The Runestone of Galteland (N 184) is a runestone from the beginning of the 11th century CE, coming from Evje in the commune of Evje og Hornnes in southern Norway. Its name refers to the Galteland garden, where it was located for some time.[1] It commemorates the expedition of the Danish king Canute the Great to England in 1015–16.[2] It also contains one of the first references to the Christian faith in Norway.[1][3]

The Galteland Runestone
Galtelandssteinen
Runic inscription that stands at the Historical Museum, in Oslo; King Canute the Great attacked England in 1015.
WritingFuthark
Created11th century
Discovered1594
Gimodam, Evje, Evje parish, Evje og Hornnes, Agder, Norway
58°34′50.520″N 7°47′15.216″E / 58.58070000°N 7.78756000°E / 58.58070000; 7.78756000
Discovered byThomas C. Wegner [no]
Present locationGalteland, Norway
CultureViking Age
Rundata IDN 184
Text – Native
Old Norse: Arnsteinn reisti stein þenna eptir Bjór, son sinn. Sá varð dauðr í liði, þá's Knútr sótti England. Einn er Guð.
Translation
English: "Arnstein erected this stone after Björn, his son. He died in the army when Canute attacked England. God is one."

The inscription

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§A

arn[stin]

Arnsteinn

'

 

risti

reisti

'

 

stin

stein

×

 

þi[na]

þenna

'

 

iftir

eptir

'

 

bior

Bjór,

'

 

[s]un

son

'

 

sin

sinn.

 

[sa

'

 

uar]

varð

tuþr

dauðr

'

 

i

í

liþi

liði,

'

 

þ[(o)s

Þá's

'

 

knutr

Knútr

soti

sóðti

'

 

iklot]

England.

 

in

Einn

'

 

is

er

'

 

ko[þ]

Guð.

arn[stin] ' risti ' stin × þi[na] ' iftir ' bior ' [s]un ' sin • [sa ' uar] tuþr ' i liþi ' þ[(o)s ' knutr soti ' iklot] • in ' is ' ko[þ]

Arnsteinn {} reisti {} stein {} þenna {} eptir {} Bjór, {} son {} sinn. {} Sá {} varð dauðr {} í liði, {} Þá's {} Knútr sóðti {} England. {} Einn {} er {} Guð.

Arnstein erected this stone after Bjor, his son. He died in the army when Canute attacked England. God is one.

Bjor died during Knut's campaign in the England in 1015–16. The name Arnstein is also found on Uppland runic inscriptions 1069 [sv].

References

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  1. ^ a b "Kopi av runestein (Galtelandssteinen)" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 2014-03-22. Retrieved 2014-10-15.
  2. ^ N 184 (in Swedish). Retrieved 2014-10-15.
  3. ^ Elias Wessén, Sven B.F. Jansson (1953–1958). Sweden's runic inscriptions. Volume 9, Uppland's runic inscriptions, part 4 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: KVHAA.

Sources

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Biography

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