# Ingvar runestones

The Ingvar runestones (Swedish: Ingvarstenarna) is the name of around 26 Varangian Runestones that were raised in commemoration of those who died in the Swedish Viking expedition to the Caspian Sea of Ingvar the Far-Travelled.
The Ingvar expedition was the single Swedish event that is mentioned on most runestones, and in number, they are only surpassed by the approximately 30 Greece Runestones and the approximately 30 England Runestones. It was a fateful expedition taking place between 1036 and 1041 with many ships. The Vikings came to the south-eastern shores of the Caspian Sea, and they appear to have taken part in the Battle of Sasireti, in Georgia. Few returned, as many died in battle, but most of them, including Ingvar, died of disease.
The expedition was also immortalized as a saga in Iceland in the 11th century, the Yngvars saga víðförla, and in the Georgian chronicle Kartlis tskhovreba, where king Julfr of the saga corresponds to king Baghrat IV.
Beside the Tillinge Runestone in Uppland and a rune stone on Gotland, the Ingvar Runestones are the only remaining runic inscriptions that mention Serkland. Below follows a presentation of the runestones, but additional runestones that are associated with the expedition are: Sö 360, U 513, U 540, U 785, Vs 1-2, Vs 18 and Vg 184. The nine runestones that mention Serkland can also be grouped as a runestone group of their own, in line with the same guidelines that apply to runestone groups such as the Ingvar Runestones and the England Runestones.
The transcriptions into Old Norse are in the Swedish and Danish dialect to facilitate comparison with the inscriptions, while the English translation provided by Rundata gives the names in the de facto standard dialect (the Icelandic and Norwegian dialect):

## Uppland
### U 439

This runestone in runestone style Fp and is one of the Serkland runestones. It was located at Steninge Palace, but it is now lost. Johan Bureus, one of the first prominent Swedish runologists, visited Steninge on May 8, 1595, and made a drawing of the runestone which stood by the jetty. Only 50 years later it had disappeared and in a letter written in 1645 it was explained that the stone had been used in the construction of a new stone jetty.
The inscription contained an Old Norse poem. Of the names in the text, Sæbiorn means "sea bear," Hærlæif means "warrior love relic" or "beloved warrior," and Þorgærðr is the name of a goddess, Þorgerðr, which combines the god name Thor and gerðr, the latter word meaning "fenced in." Ingvar, the leader of the expedition, has a name meaning "the god Ing's warrior." This runestone is attributed to the runemaster Äskil.
[harlaif
Hærlæif
auk
ok
þurkarþr
Þorgærðr
litu
lētu
raisa
ræisa
stain
stæin
þina
þenna
at
at
sabi
Sæbiorn,
faþur
faður
sin
sinn.
is|
Es
|sturþi
stȳrði
austr
austr
skibi
skipi
maþ
með
ikuari
Ingvari
a/a|
ą̄
|askalat-/skalat-]
Æistaland(?)/Særkland[i](?).
[harlaif × auk × þurkarþr × litu × raisa × stain × þina at × sabi faþur sin × is| |sturþi × austr × skibi × maþ ikuari a/a| |askalat-/skalat-]
Hærlæif ok Þorgærðr lētu ræisa stæin þenna at Sæbiorn, faður sinn. Es stȳrði austr skipi með Ingvari ą̄ Æistaland(?)/Særkland[i](?).
"Herleif and Þorgerðr had this stone raised in memory of Sæbjǫrn, their father, who steered a ship east with Ingvarr to Estonia(?)/Serkland(?)."

### U 644

This runestone in style Fp is located at Ekilla bro. It is raised in memory of the same man as U 654, below. The same family also raised the runestone U 643 and which reports the death of Andvéttr. Omeljan Pritsak suggests that he may have died in Vladimir of Novgorod's attack on Constantinople in 1043.
The monument is more than 2 metres high, and it was mentioned for the first time in the 17th century during the national revision of historic monuments. It was at the time lying under the stone bridge that crossed the river north of Ekilla. It would remain lying there until 1860, when it was moved with great difficulty by Richard Dybeck. After one failed attempt a crew of 12 men managed to move it out of the water and raise it 25 metres north of the bridge, where it still remains. Next to it, there are two barrows and a monument of raised stones. There were formerly two other runestones at the bridge, but they were moved to Ekolsund in the early 19th century. One of them speaks of the same family as U 644, and it is raised after Andvéttr and his sons Gunnleifr and Kárr (one of the sons has the same name as his grandfather and the other one has the same name as his uncle).
The inscription is finished with a Christian prayer, which shows that the family was Christian. It is of note that andinni ("the spirit") is in the definite form, as this is a grammatic category that does not appear in Old Norse until the end of the Viking Age. It would remain rare even in the medieval Swedish provincial laws. The same form was used on a lost runestone in the vicinity, which, however, was not made by the same runemaster, which suggest that there were two runemasters in the region using the same linguistic innovation.
an(u)(i)(t)r
Andvēttr
auk
ok
kiti
<kiti>
auk
ok
kar
Kārr
auk
ok
blisi
Blesi
auk
ok
tiarfr
Diarfʀ
þir
þæiʀ
raistu
ræistu
stain
stæin
þina
þenna
aftiʀ
æftiʀ
kunlaif
Gunnlæif,
foþur
faður
sin
sinn.
han
Hann
fil
fell
austr
austr
miþ
með
ikuari
Ingvari.
kuþ
Guð
heabi
hialpi
ąntini
andinni.
an(u)(i)(t)r : auk · kiti : auk · kar : auk · blisi · auk · tiarfr · þir · raistu · stain þina · aftiʀ · kunlaif · foþur : sin han : fil · austr : miþ : ikuari kuþ heabi ąntini
Andvēttr ok <kiti> ok Kārr ok Blesi ok Diarfʀ þæiʀ ræistu stæin þenna æftiʀ Gunnlæif, faður sinn. Hann fell austr með Ingvari. Guð hialpi andinni.
"Andvéttr and <kiti> and Kárr and Blesi and Djarfr, they raised this stone in memory of Gunnleifr, their father. He fell in the east with Ingvarr. May God help (his) spirit."

### U 654

The Varpsund runestone is in style Fp. It is almost three metres tall, and it is located on a promontory between Stora Ullfjärden ("Great fjord of Ullr") and Ryssviken ("Bay of the Russians") so as to be well visible for both those travelling on land and those travelling by water. It contains an Old Norse poem.
The runestone was depicted as early as 1599 by Johannes Bureus, and in the 17th century on a drawing by Johan Hadorph and Johan Leitz. Unfortunately, the names of two of the brothers who are mentioned on the stone were already lost at that time. Luckily, the brothers raised a second stone (U 644, above) at Ekilla Bro a few kilometres to the south of Varpsund, which is why scholars are certain that their names were Andvéttr and Blesi.
The runemaster's name is partially superficially carved and the last rune has disappeared, but it was probably Alrikr. It is a characteristic of this runemaster that the r-rune is used where the R-rune should be. Moreover, the u-rune is probably used on this stone for an u-umlauted a. These are dialect traits typical of the Old Norse dialect of Iceland and Norway (Old West Norse).
The inscription mentions the knarr, which was a larger seagoing trading vessel with ample cargo space. The knarr is mentioned in five other Viking Age runestones, two in Södermanland and three in Uppland. A sixth inscription is found in the medieval church of Sakshaug in the fjord of Trondheim, Norway, where someone has carved the image of a knarr and written in runes "there was a knarr outside".
The same family also raised the runestone U 643 and which reports the death of Andvéttr. Omeljan Pritsak suggests that he may have died in Vladimir of Novgorod's attack on Constantinople in 1043.
a--itr
A[ndv]ēttr
auk
ok
ka(r)
Kārr
auk
ok
kiti
<kiti>
auk
ok
-[l]isi
[B]lesi
auk
ok
tiarfr
Diarfʀ
ris[t]u
ræistu
stain
stæin
þena
þenna
aftir
æftiʀ
kunlaif
Gunnlæif,
foþur
faður
sin
sinn.
is
Es
u[a]s
vas
nus(t)(r)
austr
m[i](þ)
með
ikuari
Ingvari
tribin
drepinn.
kuþ
Guð
hialbi
hialpi
o(t)
and
þaira
þæiʀa.
al-ikr|
Al[r]īkʀ(?)
|raistik
ræist-ek
runar
rūnaʀ.
is
Es
kuni
kunni
ual
væl
knari
knærri
stura
stȳra.
+ a--itr : auk · ka(r) auk : kiti : auk : -[l]isi : auk · tiarfr : ris[t]u : stain : þena : aftir : kunlaif : foþur sin ¶ is u[a]s nus(t)(r) · m[i](þ) ikuari : tribin kuþ : hialbi : o(t) þaira ¶ al-ikr| |raistik · runar ¶ is kuni + ual · knari stura
 A[ndv]ēttr ok Kārr ok <kiti> ok [B]lesi ok Diarfʀ ræistu stæin þenna æftiʀ Gunnlæif, faður sinn. Es vas austr með Ingvari drepinn. Guð hialpi and þæiʀa. Al[r]īkʀ(?) ræist-ek rūnaʀ. Es kunni væl knærri stȳra.
"Andvéttr and Kárr and <kiti> and Blesi and Djarfr raised this stone in memory of Gunnleifr, their father, who was killed in the east with Ingvarr. May God help their spirits. Alríkr(?), I carved the runes. He could steer a cargo-ship well."

### U 661

This stone is in style Fp. It is located c. 500 metres south-west of the church of Råby in a gravefield with c. 175 registered pre-historic monuments. Among these monuments, there are many raised stones, mostly in stone circles, 34 barrows and a triangular cairn. The runestone contains an Old Norse poem.
The runestone was examined in the early 17th century by Johannes Bureus and it was included in his book Monumenta Sveo-Gothica Hactenus Expulta.
The artwork of the stone is in line with many of the other Ingvar runestones, but it is debated whether they were made by the same runemaster or not. It is of note that the u-rune appears to be used for an u-umlauted a, an umlaut which existed in Sweden, but was typical of the dialect of Iceland and Norway (Old West Norse).
kairui
Gæiʀvī
auk
ok
kula
Gulla
ristu
ræistu
stain
stæin
þina
þenna
aftir
æftiʀ
ąnunt
Anund,
fąþur
faður
sia
sinn.
is
Es
uas
vas
austr
austr
tauþr
dauðr
miþ
með
ikuari
Ingvari.
kuþ
Guð
hialbi
hialpi
ąt
and
ąnutar
Anundaʀ.
kairui × auk × kula × ristu × stain þina × aftir × ąnunt × fąþur sia is uas × austr × tauþr × miþ × ikuari × kuþ × hialbi ąt × ąnutar
Gæiʀvī ok Gulla ræistu stæin þenna æftiʀ Anund, faður sinn. Es vas austr dauðr með Ingvari. Guð hialpi and Anundaʀ.
"Geirvé and Gulla raised this stone in memory of Ǫnundr, their father, who died in the east with Ingvarr. May God help Ǫnundr's spirit."

### U 778

This stone is in runestone style Fp and was carved by the runemaster Áskell. It is located in the porch of the church of Svinnegarn. It contains an Old Norse poem.
The text refers to the lið of Ingvar. This word, translated by Rundata as "retinue," is often used in reference to the Þingalið, the Scandinavian forces that served the English kings from 1013–1066, and is used that way on runestone U 668. It has been suggested that lið could also refer to a "collection of ships."
þialfi
Þialfi
auk
ok
hulmnlauk
Holmlaug
litu
lētu
raisa
ræisa
staina
stæina
þisa
þessa
ala
alla
at
at
baka
Banka/Bagga,
sun
sun
sin
sinn.
is
Es
ati
ātti
ain
æinn
sir
sēʀ
skib
skip
auk
ok
austr
austr
stu[rþi
stȳrði
i
ī
ikuars
Ingvars
liþ
lið.
kuþ
Guð
hialbi
hialpi
ąt
and
baka
Banka/Bagga.
ask(i)l
Æskell
raist
ræist.
þialfi × auk × hulmnlauk × litu × raisa × staina þisa × ala × at baka × sun sin × is ati × ain × sir × skib × auk × austr × stu[rþi ×] i × ikuars × liþ × kuþ hialbi × ąt × baka × ask(i)l × raist
Þialfi ok Holmlaug lētu ræisa stæina þessa alla at Banka/Bagga, sun sinn. Es ātti æinn sēʀ skip ok austr stȳrði ī Ingvars lið. Guð hialpi and Banka/Bagga. Æskell ræist.
"Þjalfi and Holmlaug had all of these stones raised in memory of Banki/Baggi, their son, who alone owned a ship and steered to the east in Ingvarr's retinue. May God help Banki's/Baggi's spirit. Áskell carved."

### U 837

This stone is located in Alsta, Nysätra. It was discovered in the 1940s by a local boy, and an unsuccessful search was initiated to find the remaining parts. It is presently located in the forest about 100 metres from the road. Its identity as an Ingvar runestone is based on the remaining runes -rs + liþ, which agree with ikuars × liþ ("Ingvar's retinue") on runestone U 778.
...k
[o]k
hulmk...
Holmg[æiʀʀ](?)
...(r)s
[Ingva]rs(?)
liþ
lið.
kuþ
Guð
hialb(i)
hialpi
... ...k × hulmk... ... ...(r)s + liþ × kuþ × hialb(i) ...
... [o]k Holmg[æiʀʀ](?) ... [Ingva]rs(?) lið. Guð hialpi ...
"... and Holmgeirr(?) ... Ingvarr's(?) retinue. May God help ..."

### U 1143

This stone is located at the church of Tierp. It is tentatively categorized as style Pr1. Although very worn today, the text of the inscription is known from a drawing made by Johan Peringskiöld.
[klintr
Klintr(?)
auk
ok
blikr
Blæikʀ
ristu
ræistu
stin
stæin
þinsi
þennsi
iftiʀ
æftiʀ
kunu(i)þ]
Gunnvið,
faþur
faður
sin
sinn.
han
Hann
foʀ
fōr
bort
bort
miþ
með
(i)kuari
Ingvari.
kuþ
Guð
trutin
drōttinn
hialbi
hialpi
ont
and
…](r)[a
[ald]ra
kristin[a
kristinna.
þuriʀ
Þōriʀ
t]r(ą)(n)[i
[ru]na[ʀ](?)/[Tr]an[i](?)
ri]s[ti
risti.
[klintr auk blikr × ristu stin × þinsi · iftiʀ kunu(i)þ] × faþur × sin + han [× foʀ bort miþ (i)kuari + kuþ trutin hialbi ont …](r)[a ·] kristin[a þuriʀ + t]r(ą)(n)[i × ri]s[ti +]
Klintr(?) ok Blæikʀ ræistu stæin þennsi æftiʀ Gunnvið, faður sinn. Hann fōr bort með Ingvari. Guð drōttinn hialpi and [ald]ra kristinna. Þōriʀ [ru]na[ʀ](?)/[Tr]an[i](?) risti.
"Klettr(?) and Bleikr raised this stone in memory of Gunnviðr, their father. He travelled away with Ingvarr. May Lord God help the spirits of all Christians. Þórir carved the runes(?) / Þórir the Crane(?) carved."

### U Fv1992;157

This stone in style Fp was reported by road construction workers on April 6, 1990. A runologist arrived and noted that it was missing some parts. It was also lying with text upwards and it had probably been dug up and moved by machinery the previous winter from somewhere in the vicinity. The existence of lichen showed that it had not been completely covered by soil. Later in the month, an archaeological excavation uncovered two missing pieces of the stone. On the 23rd it was moved to the museum of Sigtuna and on May 16, it was transported to a stonemason who mended the stone.
The stone is a light grey and finely grained granite, and it is 2.30 m tall and 1.73 m wide. The runemaster does not appear to have prepared the surface much and so the surface is quite coarse, but still the runes are legible. It was made by the same runemaster as the Ingvar runestone U 439 and probably the Ingvar runestone U 661. It is the only Ingvar runestone that talks of the construction of a bridge. The excavation had established that the stone had been located beside a road, and there was once a creek at the location across which the bridge had passed. The reference to bridge-building in the runic text is fairly common in rune stones during this time period and are interpreted as Christian references related to the soul passing the bridge into the afterlife. At this time, the Catholic Church sponsored the building of roads and bridges through the use of indulgences in return for intercession for the soul. There are many examples of these bridge stones dated from the 11th century, including runic inscriptions Sö 101, U 489, and U 617.
Since it could not be reerected at its original location, the Swedish Civil Aviation Administration arranged so that it could be installed in the new terminal 2 for domestic flights. It was inaugurated in the terminal with a solemn ceremony by the Civil Aviation Administration on May 17, 1992.
kunar
Gunnarr
auk
ok
biurn
Biorn
auk
ok
þurkrimr
Þorgrīmʀ
ra-…
ræ[istu
…tain
s]tæin
þina
þenna
at
at
þurst…
Þorst[æin]
bruþur
brōður
sin
sinn,
is
es
uas
vas
austr
austr
tauþr
dauðr
m…
m[eð
…ari
Ingv]ari,
auk
ok
karþ…
gærð[u
…u
br]ō
þisi
þessi.
× kunar : auk biurn : auk × þurkrimr × ra-… …tain : þina · at þurst… × bruþur sin : is uas austr : tauþr · m… …ari × auk × karþ… …u þisi
 Gunnarr ok Biorn ok Þorgrīmʀ ræ[istu s]tæin þenna at Þorst[æin] brōður sinn, es vas austr dauðr m[eð Ingv]ari, ok gærð[u br]ō þessi.
"Gunnarr and Bjôrn and Þorgrímr raised this stone in memory of Þorsteinn, their brother, who was dead in the east with Ingvarr, and made this bridge."

## Södermanland
### Sö 9

This stone is located in Lifsinge and it is in style Fp. The runemaster used the imagery of the cross in the center to emphasize salvation; the text meaning "may God help Ulfr's soul" surrounds the cross.
barkuiþr
Bergviðr/Barkviðr
auk
ok
þu
þau
helka
Hælga
raistu
ræistu
stain
stæin
þansi
þannsi
at
at
ulf
Ulf,
sun
sun
sin
sinn.
han
Hann
entaþis
ændaðis
miþ
með
ikuari
Ingvari.
kuþ
Guð
hialbi
hialpi
salu
sālu
ulfs
Ulfs.
barkuiþr × auk × þu : helka × raistu × stain × þansi : at · ulf : sun · sin · han × entaþis + miþ : ikuari + kuþ + hialbi + salu ulfs ×
Bergviðr/Barkviðr ok þau Hælga ræistu stæin þannsi at Ulf, sun sinn. Hann ændaðis með Ingvari. Guð hialpi sālu Ulfs.
"Bergviðr/Barkviðr and Helga, they raised this stone in memory of Ulfr, their son. He met his end with Ingvarr. May God help Ulfr's soul."

### Sö 96

This stone in style Fp is located at the church of Jäder.
-(t)ain
[s]tæin
þansi
þannsi
at
at
begli
Bægli,
faþur
faður
sii
sinn,
buanta
bōanda
sifuʀ
Sæfuʀ.
han
Hann
uaʀ
vaʀ
fa...
fa[rinn](?)
-(t)ain : þansi : at : begli : faþur : sii :: buanta :: sifuʀ :: han : uaʀ : fa... ...
[s]tæin þannsi at Bægli, faður sinn, bōanda Sæfuʀ. Hann vaʀ fa[rinn](?) ...
"this stone in memory of Beglir, his father, Sæfa's husbandman. He travelled(?) ..."

### Sö 105

This stone in style Fp is located in Högstena, Södermanland. It was raised by Holmviðr in memory of his son Þorbjörn.
Based on other runestones, the wider family connections of those mentioned on this runestone has been reconstructed as follows: Holmviðr was a wealthy landowner who also appears on the runestone Sö 116. He was married to Gýriðr, the sister of Sigfastr, the owner of Snottsta, who is mentioned on runestones U 623 and U 331, but for further information on the family saga of Sigfastr and his descendants, see the articles Gerlög and Inga, and Estrid.
hulmuiþr
Holmviðr
-þi-(s)…
…(ʀ)
…ur--(r)-
[Þ]or[bæ]r[n](?)
su[n]
sun
[sinn].
han
Hann
uaʀ
vaʀ
fa-in
fa[r]inn
m(i)-
me[ð]
ikuari
Ingvari.
: hulmuiþr : -þi-(s)… …(ʀ) …ur--(r)- su[n] han : uaʀ : fa-in : m(i)- : ikuari ×+
 Holmviðr ... [Þ]or[bæ]r[n](?) sun [sinn]. Hann vaʀ fa[r]inn me[ð] Ingvari.
"Holmviðr ... Þorbjǫrn(?), his son. He travelled with Ingvarr."

### Sö 107

This stone was originally located in Balsta. It was moved to Eskilstuna in the 17th century, and then moved to Gredby in 1930 adjacent to Sö 108 and Sö 109. It is tentatively categorized as style Pr2. The name Skarfr from the inscription translates as "cormorant."
rulifʀ
Hrōðlæifʀ
raisti
ræisti
stein
stæin
þnsi
þennsi/þannsi
at
at
faþur
faður
sin
sinn
skarf
Skarf.
ha[n]
Hann
uaʀ
vaʀ
farin
farinn
miþ
með
ikuari
Ingvari.
: rulifʀ : raisti : stein : þnsi : at : faþur : sin : skarf : ha[n] uaʀ : farin : miþ : ikuari :
 Hrōðlæifʀ ræisti stæin þennsi/þannsi at faður sinn Skarf. Hann vaʀ farinn með Ingvari.
"Hróðleifr raised this stone in memory of his father Skarfr. He travelled with Ingvarr."

### Sö 108

This stone in style Fp is located in Gredby. The father's name Ulf means "wolf," while the son Gunnulf's name combines gunnr to make "war-wolf."
kunulfʀ
Gunnulfʀ
raisti
ræisti
stein
stæin
þansi
þannsi
at
at
ulf
Ulf,
faþur
faður
sin
sinn.
han
Hann
uaʀ
vaʀ
i
ī
faru
faru
miþ
með
ikuari
Ingvari.
kunulfʀ : raisti : stein : þansi : at : ulf : faþur : sin : han : uaʀ i : faru : miþ : ikuari :
Gunnulfʀ ræisti stæin þannsi at Ulf, faður sinn. Hann vaʀ ī faru með Ingvari.
"Gunnulfr raised this stone in memory of Ulfr, his father. He was on a voyage with Ingvarr."

### Sö 131

This stone in style RAK is one of the Serkland Runestones, and it is located in Lundby. When Richard Dybeck visited the grave field in the mid-19th century, someone pointed out a stone which rose only three inches above the ground and which was said to be "written". Dybeck excavated the stone and discovered that it was a runestone with an interesting inscription. In Dybeck's time, there were also the remains of a stone ship next to the runestone.
Skarði is a rather unusual name, but it appears in runic inscriptions in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The name is probably derived from a word for "score" and it probably refers to someone who is hare lipped. The name Spjóti is also unusual and the unique name Spjót is found on the nearby Kjula Runestone. The word heðan ("from here") is only found in one single Viking Age runic inscription.
The last part of the inscription is an alliterative poem. This kind of verse appears on several runestones and it is well known from Old West Norse poetry.
sbiuti
Spiūti,
halftan
Halfdan,
þaiʀ
þæiʀ
raisþu
ræisþu
stain
stæin
þansi
þannsi
eftiʀ
æftiʀ
skarþa
Skarða,
bruþur
brōður
sin
sinn.
fur
Fōr
austr
austr
hiþan
hēðan
miþ
með
ikuari
Ingvari,
ą
ą̄
sirklanti
Særklandi
likʀ
liggʀ
sunʀ
sunʀ
iuintaʀ
Øyvindaʀ.
: sbiuti : halftan : þaiʀ : raisþu : stain : þansi : eftiʀ : skarþa : bruþur sin : fur : austr : hiþan : miþ : ikuari : ą sirklanti : likʀ : sunʀ iuintaʀ
 Spiūti, Halfdan, þæiʀ ræisþu stæin þannsi æftiʀ Skarða, brōður sinn. Fōr austr hēðan með Ingvari, ą̄ Særklandi liggʀ sunʀ Øyvindaʀ.
"Spjóti (and) Halfdan, they raised this stone in memory of Skarði, their brother. From here (he) travelled to the east with Ingvarr; in Serkland lies Eyvindr's son."

### Sö 173

In the village of Tystberga there are three raised stones. Two of them are runestones called Sö 173 and Sö 374, of which the last one has a cross. Sö 173 is categorized as both style Fp and style Pr2. Both inscriptions are from the 11th century and tell of the same family. They probably refer to Viking expeditions both westwards and eastwards.
The location was first described by Lukas Gadd during the nationwide revision of pre-historic monuments that took place in the 17th century. In a paddock at the state owned homestead of Tystberga there was a flat stone lying with runes and next to it there was another flat stone that was leaning. In addition, there was a large square stone surrounded with rows of smaller stones, which Gadd described as a "fairly large cemetery". Not far from the stones, there were also two giant passage graves, about 20 paces long.
There is a depiction of the cross-less stone from the 17th century, made by Johan Hadorph and Johan Peringskiöld. This depiction has helped scholars reconstruct the parts that are damaged today. The runestone was raised anew by Richard Dybeck in 1864. In 1936, Ivar Schnell examined the stone, and he noted that there was a large stone next to it. When this stone was raised, they discovered that it was also a runestone, and it was probably the one that had been previously described by Lukas Gadd as the "square stone". In the vicinity, Schnell found a destroyed stone without runes which probably was the leaning stone described by Gadd. Since they would hinder agriculture, the three stones were re-erected at a distance of 60 metres, at the side of the road. The stone circle and the other monuments described by Gadd could not be found anymore.
The runes mani can be interpreted in two ways, since runic inscriptions never repeat two runes. One possibility is that it refers to Máni, the moon, and the other alternative is the male name Manni which is derived from maðr ("man"). The runes mus:kia are more challenging and the older interpretation that it was Mus-Gea is now rejected. It is probably a nominalization of myskia which means "darken" as during sunset, and one scholar has suggested that it could mean "sunset" and "twilight" and refer to e.g. a hair colour. A second theory is that the name refers to the animal bat. It is also disputed whether it is a man's name or a woman's name, but most scholars think that it refers to a woman. The name Myskia appears in a second runic inscription in Södermanland, and it may refer to the same person.
The last part of the cross-less inscription is both unusual and partly problematic. The word ystarla could without context be interpreted as both "westwards" and "eastwards", but since an austarla appears later in the inscription, it is agreed that ystarla means "westwards". It is unusual, but not unique, that the y-rune represents the v phoneme. An additional reason for this interpretation is the fact that it would allow the last part of the inscription to be interpreted as a poem in the meter fornyrðislag. This would explain the use of the rune since vestarla permits alliteration with um vaʀit. It is not known whether he refers to Hróðgeirr (Roger) or Holmsteinn, but most think that it is Holmsteinn who had been westwards. The plural ending -u in the verb form dou shows that both Hróðgeirr and Holmsteinn died in the Ingvar expedition.
mus:kia/mes:kia
Myskia
a(u)[k
ok
(m)an(i)
Manni/Māni
litu
lētu
rasa
ræisa
ku[(m)(l)
kumbl
þausi
þausi
at
at
b]ruþur
brōður
(s)in
sinn
hr(u)þkaiʀ
Hrōðgæiʀ
auk
ok
faþur
faður
sin
sinn
hulm:stain
Holmstæin.
mus:kia/mes:kia : a(u)[k :] (m)an(i) : litu : rasa : ku[(m)(l) : þausi : at : b]ruþur · (s)in : hr(u)þkaiʀ · auk : faþur sin hulm:stain ·
Myskia ok Manni/Māni lētu ræisa kumbl þausi at brōður sinn Hrōðgæiʀ ok faður sinn Holmstæin.
"Myskja and Manni/Máni had these monuments raised in memory of their brother Hróðgeirr and their father Holmsteinn."
han
Hann
hafþi
hafði
ystarla
vestarla
u(m)
um
uaʀit
vaʀit
lenki
længi,
tuu
dōu
a:ustarla
austarla
meþ
með
inkuari
Ingvari.
· han hafþi · ystarla u(m) : uaʀit · lenki : tuu : a:ustarla : meþ : inkuari
 Hann hafði vestarla um vaʀit længi, dōu austarla með Ingvari.
"He had long been in the west; they died in the east with Ingvarr."

### Sö 179

The Gripsholm Runestone is one of the Serkland Runestones and it is in style Fp. It is located beside the drive of Gripsholm Castle together with another runestone from the 11th century, Sö 178, but their original location is unknown.
The runestone was discovered in the early 1820s by Wallin, the caretaker of the castle, and it was then forming the threshold of the cellar of the eastern tower of the castle, the so-called "theatre tower". It was under both side walls of the door and also covered with tar, which suggests that it had been part of another construction before being used as construction material for the castle. It would take an additional 100 years before the stone was retrieved from the castle and could be read in its entirety.
The inscription says that it is raised in memory of Haraldr, the brother of Ingvar, and he is believed to have died in the region of the Caspian Sea. A subject that has been vividly discussed is why the runestone is raised only after Haraldr and not after Ingvar, and the most widely accepted explanation is that Tóla was only Harald's mother and that the two men were only half-brothers. It is also possible that there were originally two stones of which one was in memory of Ingvar, but that Ingvar's stone has disappeared. A third possibility is that "brother" refers to brother-in-arms, blood brother, or something similar, and this is a use of the word that appears on one of the runestones in Hällestad in Scania.
One theory proposed by Braun connects this stone to the runestones U 513, U 540, and Sö 279, and it holds Ingvar the Far-Travelled to be the son of the Swedish king Emund the Old.
The second half of the inscription is in alliterative verse of the form fornyrðislag. The phrase to feed the eagle is a kenning which means "to kill enemies".
tula
Tōla
lit
lēt
raisa
ræisa
stain
stæin
þinsa|
þennsa
|at
at
sun
sun
sin
sinn
haralt
Harald,
bruþur
brōður
inkuars
Ingvars.
þaiʀ
Þæiʀ
furu
fōru
trikila
drængila
fiari
fiarri
at
at
kuli
gulli
auk
ok
a:ustarla|
austarla
|ar:ni
ærni
kafu
gāfu,
tuu
dōu
sunar:la
sunnarla
a
ą̄
sirk:lan:ti
Særklandi.
× tula : lit : raisa : stain : þinsa| |at : sun : sin : haralt : bruþur : inkuars : þaiʀ furu : trikila : fiari : at : kuli : auk : a:ustarla| |ar:ni : kafu : tuu : sunar:la : a sirk:lan:ti
 Tōla lēt ræisa stæin þennsa at sun sinn Harald, brōður Ingvars. Þæiʀ fōru drængila fiarri at gulli ok austarla ærni gāfu, dōu sunnarla ą̄ Særklandi.
"Tóla had this stone raised in memory of her son Haraldr, Ingvarr's brother. They travelled manfully far for gold, and in the east gave (food) to the eagle. (They) died in the south in Serkland."

### Sö 254

This stone is located in Vansta and it is in style Fp.
suan
Svæinn
auk
ok
stain
Stæinn
raistu
ræistu
stain
stæin
at
at
tos(t)a
Tosta,
faþur
faður
sin
sinn,
is
es
uarþ
varð
tauþr
dauðr
i
ī
liþi
liði
ikuars
Ingvars,
au(k)
ok
at
at
þo(r)stain
Þorstæin
auk
ok
kt
at
aystain
Øystæin,
alhiltar
Alfhildaʀ
s--
s[un].
· suan : auk stain : raistu · stain : at · tos(t)a : faþur : sin : is uarþ : tauþr · i liþi : ikuars : au(k) at · þo(r)stain : auk kt : aystain : alhiltar · s--
 Svæinn ok Stæinn ræistu stæin at Tosta, faður sinn, es varð dauðr ī liði Ingvars, ok at Þorstæin ok at Øystæin, Alfhildaʀ s[un].
"Sveinn and Steinn raised the stone in memory of Tosti, their father, who died in Ingvarr's retinue, and in memory of Þorsteinn, and in memory of Eysteinn, Alfhildr's son."

### Sö 277

This stone is located at the cathedral of Strängnäs, and it is in style Pr2.
u--r
auk
ok
inki:burk
Ingiborg
(l)itu
lētu
ra...
ræ[isa]
…a
at
<at>
uerþr
verðr
iki
ængi
inkuars
Ingvars
ma...
ma[nna]
u--r : auk : inki:burk : (l)itu : ra... ... ...- : …a at · uerþr · iki : inkuars : ma... ...
 ok Ingiborg lētu ræ[isa] ... ... ... <at> verðr ængi Ingvars ma[nna] ...
"and Ingibjǫrg, they had raised ... ... ... in memory of ... will not be among Ingvarr's men ..."

### Sö 279

This stone is one of the Serkland Runestones and it is located at Strängnäs Cathedral. It is in style Pr2. One theory proposed by Braun connects this stone to the runestones U 513, U 540, and Sö 179, and it holds Ingvar the Far-Travelled to be the son of the Swedish king Emund the Old.
ai...
Æi...
...(u)a
[hagg]va
--(a)-
[st]æ[in]
...uni
[s]yni
aimunt...
Æimund[aʀ]
sunarla
sunnarla
a
ą̄
se(r)kl...
Særkl[andi].
ai... ... ...(u)a : --(a)- ... ...uni ÷ aimunt... ... sunarla : a : se(r)kl...
Æi... ... [hagg]va [st]æ[in] ... [s]yni Æimund[aʀ] ... sunnarla ą̄ Særkl[andi].
"Ei-... ... the stone cut ... Eimundr's sons ... in the south in Serkland."

### Sö 281

This stone is located at the Strängnäs Cathedral and it is in style Pr2.
(a)lui
vī
lit
lēt
kira
gærva
kubl
kumbl
ifti...
æfti[ʀ]
burþur
brōður
ulfs
Ulfs.
þiʀ
Þæiʀ
a(u)...
au[str]/au[starla]
(m)iþ
með
ikuari
Ingvari
ą
ą̄
sirk*la(t)...
Særkland[i].
(a)lui : lit * kira : kubl : ifti... ... burþur : ulfs * þiʀ * a(u)... ... (m)iþ * ikuari : ą : sirk*la(t)...
vī lēt gærva kumbl æfti[ʀ] ... brōður Ulfs. Þæiʀ au[str]/au[starla] ... með Ingvari ą̄ Særkland[i].
"-vé had the monument made in memory of ... Ulfr's brother. They in / to the east ... with Ingvarr in Serkland."

### Sö 287

This stone was located in Hunhammar, but it has disappeared.
antuitʀ
Andvēttr
reisti
ræisti
stin
stæin
iftiʀ
æftiʀ
huka
Huga,
bruþur
brōður
sin
sinn,
eʀ
eʀ
uar
vaʀ
tauþe(r)
dauðr
miþ
með
ink...
Ing[vari,
...k
o]k
iftir
æftiʀ
þurkils
Þorgīls,
bruþur
brōður
kuþan
gōðan.
biarlaukr
Biarnlaugr
irfi
ærfi(?)
lit
let
reisa
ræisa
iftir
æftiʀ
biaþr
faður(?)
sin]
sinn.
[× antuitʀ : reisti : stin : iftiʀ : huka : bruþur sin eʀ : uar : tauþe(r) : miþ : ink... ...k : iftir : þurkils bruþur : kuþan biarlaukr : irfi : lit : reisa : iftir : biaþr : sin]
 Andvēttr ræisti stæin æftiʀ Huga, brōður sinn, eʀ vaʀ dauðr með Ing[vari, o]k æftiʀ Þorgīls, brōður gōðan. Biarnlaugr ærfi(?) let ræisa æftiʀ faður(?) sinn.
"Andvéttr raised the stone in memory of Hugi, his brother, who died with Ingvarr, and in memory of Þorgísl, (his) good brother. Bjarnlaugr, the heir(?), had (the stone) raised in memory of his father(?)"

### Sö 320

This stone is located in the park of the manor house Stäringe beside the runestone Sö 319. It is in style Fp.
kaiʀuatr
Gæiʀhvatr
auk
ok
anutr
Anundr
auk
ok
utamr
Ōtamʀ
[lētu]
rita
rētta
stain
stæin
at
at
byrst(a)in
Bȳrstæin,
bruþur
brōður
sin
sinn,
saʀ
sāʀ
uaʀ
vaʀ
austr
austr
miþ
með
ikuari
Ingvari,
trik
dræng
snialan
sniallan,
sun
sun
lifayaʀ
Līføyaʀ.
: kaiʀuatr : auk : anutr : auk : utamr : rita : stain : at : byrst(a)in · bruþur : sin : saʀ uaʀ : austr · miþ ikuari : trik : snialan : sun : lifayaʀ ×
 Gæiʀhvatr ok Anundr ok Ōtamʀ [lētu] rētta stæin at Bȳrstæin, brōður sinn, sāʀ vaʀ austr með Ingvari, dræng sniallan, sun Līføyaʀ.
"Geirhvatr and Ǫnundr and Ótamr had the stone erected in memory of Bjórsteinn, their brother. He was in the east with Ingvarr, an able valiant man, the son of Lífey."

### Sö 335

This stone is located at the church ruin of Ärja and it is in style Fp. It contains the word skipari which means "shipmate". This word is found in a second runestone in Södermanland and there are six other attestations in stones from southern Sweden and Denmark. From this usage, it seems that Holmsteinn was a captain of one of the ships of the expedition and Ósníkinn a crew member.
The first rune in the inscription is apparently superfluous, and this can be compared with the fact that the name Ingvar is spelled with two initial i-runes. What name was written in the first runes is not certain, but some scholars have proposed that it was a not hitherto known woman's name Ulfvi. Another proposal is that it was a misspelling of the name Ulfr or the rare name Ulfvid. The name Osnikin appears in half a dozen inscriptions in Uppland and Södermanland and it means, like osniken still does in modern Swedish, "generous."
u
ulf=ui
Ulfʀ(?)
raisti
ræisti
stain
stæin
þana|
þenna
|at
at
bruþur
brōður
sin
sinn
u:snikin
Ōsnīkin,
saʀ
sāʀ
furs
fōrs
a:ust:arla
austarla
maþ
með
i:ikn:u:ari
Ingvari,
ksibari
skipari
hulmstains
Holmstæins.
u ulf=ui : raisti : stain þana| |at bruþur sin : u:snikin saʀ furs : a:ust:arla : maþ : i:ikn:u:ari : ksibari hulmstains
 Ulfʀ(?) ræisti stæin þenna at brōður sinn Ōsnīkin, sāʀ fōrs austarla með Ingvari, skipari Holmstæins.
"Ulfr(?) raised this stone in memory of his brother Ósníkinn. He travelled to the east with Ingvarr; (he was) Holmsteinn's seaman."

## Västmanland
### Vs 19

This stone is located in Berga, Skultuna. It is in style Fp and it is made by the same runemaster as runestone Vs 18. It is dated to the 1040s. The name Gunnvaldr in the inscription combines gunnr meaning "war" and valdr meaning "wielder" or "keeper," while the name Ormr means "serpent" or "dragon."
khu[nal-](r)
Gunnal[d]r
[(l)it
lēt
[ræisa]
stain
stæin
þinsa
þennsa
ef]tir
æftiʀ
horm
Orm,
stob
stiūp
sen
sinn,
trek|
dræng
|ku-…n
gō[ða]n,
auk
ok
uas
vas
farin
farinn
(o)(s)-r
aus[t]r
miþ
með
ikuari
Ingvari.
hiolbi
Hialpi
k[-þ
G[u]ð
salu
sālu
h…ns
h[a]ns.
khu[nal-](r) · [(l)it … stain · þinsa ef]tir · horm · stob sen · trek| |ku-…n · auk · uas · farin · (o)(s)-r · miþ · ikuari · hiolbi k[-þ · salu h…ns ·]
Gunnal[d]r lēt [ræisa] stæin þennsa æftiʀ Orm, stiūp sinn, dræng gō[ða]n, ok vas farinn aus[t]r með Ingvari. Hialpi G[u]ð sālu h[a]ns.
"Gunnvaldr had this stone raised in memory of Ormr, his stepson, a good valiant man. And (he) travelled to the east with Ingvarr. May God help his soul."

## Östergötland
### Ög 145

This stone is located at the church of Dagsberg.
ur
[fað]ur/[brōð]ur
sin
sinn,
eʀ
eʀ
furs
fōrs
hilfnai
hælfningi(?)
(a)(u)str
austr.
ur : sin : eʀ : furs : ... hilfnai : (a)(u)str
[fað]ur/[brōð]ur sinn, eʀ fōrs ... hælfningi(?) austr.
"his father/ brother, who perished ... troop(?) in the east."

### Ög 155

This stone is tentatively categorized as style RAK. It is located in Sylten, and it is the southernmost of the Ingvar runestones. It was known in the 17th century and a drawing by Johan Hadorph, Petrus Helgonius and Petrus Törnewall is preserved. Later, the stone was toppled and partially covered with soil. In 1896, it was re-erected by the owner of the homestead of Bjällbrunna and moved a small distance.
The word helfningr (appears in the dative case as the eastern dialectal form hælfningi) is originally a word for "half" but it could also mean "troop." It only appears in one additional runestone, which is located at the church of Dagsberg in Östergötland (see Ög 145).
The i-rune can represent both the i and the e phonemes, which means that the first name can be interpreted both as the woman's name Þorfríðr and the man's name Þorfreðr. It is consequently not known whether it was the mother or the father who raised the stone.
Ásgautr was a common name which appears in about 30 runic inscriptions. Gauti (modern Göte) was, however, rare in the runic inscriptions of the Viking Age and the only additional runestone where it appears is on U 516 (although damaged or unclear inscriptions on runestones Sö 14, G 65, and Norway's N 331 also have words translated as the name Gauti). It is believed to mean an inhabitant of Götaland, i.e. a Geat. The personal name element Gaut appears, however, in not only this part of Scandinavia but also in Svealand and in Denmark.
þurfriþ
Þorfrīðr/Þorfreðr
risti
ræisti
eftiʀ
æftiʀ
askut
Āsgaut
auk
ok
kauta
Gauta,
sunu
sunu
sina
sina,
stin
stæin
þasi
þannsi.
han
Hann
kuti
Gauti
etaþis
ændaðis
i
ī
ikuars
Ingvars
hilfniki
hælfningi.
þurfriþ × risti × eftiʀ × askut × auk × kauta sunu × sina × stin × þasi × han × kuti × etaþis × i × ikuars × hilfniki ×
Þorfrīðr/Þorfreðr ræisti æftiʀ Āsgaut ok Gauta, sunu sina, stæin þannsi. Hann Gauti ændaðis ī Ingvars hælfningi.
"Þorfríðr/Þorfreðr raised this stone in memory of Ásgautr and Gauti, her/his sons. Gauti met his end in Ingvarr's troop."