Risbyle Runestones

The Risbyle Runestones are runestones found near the western shore of Lake Vallentunasjön in Uppland, Sweden. They were engraved in Old Norse with the Younger Futhark in the early 11th century by the Viking Ulf of Borresta ("Báristaðir") who had partaken three times in the danegeld in England and raised the runestone U 336 in the same region. The were raised in memory of Ulf of Borresta's kinsman-by-marriage Ulf in Skolhamarr (Skålhammar).

One of the runestones has the Eastern cross which shows the influence of Byzantine culture on Sweden at this time through the Varangians who returned after having served the Emperor in Constantinople (see also the Greece Runestones and the Italy Runestones). The cross is today the coat-of-arms of Täby Municipality. Both runestones are in the style Pr1, [Rundata] and they have a pronounced Ringerike character.Fuglesang, S.H. "Swedish runestones of the eleventh century: ornament and dating", Runeninschriften als Quellen interdisziplinärer Forschung (K.Düwel ed.). Göttingen 1998, pp. 197-218. p. 202]

The Skålhamra clan who asked Ulf of Borresta to make the runestones also had another couple of runestones made at Arkils tingstad across the lake, in addition to the runestone U 100 at a path in the forest.

U 160

This runestone was raised after Ulfr of Skolhamarr by his children Ulfke(ti)ll, Gýi and Un(n)i. The runemaster is considered to be Ulfr of Báristaðir himself.

Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

ulfkitil * uk * kui uk + uni + þiR × litu * rhisa × stin þina * iftiR * ulf * faþur * sin * kuþan on * buki * i skul(o)bri * kuþ * ilbi * ons * at * uk * salu * uk * kusþ muþiR * li anum lus * uk baratis

Transcription into Old Norse

"Ulfkætill ok Gyi ok Uni/Unni þæiR letu ræisa stæin þenna æftiR Ulf, faður sinn goðan. Hann byggi i Skulhambri. Guð hialpi hans and ok salu ok Guðs moðiR, le hanum lius ok paradis."

Translation in English

Ulfketill and Gýi and Uni/Unni, they had this stone raised in memory of Ulfr, their good father. He lived in Skolhamarr. May God and God's mother help his spirit and soul; grant him light and paradise.

U 161

This runestone was made by Ulfr of Báristaðir in memory of Ulfr in Skolhamarr, his kinsman-by-marriage, on the request of the latter Ulf's son Ulfke(ti)ll.

Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters

ulfR * iuk i barstam * iftiR * ulf * i skulobri * mak * sin * kuþan * ulfkil lit akua

Transcription into Old Norse

"UlfR hiogg i Baristam æftiR Ulf i Skulhambri, mag sinn goðan. Ulfkell let haggva."

Translation in English

Ulfr of Báristaðir cut (the stone) in memory of Ulfr in Skolhamarr, his good kinsman-by-marriage. Ulfkell had (it) cut.

Notes

ources

*Rundata
*The article " [http://www.lansmuseum.a.se/runriket/risbyle.html 5. Runriket - Risbyle] " on the site of Stockholm County Museum, retrieved July 7, 2007.

External links

* [http://runicdictionary.nottingham.ac.uk/index.php An English Dictionary of Runic Inscriptions of the Younger Futhark, at the university of Nottingham]