Ledberg stone

Runefacts|name=Ledberg stone
rundataid=Ög 181

country=Sweden
region=Östergötland
city=Ledberg
produced= 11th Century
artist=
text_native=bisi sati sti þisi ift þurkut ... faþur / sin uk þu kuna baþi þmk iii sss ttt iii lll | text_english= Bisi placed this stone in memory of Þorgautr ... his father / and Gunna, both. Thistle mistle casket
picture=
The Ledberg stone is an image- and runestone located Östergötland, Sweden. The inscription is carved in the Younger futhark, and is dated to the 11th century.

The last part contains section interpreted as a charm or a spell (galdr), and reads:

þmk iii sss ttt iii lll

which is to be read as:

"þistil mistil kistil"

The three words mean "thistle", "mistletoe" and "casket" respectively.

This type of charm is found on a few other inscriptions, among them the Gørlev stone, from Sjælland, Denmark.

Some scholars believe that the images on the stone show scenes from Ragnarök, the final battle in Norse mythology. Some scholars, however, believe that the images depict the final story of either Þorgautr or Gunna. If the images are followed in the same order as the runes are written, they seem to create a chronological account. The first image is of a ship; this depicts a journey abroad. Next, there is a figure walking to the left, carrying what is most likely a shield, in preparation for departure. In the third image, the figure is carrying weapons and a shield to the right, probably marching to battle. At the top of the second side of the stone, the figure's foot is being bitten by a wolf and finally, we see the figure legless with arms sprawled, likely lying dead on the battlefield. Wolves were often used in Scandinavian art to signify combat, so it is thought to be unlikely that the figure fell in battle due to wounds caused by a wolf.

External links

*http://web.telia.com/~u31139493/runestones/og181_ledberg.htm
*http://www.kms.raa.se/cocoon/bild/show-image.html?id=16000300013347
*http://www.kms.raa.se/cocoon/bild/show-image.html?id=16000300013346