The Einang stone (Einangsteinen, N KJ63) is a runestone located east of the Einang Sound near Fagernes, in Oppland, Norway, notable for the age of its runic inscription. The Einang runestone is located within the extensive Gardberg site. It is placed on a grave mound on a ridge overlooking the Valdres valley. There are several other grave mounds nearby. Today the runestone is protected by glass walls and a roof.

Einang stone
The Einang runestone at its location in Vestre Slidre.
WritingElder Futhark
Created4th century
Discovered1938
Fagernes, Valdres, Norway
Discovered byErik Moltke
Present locationOppland, Norway
CultureNorse
RunemasterGudgjest
Text – Native
Proto-Norse: (Ek go)ðagastiz runo faihido
Translation
(I, Go)dguest inscribed the runes

Description

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The Einang stone bears an Elder Futhark inscription, written from right to left, in Proto-Norse that has been dated to the 4th century.[1] It is the oldest runestone still standing at its original location, and it may be the earliest inscription to mention the word runo 'rune'. Here the word appears in the singular. Additionally, the verb used in the inscription for the act of inscribing is faihido, which literally means 'painted'.[2] This may mean that the inscription was originally highlighted with paint.[3]

Inscription

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The inscription on the Einang stone

The generally accepted reading of the inscription was proposed by Erik Moltke in 1938.[3] He conjectured that there had been four runes in the original inscription, before the first rune which is visible today. The reading is:

(Ek go)ðagastiz runo faihido

Which translates as:

(I, Go)dguest painted/wrote this runic inscription.[3]

As the stone is placed on a grave mound, it is natural to interpret it as a tombstone. Why the inscription does not name the buried person, but only the carver of the runes, remains an open question.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Gardberg Site". Valdresmusea. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  2. ^ Nielsen, Hans Frede (2002). "Delimitation of Ancient Nordic from Common Germanic and Old Nordic". In Bandle, Oskar; et al. (eds.). The Nordic Languages: An International Handbook of the History of the North Germanic Languages. Vol. 1. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. p. 617. ISBN 3-11-014876-5.
  3. ^ a b c Spurkland, Terje (2005). Norwegian runes and runic inscriptions. Woodbridge: The Boydell press. pp. 42–43. ISBN 1-84383-186-4.

61°5′28.55″N 9°0′15.06″E / 61.0912639°N 9.0041833°E / 61.0912639; 9.0041833