Tjängvide image stone

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The Tjängvide image stone.

The Tjängvide image stone, listed in

image stone from Tjängvide (Swedish pronunciation: [ɕɛŋviːdɛ]),[tone/stress?], from c. 700-900 CE, which is about three kilometers west of Ljugarn, Gotland, Sweden
.

Description

The inscription on the Tjängvide stone is carved on a flat slab of

pagan in origin as no trace of any Christian elements has been found on the inscription.[1]

Imagery

The stone is decorated with several figures in an upper and a lower field, which are separated by a braided pattern that resembles valknuts.[citation needed] In the upper field, there is a large eight-footed horse and a small rider who is offered a drinking horn by a woman, and there are also some other figures, such as a quadruped animal and some less discernible images.[1]

The rider on his horse is usually identified with

Swedish Museum of National Antiquities.[2]

There are also alternative interpretations of the imagery. One interpretation, based upon the

Brynhild[4] or Grimhild who is welcoming Sigurd to the court of the Gjukungs. This story was popular during the Viking Age and is depicted on other runestones and image stones known as the Sigurd stones. It is also possible that the eight legs symbolize the high speed of the horse and that the rider is a living man who is welcomed by his wife. The man behind the woman appears to carry a bow and he may represent the dead man who is hunting and the quadruped may be his dog.[1]

The lower field of the stone is almost completely filled with the image of a longship with tall aft and stern. The sail is almost as wide as the ship is long.[1]

It has been noted that the Tjängvide image stone has a phallic shape, and that similar combinations of death with erotic symbology occur on other Gotland rune and image stones.[5]

Inscription

The

short-twig runes.[1] The name Hiorulf in the text translates as "sword wolf."[6]

Below follows the inscription as it is presented by the Rundata project:[7]

Transliteration

  • A fuorkhn... ...fuþr-...
  • B ... (r)aisti stainin aft iurulf bruþur sin ÷ sikuif(i)r(t)(u)(a)(n)k(i)sifil

Transcription into Old Norse

  • A
    fuþork
    ...
  • B ... ræisti stæininn æftiʀ Hiorulf/Iorulf, broður sinn ...

Translation in English

  • A fuþork ...
  • B ... raised the stone in memory of Hjôrulfr/Jórulfr, his brother ...

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h The article Tjängvidestenen in Nordisk familjebok (1919).
  2. ^
    Swedish Museum of National Antiquities in Stockholm
    , retrieved March 9, 2008.
  3. ^ Schön, Ebbe. (2004). Asa-Tors hammare, Gudar och jättar i tro och tradition. Fält & Hässler, Värnamo. p. 86.
  4. ISBN 91-89116-81-X
    .
  5. ISBN 3-11-018886-4
    .
  6. ISBN 978-0-7661-8321-6
    .
  7. ^ Project Samnordisk Runtextdatabas Svensk - Rundata.

See also

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