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From the end of the tenth century to the beginning of the twelfth century roughly 3,000 runestones were produced in Scandinavia. About 140 of these were in Norway; about 400 in Denmark and an amazing c. 2,400 in Sweden. What had once been something reserved for the very top levels of society had become relatively common for the upper middle classes.

The erection of the Jelling runestone by King Harald Bluetooth in the 960’s is usually seen as the beginning of this tradition, although the majority of the runestones were erected in the 11th century.

These runestones could be non-zoomorphic or zoomorphic in nature. Those that were zoomorphic had decoration in Ringerike style or in Urnes style. The inscription usually begins by stating who had the stone erected and in whose memory it was made. These inscriptions include both pagan and Christian dedications. Those with a Christian cross tending to be earlier in the sequence of Christian dedications, as if it were important to show that the person was Christian. Later Christian dedications tend to end with a simple prayer.

Examples of the layout of both non-zoomorphic and zoomorphic Swedish runestones
(Drawing Alicja Grenberger)
(click on the image to enlarge)

Click on the images below to enlarge

Årsunda, Gästrikland Gs 2

Drävle, Uppland, U1163

Stora Ramsjö, Uppland, U1175

Lingsberg Runestone U240

Lingsberg Runestone U241

Sandby in Öland, Sweden

Kjula, Sö 106

Sorunda, Sö 217

Ekeby, Östergötland, Ög 68

Högby, Östergötland, Ög 81

Högby, Östergötland, Ög 82

Högby, Östergötland, Ög 83

Sjörup Runestone

The inscription in Old Norse reads:

Saxi satti sten þæssi æfti? Æsbiorn, sin felaga, To[f]a/To[k]a sun.
Sa? flo ægi at Upsalum, æn wa mæþ han wapn hafþi.

The inscription in English reads:

Saxi placed this stone in memory of Ásbjôrn Tófi’s/Tóki’s son, his partner.
He did not flee at Uppsala, but slaughtered as long as he had a weapon.

Both this runestone and the Hällestad Runestone D295 use the phrase “He did not flee at Uppsala”

Hällestad Runestone D295

The inscription in Old Norse reads:

Æskel satti sten þænsi æfti? Toka Gorms sun, se? hullan drottin. Sa? flo ægi at Upsalum
sattu drængia? æfti? sin broþur sten a biargi støþan runum. Þe?
Gorms Toka gingu næsti?.

The inscription in English reads:

Áskell placed this stone in memory of Tóki Gormr’s son, to him a faithful lord. He did not flee at Uppsala.
Valiant men placed in memory of their brother the stone on the hill, steadied by runes. They
went closest to Gormr’s Tóki.

Both this runestone and the Sjörup Runestone use the phrase “He did not flee at Uppsala”

Hällestad Runestone D296

The inscription in Old Norse reads:

Asgotr resþi sten þænsi æfti? Ærru, broþur sin. Æn sa? was hemþægi Toka.
Nu skal standa sten a biargi.

The inscription in English reads:

Ásgautr raised this stone in memory of Erra, his brother. And he was Tóki’s retainer.
Now the stone will stand on the hill.