The Viking World: A History in ObjectsMain MenuGallery viewA galleryTag Cloudtag cloud pageThemesA path of thematic categoriesAuthor IndexExplore the collection by authorWorks CitedReferencesAdam Bigelow3afa9c7ecebf516bba6609664b1b12f79c54bf77Caitlin Donahue61b7e986e7c71d400e5c803912ed83c0cf65252fCaroline Harvey1783f21a5882b5b4d3d0b6c174d058052a5ff7eaEdward Hershewee701ef220480b51ca728fc9c719bc094cf813655Martin Hoffmana1fd203afd9a84ee8db567e188cf6ed1d269386eTyler Hruby23493f763b312110686cfafc62578fd0ab5f3833Brittany N. Johnsonc1c1763339f8fa953e3c907c6bb8a3bad0c28b2cCarlos Lua Pineda0a28cc23b0aa00b4f24a9e205aeb57fbdb07ff01Moira McConnell710633400590ea38533ea3412c01fc5056288180Clara McCurdy9aec76477d0b55f9c685c47330d6786ec98182e1Elise McIlhaneyef48481634ff342c8b43c9d56f678b2d3562fb69Cameron Meikle669a5682bfbfd603130a26e25628f24eb07e6295Alexander Christopher Newkirk019c2f5b38c043507251d1789e2fdf47e61c3b7fBenja Reilly816c23aa0d444213fb2d1ef33555a15617e08228Oliver Statenc625ae8c3926f5e1a4268bc91d6a6f4cdb1e7fb6Liam Sullivanaa3a1dccb90c7fe4646b61c4af594abbb0c5574aRead Wilder31bf4715220144a665996f2e6cae80a1a8611eadAliza Yazdanicd49f227d88c72331226ddf574bf56c37308cd10Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707dea
Monument with Runes
12017-05-19T15:16:21-07:00Read Wilder31bf4715220144a665996f2e6cae80a1a8611ead164562A stone monument with mythological imagery, lined by runic inscriptionplain2017-05-19T15:26:00-07:00Huber, John-Björn. Byggnadsdetaljer Och Monument. Still Image, 1–10, 2000. 11118. Staatens Historiska Museet. http://mis.historiska.se/mis/sok/fid.asp?fid=45674&page=1&in=1.800-1050 AD11118CC BY57.467137, 18.513436StoneHistoriska MuseetGotland, SwedenViking AgeRead Wilder31bf4715220144a665996f2e6cae80a1a8611ead
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12017-05-24T10:09:20-07:00Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707deaMap ViewAustin Mason2An interactive map of all the objects in the collectiongoogle_maps2017-05-24T11:39:30-07:00Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707dea
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12017-05-19T21:41:50-07:00Monument with Runes7Object Pageplain2017-09-21T21:54:09-07:00Contemporary monuments are built for a variety of purposes from the designation of territory to the commemoration of the dead. Norse monuments had the same flexibility of intent, derived from their existence around the entire North Sea region and the array of different people creating them.
The monument here was found in Gotland, an island of the coast of Sweden and it dates back to the Viking Age. Constructed from stone, it depicts a variety of stylized figures, most of whom appear to be human. Prominently featured on the stone is a man girded with a sword, another holding an axe, and another with a staff. The horse Sleipnir, owned by the god Odin, also seems to be depicted. A ribbon of runes runs along the rim of the stone, presumably detailing its purpose. The overall intent of monument is obscured by the large chunks missing from it. Many key details, which might contain relevant iconography or telling runes are lacking, which prevents a more complete understanding of the piece.
Norse literature and the archaeological record indicate the installation of runestones as a common practice. In the Sage of the People of Eyri, “Thorolf designated Thor’s landing place at the point of the headland as the site for the settlement of lawsuits.”[1] Such a designation would be marked with a monument, like the one found at Gotland. The Yngvar Runestones, found at Lake Malar in Sweden, were most often built by family members remembering the lives and accomplishments of loved ones.[2] The monument featured here could easily have served both functions and regardless of purpose, would have drawn the attention of any passers-by as an object of significance. What runes can be seen read:
The sons of Líknhvatr ... the good landmark made in memory of Eilíkn, a good wife, mother ... and Geirhvatr and Líknvé. God ... be gracious to her and those making the landmark ... ... who men ... in Gardhir/Garde, he was with Vivi(?) ...
The Yngvar Runestones appear to be the most similar in purpose with the Gotland runestone. Although sparse, the text clearly supports an interpretation of the monument as a commemorative landmark for a diseased mother figure.[2] Her biography and social status were sufficient to merit an expensive runestone, indicating the significance of familial ties within Norse society.
