has been cut to fit as construction material resulting in the upper and lower parts of the inscription missing. The inscribed runes are 11.5 cm × 18.7 cm (4.5 in × 7.4 in). [1]
| Inscription | |
|---|---|
| Transcription | ... Þæxla ... ... þannsi ... ... Ámunda ... ?[e]s ?va[rð] ?[d]ǿ[ðr] [a]t Héðabý ... |
| Danish translation | [...] NN Thexle ...denne (sten) ... Åmunde ... ?som ?døde ?ved *Hedeby ... |
| English translation | ... NN Þegsla/(the) Adze ... this ... Ámundi ... ?who ?died ?near Hedeby ... |
DR 65 also known as Aarhus Stone 2, Aarhus 3 or Aarhus IV, is dated to c. 970–1020. It was found as part of a staircase during a renovation of Aarhus Cathedral School in 1847. The stone has been carved a number of times suggesting it has been used a building material on more than one occasion. The stone is of granite and measures 100 cm × 48 cm × 42 cm (39 in × 19 in × 17 in) although it has been cut to fit as construction material resulting in the upper and right side resulting in parts of the inscription missing. The inscribed runes are 14.5 cm × 16.5 cm (5.7 in × 6.5 in). [2]
| Inscription | |
|---|---|
| Transcription | Ásgæiʀʀ/Ásgæiʀ Biarn[aʀ] ... s[t]æinaʀ þá[si] ... |
| Danish translation | [...] Asger Bjørns ?[søn] ... disse stene ... |
| English translation | Ásgeirr ?son of Biorn ... these stones ... |
DR 66, also known as Aarhus Stone 3, Aarhus 4 or Aarhus II, is dated to c. 970–1020. It was found in 1850 in the foundation of a water mill that had burned down where it had been used as a cornerstone. The stone is of granite and measures 160 cm (63 in) in height by 47–70 cm (19–28 in) in depth. Width varies on the four sides; side A is 58 cm (23 in); side B is 47 cm (19 in); side C is 70 cm (28 in); and the back side is 75 cm (30 in). The inscribed runes are 13 cm × 18.3 cm (5.1 in × 7.2 in). The stone contains an inscription and the carving of a 110 cm-tall (43 in) mask in mammen style. The inscription is placed on two of the sides and above the mask. The front of the stone is somewhat weathered making some of the inscription unclear. [3]
| Inscription | |
|---|---|
| Transcription | Gunnulfʀ ok Ǿgotr/Ǿðgotr ok Áslákʀ ok Rólfʀ résþu stén þannsi æftiʀ Fúl, félaga sinn, eʀ varð ... dǿðr, þá kunungaʀ barðusk. |
| Danish translation | Gunulv og Øgot og Aslak og Rolf rejste denne sten efter deres fælle Ful. Han fandt døden ... da konger kæmpede. |
| English translation | Gunnulfr and Eygautr/Auðgautr and Áslakr and Hrólfr raised this stone in memory of Fúl, their partner, who died when kings fought. |
DR 67, also known as Aarhus Stone 4, also known as Aarhus III or Aarhus 5, is dated to c. 970–1020. It was found in 1866 in the foundation of the Church of Our Lady in Aarhus. The stone is of granite and measures 196 cm (77 in) in height by 72 cm (28 in) in width and 53 cm (21 in) in depth. Width varies on the four sides; side A is 58 cm (23 in); side B is 47 cm (19 in); side C is 70 cm (28 in); and the back side is 75 cm (30 in). The inscribed runes are 17 cm (6.7 in) tall and are inscribed on the widest side. [4]
| Inscription | |
|---|---|
| Transcription | Kætill résþi stén þannsi øftiʀ Inga, faður sinn. |
| Danish translation | Ketil rejste denne sten efter sin fader Inge. |
| English translation | Ketill raised this stone in memory of Ingi, his father. |
DR 68, also known as Aarhus Stone 5, Aarhus 6 and Aarhus V, is from c. 970–1020 and was found in the foundation of the Church of Our Lady in Aarhus during a restoration in 1905. The stone has an inscription with ornamental spirals finishing the bottom lines on both sides combined with vegetative curls on the b side. The stone is of granite and measures 157 cm (62 in) by 55–67 cm (22–26 in) and the inscribed runes are 9.8–14.5 cm (3.9–5.7 in) tall. [5]
| Inscription | |
|---|---|
| Transcription | [T]ósti ok Hófi ok þéʀ Frøbiorn résþu stén þannsi æftiʀ Assur Saksa, félaga sinn, harða góðan dræng. Sáʀ dó manna mæst[r] úníðingʀ, sáʀ átti skip með Arna. |
| Danish translation | Toste og Hove rejste sammen med Frebjørn denne sten efter Asser Sakse, deres fælle, en meget god dreng. Han døde som den største unidding blandt mænd. Han ejede skib sammen med Arne. |
| English translation | Tosti and Hofi and Freybjǫrn, they raised this stone in memory of Ǫzurr Saxon / Sword(-wielder), their partner, a very good boy. He died as the most unvillainous of men; he owned a ship with Arni. |
Aarhus Stone 6, also known as Aarhus 6 and Aarhus V, is from c. 970–1020 and was found under the foundation of the Church of Our Lady in Aarhus during a restoration in 1958. The stone has an inscription which is too fragmented to be deciphered. The stone is of granite and measures 19–26 cm (7.5–10.2 in) by 14–20 cm (5.5–7.9 in) by 3.5–7 cm (1.4–2.8 in). and the inscribed runes are 10–14 cm (3.9–5.5 in) tall. [6]
| Inscription | |
|---|---|
| Transcription | ... |
| Danish translation | ... |
| English translation | ... |
Danish Runic Inscription 66 or DR 66, also known as the Mask stone, is a granite Viking Age memorial runestone that was discovered in Aarhus, Denmark. The inscription features a facial mask and memorializes a man who died in a battle.
The Hällestad Runestones are three runestones located in the walls of Hällestad Church in Torna-Hällestad, about 20 kilometers east of Lund in Skåne, southern Sweden. Their Rundata identifiers are DR 295, 296, and 297. DR 295 is notable because it is held to be raised in memory of a warrior who fell in the legendary Battle of the Fýrisvellir, near Uppsala, Sweden between the Jomsvikings led by Styrbjörn the Strong and Styrbjörn's uncle Eric the Victorious, the king of Sweden, c. 985. The other stones were raised by the same people, and they probably formed a monument together in memory of comrades lost in the battle. The Karlevi Runestone, the Egtved Runestone and the Sjörup Runestone may be connected to them.
Egå is a both a suburban district and a stream in the Municipality of Aarhus in Denmark.
The Kallerup Stone, designated as runic inscription DR 250 in the Rundata system, is a memorial runestone which is located in Hedehusene, Høje-Taastrup Municipality, on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. It is among the oldest runestones in Denmark.
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 All Saints Church in Lund, Scania, Sweden.
The Eltang stone (also Stenderup stone, listed as DR 35 in the Rundata catalog, is a Viking Age runestone . The stone was discovered in 1866 at North-Stenderup, Eltang parish, Kolding Municipality, Region of Southern Denmark, Denmark, about 2 km northeast of Kolding, on the estate of one Mr. Flensbourg, who gave it to the Oldnordisk Museum.
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.
The Skern Runestone, designated as Danish Runic Inscription 81 or DR 81 in the Rundata catalog, is a Viking Age memorial runestone located in the small village of Skjern, Denmark between Viborg and Randers. The stone features a facial mask and a runic inscription which ends in a curse. A fragment of a second runestone designated as DR 80 was also found in Skjern.
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.
The Bjäresjö Runestones are three Viking Age memorial runestones originally located adjacent to Bjäresjö Church in Bjäresjö, which is about 3 kilometers northwest of Ystad, Skåne County, Sweden. Two of the stones were discovered near the church, and two of the stones have been moved to other nearby locations. Although these three stones are located in Sweden, they have been given Danish designations because Scania was part of the historic Denmark.
The Ålum Runestones are four Viking Age memorial runestones which are located at the church in Ålum, which is 9 km west of Randers, Denmark. One of the stones refers to a man with the title drengr and two of the other stones were raised by the same family.
The Asferg Runestone, listed as DR 121 in the Rundata catalog, is a Viking Age memorial runestone found at Asferg, which is about 10 km northeast of Randers, Aarhus County, Region Midtjylland, Denmark.
The Aars stone or DR 131 is a late Viking Age runestone located on a mound in the churchyard at Aars in Himmerland, Denmark. Dated to the late 10th to early 11th century, it bears an inscription in the Younger Fuþark in memory of Toke Gormsson, known as Valtoke, who died at the Battle of Fýrisvellir.
DR 110, or the Virring stone, is a runestone made of granite that measures 155 cm (61 in) in height, 120 cm (47 in) in width and 27 cm (11 in) in thickness. It is written in Old East Norse in the Younger Futhark, and the runestone style is in a form called RAK.
The Sønder Vinge stone 2 or DR 83 is a Viking Age runestone engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark runic alphabet. The stone is in granite and was discovered in 1866 as a corner stone of Sønder Vinge Church, positioned with the runic inscription outwards. It is presently located in the porch of the church. It is probably from the period 970-1020 due to runic and linguistic features. It is 180 cm tall, 132 cm wide and 35 cm thick. Parts of the runic inscription have eroded which makes some runes hard to read. The style of the runestone is the runestone style RAK.
The Sædinge Runestone or DR 217 is a Viking Age runestone engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark runic alphabet. It is in granite and measures 174 cm in height, 79 m in width and it is 69 cm thick, and it is dated to the period 970–1020. The style of the runestone is the runestone style RAK. It was discovered in 1854, during the plowing of a field near an old ford. However, it was split in nine pieces and spread around before it was noticed that there were runes on them. It took several searches to find all the pieces. Only the top piece is missing but it is known from an old drawing. The stone is presently located at the Stiftsmuseum in Maribo on Lolland, Denmark. In 2014, it was moved inside the building.
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. It is dated to the period 900–1020. The stone is in granite and measures 80 cm in height, 55 cm in width and 43 cm in thickness. The style of the runestone is the runestone style RAK.
The Tvorup/Torup stone or DR 154 † was a Viking Age runestone engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark runic alphabet, which has disappeared. According to Skonvig the stone would have been located just inside the door of church of Torup, having been moved there from a mound east of the church. The stone must have been lost while being transported to Copenhagen because nothing more is known about it. Skonvig reported that the stone was 2.5 Danish ells high and 1 ell wide. It was made by the same runemaster who made DR 155, and Lerche Nielsen (2010:244f) suggests that the two stones may actually be the same stone. The stone is dated to the period 970–1020, and the style of the runestone was the runestone style RAK.
The Fuglie stone 1 or DR 259 is a Viking Age runestone engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark runic alphabet. It was first mentioned by Skonvig and it is still located in its original location on a Nordic Bronze Age mound next to the church of Fuglie, Skåne, Sweden. There are many local legends and traditions about the stone. The stone is 105 cm tall, 63 cm wide, and 33 cm thick. The stone is dated to the period 970–1020, and the style of the runestone was the runestone style RAK.
Runestone DR 120, MJy 51, known as Spentrup stone 2 and the Jennum stone, is a Viking Age runestone engraved with the Younger Futhark and a Thor's hammer.