TheKylver stone,listed in theRundatacatalog asrunic inscriptionG 88,is a Swedishrunestonewhich dates from about 400 AD. It is notable for its listing of each of the runes in theElder Futhark.
Description
editThe Kylver stone was found during the excavation of a cemetery near a farm atKylver,Stånga,Gotlandin 1903.[1]The stone was a flat limestone rock used to seal a grave and therunic inscriptionwas written on the underside, and could therefore not be read from above. The dating of the stone from 400 CE is based upon the archeological dating of the graves.[1]
The Kylver stone was removed from Gotland and brought to theSwedish Museum of National AntiquitiesinStockholmwhere it is on display As of 2022[update].
The fact that the inscription was on the inside of a cover to a grave has resulted in speculation that it represented a use of the Elder Futhark to pacify the dead man in some manner.[2]However, it has been pointed out that there is nothing in the inscription to support this. In addition, there is no evidence that the inscription was made for the purpose of being used on the cover of a grave.[3]There are many examples where stone with runic inscriptions was reused for other purposes.[3]It has been suggested that the likely purpose of making the inscription was for practice or instruction in the carving of the Elder Futhark.[2]
Inscription
editThe Kylver stone is inscribed with the earliest known sequential listing of the 24 runes of the Elder Futhark,[4]
…ᚢ
[f]u
ᚦ
þ
ᚨ
a
ᚱ
r
ᚲ
k
ᚷ
g
…
[w]
ᚺ
h
ᚾ
n
ᛁ
i
ᛃ
j
ᛈ
p
ᛇ
ï
ᛉ
z
ᛊ
s
ᛏ
t
ᛒ
b
ᛖ
e
ᛗ
m
ᛚ
l
ᛜ
ŋ
ᛞ
d
ᛟ
o
with thea(ᚨ),s(ᛊ), andbrunes(ᛒ) mirrored compared to later use, and thezrune(ᛉ) upside down (ᛦ). The dots in the image indicate incorrect or unorthodox forms like these in the original inscription. Thef(ᚠ) andwrunes(ᚹ) runes are only partially inscribed.
After the last rune follows a spruce- or tree-like rune, with six twigs to the left and eight to the right of a single stave. This is interpreted as abindruneof stackedTiwaz rune,[5]or possibly of six Tiwaz and fourAnsuz runesto invokeTyrand theÆsirfor protection.[6]
At a separate space the word ᛊᚢᛖᚢᛊsueusis inscribed. The meaning of this latterpalindromicword is unknown, but it is possible that it is associated with magic.[1]One suggestion presented by Marstrander is that it is a magical writing of the word 'eus' (the nominative form of the word horse) starting from the e and writing either way.[7]However, this suggestion has been criticized as being "linguistically impossible" for that time period.[3]The small inscription also uses theYounger Futharkversion of thes-rune.It is also possible that it refers to the Germanic tribe of theSuionesthat inhabited the region, whose realm laid the basis for what becameSweden.
See also
edit- List of runestones
- Rundata
- Runic magic
- Vadstena bracteate– Another Elder Futhark inscription.
References
edit- ^abcSpurkland, Terje (2005).Norwegian Runes and Runic Inscriptions.Boydell Press. pp. 2, 16.ISBN1-84383-186-4.
- ^abDüwel, Klaus; Heizmann, Wilhelm (2006). "Das ältere FuÞark: Überlieferlung und Wirkungsmöglichkeiten der Runenreihe". In Bammesberger, Alfred; Waxenberger, Gabriele; et al. (eds.).Das FuÞark und Seine Einzelsprachlichen Weiterentwicklungen.Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. pp. 31–32.ISBN978-3-11-019008-3.
- ^abcAntonsen, Elmer H. (1988). "On the Mythological Interpretation of the Oldest Runic Inscriptions". In Jazayery, Mohammad Ali; Winter, Werner (eds.).Languages and Cultures: Studies in Honor of Edgar C. Polomé.Mouton de Gruyter. pp. 44–45.ISBN3-11-010204-8.
- ^Elliott, Ralph Warren Victor (1959).Runes: An Introduction.Manchester University Press. p. 14.ISBN0-7190-0787-9.
- ^Enoksen, Lars Magnar(1998).Runor.Falun: Historiska Media. p. 44.ISBN91-88930-32-7.
- ^Spurkland (2005:16): "The twigs on the left of the stave represent sixtrunes while the twigs on the right, in pairs, stand for fourarunes:tttttt, aaaa,or six times 'Týr' and four times 'áss' in the meaning of 'god'. It could be a good protection to take into the grave. "
- ^Reichardt, Konstantin(July–September 1953). "The Inscription on Helmet B of Negau".Language.29(3): 306–316.doi:10.2307/410026.JSTOR410026.p. 315