# Karlevi Runestone

56°37′N 16°27′E﻿ / ﻿56.61°N 16.45°E﻿ / 56.61; 16.45
The Karlevi Runestone, designated as Öl 1 by Rundata, is commonly dated to the late 10th century and located near the Kalmarsund straight in Karlevi on the island of Öland, Sweden. It is one of the most notable and prominent runestones and constitutes the oldest record of a stanza of skaldic verse.

## Description

The runic inscription on the Karlevi Runestone is partly in prose, partly in verse. It is the only example of a complete scaldic stanza preserved on a runestone and is composed in the "lordly meter" the dróttkvætt. It is notable for mentioning Thor's daughter Þrúðr and Viðurr, one of the names for Odin, in kennings for "chieftain." In the second half of the stanza a reference is made to Denmark, but it is not clear what exactly this means in this poetic context.
The stone is contemporary with the Battle of the Fýrisvellir and it is consequently possible that the stone was raised by warriors who partook in it, in memory of their lord.
The inscription, which is on a granite stone that is 1.4 meters in height, is classified as being in runestone style RAK. This is the classification with inscriptions with runic text in bands that have no attached dragon or serpent heads and the ends of the runic bands are straight. The non-runic inscription on the reverse side appears to be accompanied by a small Christian cross and a Norse pagan Thor's hammer, or Mjöllnir. Other surviving runestones or inscriptions depicting Thor's hammer include runestones U 1161 in Altuna, Sö 86 in Åby, Sö 111 in Stenkvista, Vg 113 in Lärkegapet, DR 26 in Laeborg, DR 48 in Hanning, DR 120 in Spentrup, and DR 331 in Gårdstånga.

## Inscription

Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters, and transcription into Old Norse (the Swedish-Danish dialect):
s-a...
S[t]æ[inn]
--(s)-
[sa]s[i]
i(a)s
es
satr
sattr
aiftir
æftiʀ
si(b)(a)
Sibba
kuþa
Goða,
sun
sun
fultars
Fuldars,
in
en
hons
hans
liþi
liði
sati
satti
at
at
u
-ausa-þ-...
fulkin
Fulginn
likr
liggʀ
hins
hinns
fulkþu
fylgðu,
flaistr
flæstr
uisi
vissi
þat
þat,
maistar
mæstaʀ
taiþir
dæðiʀ
tulka
dolga
þruþar
Þruðaʀ
traukr
draugʀ
i
i
þaimsi
þæimsi
huki
haugi;
munat
munat
raiþ:uiþur
Ræið-Viðurr
raþa
raða
ruk:starkr
rogstarkʀ
i
i
tanmarku
Danmarku
--ntils
[Æ]ndils
iarmun**kruntar
iarmungrundaʀ
urkrontari
uʀgrandaʀi
lonti
landi.
+ s-a... --(s)- i(a)s * satr * aiftir * si(b)(a) * kuþa * sun * fultars * in hons ** liþi * sati * at * u * -ausa-þ-... +: fulkin : likr : hins : fulkþu : flaistr (:)* uisi * þat * maistar * taiþir : tulka * þruþar : traukr : i : þaimsi * huki * munat : raiþ:uiþur : raþa : ruk:starkr * i * tanmarku : --ntils : iarmun**kruntar : urkrontari : lonti
 S[t]æ[inn] [sa]s[i] es sattr æftiʀ Sibba Goða, sun Fuldars, en hans liði satti at ... ... Fulginn liggʀ hinns fylgðu, flæstr vissi þat, mæstaʀ dæðiʀ dolga Þruðaʀ draugʀ i þæimsi haugi; munat Ræið-Viðurr raða rogstarkʀ i Danmarku [Æ]ndils iarmungrundaʀ uʀgrandaʀi landi.

### Older translation

This stone is set up in memory of Sibbi Góði/Goði, son of Foldarr, and his retinue set on ...
    Hidden lies the one
    whom followed (most know that)
    the greatest deeds,
    Þrud's warrior of battles,
    in this mound.
    Never will a more honest,
    hard-fighting 'wagon-Viðurr' upon
    Endill's expanses rule the land in Denmark.

### Newer translation

This stone is placed in memory of Sibbi the Good, Fuldarr's son, and his retinue placed on ... ...
    He lies concealed,
    he who was followed
    by the greatest deeds (most men knew that),
    a chieftain (battle-tree of [the Goddess] Þrúðr)
    in this howe;
    Never again shall such a battle-hardened sea-warrior (Viðurr-of-the-Carriage of [the Sea-king]
    Endill's mighty dominion ( = God of the vessels of the sea) ),
    rule unsurpassed over land in Denmark.
A more idiomatic English translation of the poetic stanza is provided by Foote & Wilson:
    Tree of Thrúd of hostilities, the man whom the greatest virtues accompanied - most men know that - lies buried in this mound; a more upright chariot-Vidur of wondrous-wide ground of Endil will not rule, strife-strong, land in Denmark.
The reverse side of the stone also has a non-runic inscription In nomin[e] (?) Ie[su] (?) which may mean "In the name of Jesus."