Altuna Runestone

Runefacts
name = Altuna Runestone
rundataid = U 1161
country = Sweden
region = Uppland
city = Altuna
produced = 11th century
artist = Several
text_native = Old Norse : See article.
text_english = See article
picture = The Altuna Runestone ("Altunastenen") is one of few surviving runestones with exclusively pagan illustrations. Most surviving runestones were raised during the 11th century, when the King of Sweden became Christian, and they were raised by people who wanted to show that they too adhered to the new faith, or at least outwards.

The Altuna Runestone, however, illustrates the legend of "Hymiskviða" in which the god Thor fishes for the Midgard serpent. It does not show the jotun Hymir, which may be due to the narrow shape of the stone, but it shows Thor, his line and tackle and the serpent, and notably, Thor's foot which has been pushed through the hull of the boat.

Transliteration

*Side A: uifasþtr + fulkahþr + kuþar + litu + resa + sþten + Rþti + sen + faþur + ulfasþ + arfast
*Side B: beþi + feþrkag + burnu + e(n) ... + bali + fresþen + liþ + lifsþen... ...

Transcription into Old Norse

*Side A: Vifastr, Folkaðr, Guðvarr(?) letu ræisa stæin æftiR sinn faður Holmfast, Arnfast.
*Side B: BaðiR fæðrgaR brunnu, en [þæiR] Balli, Frøystæinn, lið Lifstæin [s ristu] .

Translation in English

*Side A: Véfastr, Folkaðr, Guðvarr(?) had the stone raised in memory of their father Holmfastr, (and in memory of) Arnfastr.
*Side B (version 1): Both father and son were burned, and Balli (and) Freysteinn, of Lífsteinn's retinue, carved.
*Side B (version 2): Both father and son were burned, and Balli (and) Freysteinn (and) Lífsteinn (carved?).

Gallery

Sources

*Rundata