Småland Runic Inscription 35

Småland Runic Inscription 35
Created	11th century
Discovered	Ljungby, Kronoberg, Sweden
Rundata ID	Sm 35
Runemaster	unknown

The Replösa Stone (Also Småland Runic Inscription 35, Sm 35, and Ljungby 28:1) is a runestone in Replösa near Ljungby, Sweden.

The stone

The stone is made of granite, is 185 centimetres (73 in) tall and 90 centimetres (35 in) wide. The runiform ornament and inscription on the stone's southeastern side have 13–15 centimetres (5.1–5.9 in) high runes. The inscription is from the 11th century.

Inscription

Transliteration, and normalization to Old West Norse and Old East Norse:

:

 

 

kutraþr

Gautráðr

Gautraðr

:

 

 

karþi

gerði

gærði

:

 

 

kubl

kuml

kumbl

:

 

 

þisi

þessi

þessi

:

 

 

iftiʀ

eptir

æftiʀ

:

 

 

astraþ

Ástráð,

Astrað,

:

 

 

faþur

fǫður

faður

:

 

 

sin

sinn,

sinn,

:

 

 

þan

þann

þann

:

 

 

frita

frænda

frænda

:

 

 

ak

ok

ok

:

 

 

þih:na

þegna

þegna

:

 

 

bistan

beztan,

bæztan,

:

 

 

iʀ

er

eʀ

a

á

a

:

 

 

fin:iþi

Finnheiði

Finnhæiði

:

 

 

forþum

forðum

forðum

:

 

 

uf|

of

of

|faʀi

væri.

vaʀi.

:

 

 

: kutraþr : karþi : kubl : þisi : iftiʀ : astraþ : faþur : sin : þan : frita : ak : þih:na : bistan : iʀ a : fin:iþi : forþum : uf| |faʀi :

{} Gautráðr {} gerði {} kuml {} þessi {} eptir {} Ástráð, {} fǫður {} sinn, {} þann {} frænda {} ok {} þegna {} beztan, {} er á {} Finnheiði {} forðum {} of væri. {}

{} Gautraðr {} gærði {} kumbl {} þessi {} æftiʀ {} Astrað, {} faður {} sinn, {} þann {} frænda {} ok {} þegna {} bæztan, {} eʀ a {} Finnhæiði {} forðum {} of vaʀi. {}

Gautráðr made these monuments in memory of Ástráðr, his father, the best of kinsmen and Þegns, who formerly was in Finnheiðr.

Interpretation

Odlarmonumentet, an artist's impression of Astrad and Götrad at Ljungby central square, by John Lundqvist.

The Danish sounding names Götrad and Åstrad are uncommon. From the Middle Ages only a few persons are known to bear the name Åstrad. The name have also appeared on Danish runestones. The name Götrad does not appear on any other known runestone. Finnveden mentioned on the stone was one of the "countries" that would later be included in the province of Småland. Finnveden is mentioned on three runestones: Sm 35, Sm 52 in Småland, and U 130 in Uppland. The word "thane" (þegna) can be seen in a number of runic inscriptions, but opinions are divided of its meaning. The two main opinions are "free farmer, odalman (Similar to yeomen)" respectively "warrior, member of the king's hird".

The ship setting

Replösa Ship Setting with the Replösa Stone in the background.

Just south of the runestone lies Ljungby 29:1, a damaged, but partly restored, ship setting. It is 17 metres (56 ft) long, 6 metres (20 ft) wide, and made out of seven erected stones that are 80–150 centimetres (31–59 in) tall. According to historical data there have been twelve stones.

See also

• History of Sweden (800–1521)