The Manx runestones were made by the Norse population on the Isle of Man during the Viking Age, mostly in the 10th century. Despite its small size, the Isle of Man stands out with many Viking Age runestones, in 1983 numbering as many as 26 surviving stones, which can be compared to 33 in all of Norway. [1] So many of them may appear on the Isle of Man because of the merging of the immigrant Norse runestone tradition with the local Celtic tradition of raising high crosses. [1]
In addition, the church contributed by not condemning the runes as pagan, but instead it encouraged the recording of people for Christian purposes. Sixteen of the stones bear the common formula, "N ... put up this cross in memory of M", but among the other ten there is also a stone raised for the benefit of the runestone raiser.
The Manx runestones are consequently similar to the Scandinavian ones, [2] but whereas a Norwegian runestone is called "stone" in the inscriptions, even if it is in the shape of a cross, the runestones that were raised in the British isles are typically called "crosses". [3] There are also two slabs incised with Anglo-Saxon runes at Maughold. [4]
This runestone is a stone cross that is located in the church Andreas. The inscription is in short-twig runes and it commemorates a father.
...
...
(þ)[an](a)
þenna
:
[aft]
ept
(u)(f)(a)ik
Ófeig,
:
fauþur
fǫður
:
sin
sinn,
:
in
en
:
kautr
Gautr
:
kar[þ]i
gerði,
:
sunr
sonr
:
biarnar
Bjarnar
f(r)(a)
frá
:
(k)(u)(l)(i)
Kolli.
[:]
"... this [cross] in memory of Ófeigr, his father, but Gautr made (it), the son of Bjǫrn from Kollr." [5]
This stone cross is located in the church Andreas. It is engraved with short-twig runes, and it is dated to c. 940. It was erected in memory of a wife.
sont:ulf
Sandulfr
:
hin
hinn
:
suarti
Svarti
:
raisti
reisti
:
krus
kross
:
þona
þenna
:
aftir
eptir
:
arin:biaurk
Arinbjǫrgu,
*
kuinu
konu
:
sina
sína.
(u)
...
[*]
k
...
:
au
...
[*]:
(o)ks/(b)ks
...
"Sandulfr the Black erected this cross in memory of Arinbjǫrg his wife. ..." [6]
Referred to as Thorwald's Cross, this stone cross is found in the church Andreas. Only attribution to the one who raised the stone—Þorvaldr—remains of the message inscribed on the cross. [7] It has been badly damaged since it was recorded. [8] The stone depicts a bearded human holding a spear downward at a wolf, his right foot in its mouth, while a large bird sits at his shoulder. [9] Rundata dates it to 940, [7] while Pluskowski dates it to the 11th century. [9]
This depiction has been interpreted as the Norse pagan god Odin, with a raven or eagle at his shoulder, being consumed by the wolf Fenrir during the events of Ragnarök. [10] Next to the image is a depiction of a large cross and another image parallel to it that has been described as Christ triumphing over Satan. [11] These combined elements have led to the cross as being described as "syncretic art"; a mixture of pagan and Christian beliefs. [9] Andy Orchard comments that the bird on Odin's shoulder may be either Huginn or Muninn, Odin's ravens. [12]
þurualtr
Þorvaldr
÷
(r)[aisti]
reisti
(k)(r)(u)(s)
kross
÷
(þ)[...]
þe[nna].
"Þorvaldr raised (this) cross." [7]
This stone cross is located in the church Andreas. It is engraved with short-twig runes and it is dated to the 10th century. What remains of the message informs that it was raised in memory of someone.
[...
...
...ai]s[t]i
reisti
:
[k]rus
kross
:
þaina
þenna
:
aftiʀ
eptir
...
...
"... raised this cross in memory of ..." [13]
Only fragments remain of this stone cross, and they are located in the church Andreas. The inscription has not been deciphered, but it is of note as it consists of unusual twig runes and bind runes. [14]
Only a fragment remains of this slab of stone that was once part of a grave. It is dated to the Viking Age and it is located in the church Andreas. Too little remains of the inscription to allow any decipherment.
ka-
...
"..." [15]
This fragment was discovered at Larivane Cottage it is a slab of stone was once part of a grave. The inscription was made in relief form, and it is located in the Manx Museum. What remains of the inscription cannot be read. [16]
This stone cross is located in Ballaugh. The inscription consists of short-twig runes and they are dated to the second half of the 10th century. It was raised in memory of a son.
oulaibr
Áleifr/Óleifr
÷
liu(t)ulbs|
Ljótulfs
|sunr
sonr
:
r[ai](s)[ti
reisti
k]rs
kross
*
þ-na
þ[e]nna
:
ai(f)(t)ir
eptir
*
...-b
[Ul]f,
:
sun
son
[s]in
sinn.
"Áleifr/Óleifr, Ljótulfrs son raised this cross in memory of Ulfr, his son." [17]
These fragments of a stone cross are found at Balleigh, and they are dated to the Viking Age. Only traces of runes remain and they cannot be read. [18]
This stone cross is located in the church Braddan. The inscription consists of short-twig runes and they are dated to 930–950. It was raised in memory of a man.
(þ)(u)(r)...
Þorsteinn
:
raisti
reisti
:
krus
kross
:
þono
þenna
:
ift
ept
:
ufaak
Ófeig,
:
sun
son
:
krinais
Krínáns.
"Þorsteinn raised this cross in memory of Ófeigr, the son of Krínán." [19]
This stone cross is found in the church Braddan. The inscription consists of short-twig runes and it is dated to the second half of the 10th century. It reports betrayal.
...
...
...(n)
[e]n
roskitil
Hrossketill
:
uilti
vélti
:
i
í
:
triku
tryggu
:
aiþsoara
eiðsvara
:
siin
sinn.
"... but Hrosketill betrayed the faith of his sworn confederate." [20]
This stone cross is found in the church Braddan. The inscription consists of short-twig runes and it is dated to the 980s. The runemaster is identified as man named Thorbjörn, who also made Br Olsen;193A, below. [21] It has been badly damaged since it was recorded. [8]
utr
Oddr
:
risti
reisti
:
krus
kross
:
þono
þenna
:
aft
ept
:
fro(k)(a)
Frakka,
[:
f](a)(þ)[ur
fǫður
sin
sinn,
:
in
en
:]
(þ)[urbiaurn
Þorbjǫrn
:
...]
...
"Oddr raised this cross in memory of Frakki, his father, but ... ..." [21]
This runestone which is dated to the 980s is found in the church Braddan. The inscription consists of short-twig runes and they were made by the runemaster Thorbjörn, like Br Olsen;191B, above. It was made in memory of a son.
þurlibr
Þorleifr
:
nhaki
Hnakki
:
risti
reisti
:
krus
kross
:
þono
þenna
:
aft
ept
[:]
fiak
Fiak,
:
s(u)[n]
son
(s)in
sinn,
:
(b)ruþur:sun
bróðurson
:
habrs
Hafrs.
×
IHSVS
ihsvs>
"Þorleifr the Neck raised this cross in memory of Fiak, his son, Hafr's brothers son. ihsvs" [22]
This fragment of a runestone is located in Manx Museum. It is probably from the Viking Age, but as of 2006, it had not yet been analysed. [23]
This runestone consists of a fragment of slate. It is dated to the Viking Age and it is located in Manx Museum. The only message that remains consists of "made".
gerði would also translate into modern Swedish as gjorde or English did ... The meaning of the words made or did depends on the original context of the sentence as a whole (or at least the words surrounding this single word), which here appears lost.
The current use of the Swedish word gjorde is much more closely related to did than the word made. Which is intended is impossible to say here.
This stone cross is found in the church Bride. The inscription consists of short-twig runes and it is dated to between 930 and 950. It was raised in memory of a wife.
[t]ruian
Druian,
:
sur
sonr
[t]u(f)kals
Dufgals,
:
raisti
reisti
krs
kross
þina
þenna
:
a(f)[t]
ept
aþmiu...
Aþmiu[l],
:
kunu
konu
si[n...]
sín[a].
"Druian, Dufgal's son raised this cross in memory of Aþmiu[l], his wife." [25]
This runestone consists of a short-twig runic inscription on an old Irish stone cross. The inscriptions A, B and C date from the Viking Age, while D is later. A and B were made by the same scribe, C and D were made by a second and a third one, while a fourth scribe made E, F and G.
...(a)
...
sunr
sonr
×
raisti
reisti
×
if(t)
ept
[k](u)[i](n)(u)
konu
(s)(i)(n)(a)
sína
×
"...'s son raised (this) in memory of his wife"
murkialu
Myrgjǫl
×
m...
...
"Myrgjǫl ..."
×
uk
Hygg
ik
ek
at
×
at
auk
ok
raþ
ræð
ik
ek
r...t
r[é]tt.
×
"I examine (the runes) and I interpret (them) rightly.(?)"
a=læns
Alleins.
"in agreement(?)"
kru...
Kro[ss]
"Cross"
isu
Jésu
krist
Krist
"Jesus Christ"
This stone cross is located in the chapel of Saint John. The inscription is in short-twig runes and it is dated to between 930 and 950. The inscription is secondary and it is poorly preserved. Only a few main staffs are visible.
...
...
in
En
o(s)(r)(u)(þ)(r)
Ásrøðr
:
raist
reist
:
runar
rúnar
:
þsar
þessar.
× ¶
-----
...
-
...
"... and Ásrøðr carved these runes. ... ..." [27]
This stone cross is found in Manx Museum. The inscription is in short-twig runes, but it may be later than the Viking Age. It was inscribed in memory of a wife.
...
...
...
...
...(u)s
[kr]oss
*
þense
þenna
*
efter
eptir
*
asriþi
Ástríði,
*
kunu
konu
sina
sína,
*
(t)(u)(t)ur
dóttur
*
ut...
Odd[s].
...-
...
"... ... this cross in memory of Ástríðr, his wife, Oddr's daughter ..." [28]
This stone cross is found in Jurby and the short-twig runes are dated to the second half of the 10th century. [29] It has been badly damaged since it was recorded. [8] One of the figures depicted on the cross holds a small sword in his right hand and an Alpine horn in his left while a raven flies overhead. It has been suggested that this figure represents the Norse pagan deity Heimdall holding the Gjallarhorn, used to announce the coming of Ragnarök. [30]
[...
...
...
...
...un
[s]on
*
si]n
sinn,
:
in
en
:
onon
annan
:
raiti
reisti/rétti
¶
---
[hann](?)
*
aftir
eptir
þurb-...
Þor...
"... ... his son and raised(?) another ... in memory of Þorb-..." [29]
This stone cross is located in Saint Trinian's chapel. The short-twig inscription is dated to the Viking Age.
This runic inscription is found on a stone slab that was used in a grave. It is located near the church Maughold. The inscription is dated to the second half of the 12th century, and it was made by the same runemaster as Br Olsen;202B. On the stone can also be seen the first half of the Ogham alphabet.
(i)(u)an
Jóan
+
brist
prestr
+
raisti
reisti
+
þasir
þessar
+
runur
rúnar.
+¶
[f]uþor(k)(h)niastbml
⟨fuþorkhniastbml⟩
+
"Jóan the priest carved these runes. Fuþorkhniastbml" [32]
This inscription is found on a slab of stone that was used in a grave. It was discovered at the upper end of the Corna valley, but is now at the church Maughold. The short-twig inscription is dated to the second half of the 12th century and it was made by the same runemaster as Br Olsen;202A.
+
krisþ
Kristr,
:
malaki
Malaki
:
ok
ok
baþr(i)k
Patrik.
:
(a)þ(a)(n)man
Adamnán
(×) ¶ ÷
[...nal]
...
*
sauþ
...
*
a...
...
*
iuan
Jóan
*
brist
prestr
*
i
í
kurnaþal
Kornadal.
*
"Christ, Malachi, and Patrick. Adamnán ... Joán the priest in Kornadalr." [33]
This fragment of a stone cross was found in Ballagilley. It is now located at the church Maughold. It is dated to the Viking Age but only four runes remain of the inscription. [34]
This inscription is dated to c. 1000 and found on a slab of stone that was used in a grave, and it is located at the church Maughold. The inscription is in long-branch runes, except for the s rune, and there is reason to believe that it was made by a visitor to the Isle of Man.
heþin
Heðinn
:
seti
setti
:
krus
kross
:
þino
þenna
:
eftir
eptir
:
tutur
dóttur
:
sino
sína
¶
lif...
Hlíf[hildi].
¶
lifilt
Hlífhildi.
"Heðinn placed this cross in memory of his daughter Hlíf(hildr). Hlífhildr."
arni
Árni
:
risti
risti
:
runar
rúnar
:
þisar
þessar.
"Árni carved these runes."
This inscription is found on a slab of stone that was used in a grave. It is located in the Manx Museum. It is in short-twig runes and it is dated to the Viking Age. It was engraved in memory of a wife.
kuan
⟨kuan⟩,
sunr
sonr
×
mailb—ak...
⟨mailb---ak...⟩
+
kirþi
gerði
+
lik+tinn
líkstein(?)
i(f)tir
eptir
+ ¶ +
kuina
kona
sina
sína.
+
"⟨kuan⟩, son of ⟨mailb---ak...⟩ made the tomb-stone(?) in memory of his wife." [36]
This fragment of a stone cross is located in the church Kirk Michael. The inscription in short-twig runes is dated to the Viking Age.
This stone cross is located in the church Kirk Michael, and it is dated to the Viking Age. The inscription is in short-twig runes and it was dedicated to a man while he was alive.
×
mail:brikti
Melbrigði,
:
sunr
sonr
:
aþakans
Aðakáns
:
smiþ
Smiðs,
:
raisti
reisti
:
krus
kross
:
þano
þenna
:
fur
fyr
:¶
salu
sálu
:
sina
sína
:
sin:bruku
synd...(?),
in
en
:
kaut
Gautr
׶
kirþi
gerði
:
þano
þenna
:
auk
ok
¶
ala
alla
:
i
í
maun
Mǫn.
×
"Melbrigði, the son of Aðakán the Smith, raised this cross for his sin ... soul, but Gautr made this and all in Man." [38]
This is an old Irish stone cross that received an inscription in long branch runes, and it was probably by a Danish visitor in the 11th century. There are ogham inscriptions on both sides.
mal:lymkun
⟨mallymkun⟩
:
raisti
reisti
:
krus
kross
:
þena
þenna
:
efter
eptir
:
mal:mury
⟨malmury⟩
:
fustra
fóstra
:
si(n)e
sín,
:
tot(o)r
dóttir
:
tufkals
Dufgals,
:
kona
kona
:
is
er
:
aþisl
Aðísl
:
ati
átti.
+ ¶
...etra
Betra
:
es
er
:
laifa
leifa
:
fustra
fóstra
:
kuþan
góðan
:
þan
en
:
son
son
:
ilan
illan.
+
"⟨Mallymkun⟩ raised this cross in memory of ⟨Malmury⟩, his foster(-mother?), Dufgal's daughter, the wife whom Aðísl owned (= was married to). (It) is better to leave a good foster-son than a wretched son." [39]
This is a stone cross that is found in the church Michael. The inscription with short-twig runes was made in the second half of the 11th century.
[k](r)i(m)
Grímr
:
risti
reisti
:
krus
kross
:
þna
þenna
:
ift
ept
:
rum(u)...
Hróðmu[nd]
...
...
"Grímr raised this cross in memory of Hróðmundr ... his ..." [40]
This is a stone cross that is located in the church Michael. The inscription in short-twig runes was made in the 980s by a runemaster named Thorbjörn.
+
iualfir
⟨iualfir⟩,
:
sunr
sonr
:
þurulfs
Þórulfs
:
hins
hins
:
rauþa
Rauða,
:
ris(t)i
reisti
:
krus
kross
:
þono
þenna
:
aft
ept
:
friþu
Fríðu,
:
muþur
móður
:
sino
sína.
+
"⟨iualfir⟩, the son of Þórulfr the Red, raised this cross in memory of Fríða, his mother." [41]
This stone cross is located in the church Michael. It was engraved with short-twig runes in the second half of the 10th century.
This fragment of a stone cross is located in the church Kirk Michael. The inscription was made in short-twig runes between 930 and 950.
This fragment of a stone cross is located in the church Kirk Michael. The inscription was made during the Viking Age with short-twig runes.
The Funbo runestones constitute a group of four runestones originally from Funbo in the province of Uppland, Sweden, which were raised by members of the same family during the eleventh century.
The Dynna Stone is a runestone from the late Viking Age that was originally located in Gran, Norway.
The Skarpåker Stone, designated by Rundata as Sö 154, is a Viking Age memorial runestone that originally was located in Skarpåker, Nyköping, Sörmland, Sweden. It dates to the early eleventh century.
The Snottsta and Vreta stones are individual runestones known as U 329, U 330, U 331 and U 332. They are found on the homesteads of Snottsta and Vreta, and they tell in Old Norse with the younger futhark about the family story of Gerlög and Inga in 11th century Uppland, Sweden, together with the Hillersjö stone and the runestone U 20/21.
The Jarlabanke Runestones is the name of about 20 runestones written in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark rune script in the 11th century, in Uppland, Sweden.
The Ingvar runestones is the name of around 26 Varangian Runestones that were raised in commemoration of those who died in the Swedish Viking expedition to the Caspian Sea of Ingvar the Far-Travelled.
The Granby Runestone, designated as U 337 under the Rundata catalog, is one of the longest Viking Age runic inscriptions located in Uppland, Sweden.
The Klepp I Runestone, listed as N 225 in the Rundata catalog, is one of two runestones from Klepp in Rogaland, Norway. It is among the few Viking Age runestones that was raised as a memorial to a woman.
The Orkesta Runestones are a set of 11th-century runestones engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark alphabet that are located at the church of Orkesta, northeast of Stockholm in Sweden.
The Hagby Runestones are four runestones that are raised on the courtyard of the farm Hagby in Uppland, Sweden. They are inscribed in Old Norse using the Younger Futhark and they date to the 11th century. Three of the runestones are raised in memory of Varangians who died somewhere in the East, probably in Kievan Rus'.
The Greece runestones are about 30 runestones containing information related to voyages made by Norsemen to the Byzantine Empire. They were made during the Viking Age until about 1100 and were engraved in the Old Norse language with Scandinavian runes. All the stones have been found in modern-day Sweden, the majority in Uppland and Södermanland. Most were inscribed in memory of members of the Varangian Guard who never returned home, but a few inscriptions mention men who returned with wealth, and a boulder in Ed was engraved on the orders of a former officer of the Guard.
The England runestones are a group of about 30 runestones in Scandinavia which refer to Viking Age voyages to England. They constitute one of the largest groups of runestones that mention voyages to other countries, and they are comparable in number only to the approximately 30 Greece Runestones and the 26 Ingvar Runestones, of which the latter refer to a Viking expedition to the Caspian Sea region. They were engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark.
The Varangian Runestones are runestones in Scandinavia that mention voyages to the East or the Eastern route, or to more specific eastern locations such as Garðaríki in Eastern Europe.
The Viking runestones are runestones that mention Scandinavians who participated in Viking expeditions. This article treats the runestone that refer to people who took part in voyages abroad, in western Europe, and stones that mention men who were Viking warriors and/or died while travelling in the West. However, it is likely that all of them do not mention men who took part in pillaging. The inscriptions were all engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark. The runestones are unevenly distributed in Scandinavia: Denmark has 250 runestones, Norway has 50 while Iceland has none. Sweden has as many as between 1,700 and 2,500 depending on definition. The Swedish district of Uppland has the highest concentration with as many as 1,196 inscriptions in stone, whereas Södermanland is second with 391.
The Gällsta Runestones from the 11th century commemorate four generations of the same family in Viking Age Sweden. There are three runestones and a raised stone which is only inscribed with a cross. The runestones are located at the northern outskirts of Stockholm, just northwest of the lake Vallentunasjön, around which is found the world's greatest concentration of runestones. All the Gällsta Runestones are attributed to Öpir, the most productive of all the old runemasters.
Uppland Runic Inscription 308 or U 308 is the Rundata catalog designation for a memorial runestone that is located in Ekeby, Stockholm County, Sweden, which was in the historic province of Uppland. While the tradition of carving inscriptions into boulders began in the 4th century and lasted into the 12th century, most runestones date from the late Viking Age.
The Skårby Runestones are two Viking Age memorial runestones originally located in Skårby, which is about ten kilometers northwest of Ystad, Scania, Sweden.
The Stangeland stone or N 239 is a Viking Age runestone engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark runic alphabet in Stangeland, Norway, and the style of the runestone is the runestone style RAK. It was found on Stangeland Farm, where it has been moved several times and for many years was used as a bridge over a river.
The Södermanland Runic Inscription 333 is a Viking Age runestone engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark runic alphabet. It is located at the abandoned Ärja Church in Strängnäs Municipality. The style of the runestone is a categorized as Fp.
The Runestone of Galteland is a runestone from the beginning of the 11th century CE, coming from Evje in the commune of Evje og Hornnes in southern Norway. Its name refers to the Galteland garden, where it was located for some time. It commemorates the expedition of the Danish king Canute the Great to England in 1015–16. It also contains one of the first references to the Christian faith in Norway.