runestone
A runestone is typically a raised stone with a runic inscription, but the term can also be applied to inscriptions on boulders and on bedrock. The tradition began in the 4th century and lasted into the 12th century, but most of the runestones d ...
located in the church of Sønder Vissing in eastern
Jutland
Jutland ( da, Jylland ; german: Jütland ; ang, Ēota land ), known anciently as the Cimbric or Cimbrian Peninsula ( la, Cimbricus Chersonesus; da, den Kimbriske Halvø, links=no or ; german: Kimbrische Halbinsel, links=no), is a peninsula of ...
,
Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark
, establish ...
. Sønder Vissing is a small settlement located in
Horsens municipality
Horsens municipality is a municipality ( Danish, '' kommune'') in Region Midtjylland on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in central Denmark. The municipality includes the island of Endelave, and covers an area of 524.21 km2. It has ...
approximately south of
Silkeborg
Silkeborg () is a Danish town with a population of 49,747 (1 January 2022).Skanderborg and northeast of the Viking monuments of
Jelling
Jelling is a railway town in Denmark with a population of 3,658 (1 January 2022), located in Jelling Parish, approximately 10 km northwest of Vejle. The town lies 105 metres above sea level.
Location
Jelling is located in Vejle municipal ...
.
Description
Sønder Vissing I was discovered in 1836 as part of the stone fence around the church cemetery. and became the object of a study by P. G. Thorsen published as ''Den Søndervissingske Runesten'' in 1839. It dates from the second half of the 10th century and was raised by one of
Harald Bluetooth
Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson ( non, Haraldr Blátǫnn Gormsson; da, Harald Blåtand Gormsen, died c. 985/86) was a king of Denmark and Norway.
He was the son of King Gorm the Old and of Thyra Dannebod. Harald ruled as king of Denmark from c. ...
's wives Tofa after her mother. Tofa was the daughter of
Mstivoj Mstivoj (925? - 995) was an Obodrite prince (''princeps Winulorum'') from 965 or 967 until his death. He inherited his position along with his brother Mstidrag from their father Nako in an unknown year.
Name
Mstiwoj is an old Slavic name popular ...
, a king of the
Obodrites
The Obotrites ( la, Obotriti, Abodritorum, Abodritos…) or Obodrites, also spelled Abodrites (german: Abodriten), were a confederation of medieval West Slavic tribes within the territory of modern Mecklenburg and Holstein in northern Germany ( ...
, and the stone is one of few runestones raised after a woman.
''Danmarks Runeindskrifter'' considers the idenfication of the inscription's "Harald the Good" with Viking king "
Harald Bluetooth
Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson ( non, Haraldr Blátǫnn Gormsson; da, Harald Blåtand Gormsen, died c. 985/86) was a king of Denmark and Norway.
He was the son of King Gorm the Old and of Thyra Dannebod. Harald ruled as king of Denmark from c. ...
" likely although this form of the name is not known from other sources. The actual inscription is possibly influenced by Swedish practice since the second word uses the rune "ʀ" to represent either "e" or "æ", a practice also seen on the Hobro II runestone. The connection with the Jelling stones is supported by the inscription's inclusion of a frame.Jakobsen, Lis and Moltke, Erik (1942), ''Danmarks Runeindskrifter'', vol. II, column 94.
Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters
:tufa ' lʀt ' kaurua ' kubl ¶ mistiuis ' tutiʀ ' uft ' muþur ¶ sina ' ¶ kuna ¶ harats ' hins ' kuþa ' kurms ¶ sunaʀ
Transcription into Old Norse
:''Tofa let gørwa kumbl, Mistiwis dottiʀ, æft moþur sina, kona Haralds hins Goþa, Gorms sonaʀ.''Project Samnordisk Runtextdatabas Svensk - Rundata entry for DR 55.
Translation in English
:Tófa, Mistivir's daughter, wife of Haraldr the good, Gormr's son, had the monument made in memory of her mother.
Sønder Vissing II
A second runestone, Sønder Vissing II or DR 56, was discovered as part of the pavement of the entrance to the church cemetery, also in 1836. This exposed location — near the site of the first stone — is the reason why Sønder Vissing II's inscription is more damaged than the inscription of Sønder Vissing I.
Both stones were moved following their discovery. Sønder Vissing I was moved into the church by 1838 and has since 1897 been located next to the church organ. Sønder Vissing II was moved to the church cemetery in 1838 and has since 1897 been in the
church porch
A church porch is a room-like structure at a church's main entrance. A porch protects from the weather to some extent. Some porches have an outer door, others a simple gate, and in some cases the outer opening is not closed in any way.
The porch ...
.
Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters
:tuki ' karþi ' kumbl ' þisi ' iaft ¶ aba ' faþur ' sin ¶ uhimskąn ' halProject Samnordisk Runtextdatabas Svensk - Rundata entry for DR 56.
Transcription into Old Norse
:''Toki gærþi kumbl þæssi æft Apa/Æbba, faþur sin, uhemskan hal.''
Translation in English
:Tóki made this monument in memory of Api/Ebbi, his father, a wise hero.