# Baltic area runestones

The Baltic area runestones are Viking runestones in memory of men who took part in peaceful or warlike expeditions across the Baltic Sea, where Finland and the Baltic states are presently located.
Beside the runestones treated in this article and in the main article Varangian runestones, there are many other runestones that talk of eastward voyages such as the Greece runestones, Italy runestones, and inscriptions left by the Varangian Guard. Other runestones that deal with Varangian expeditions include the Ingvar runestones (erected in honor or memory of those who travelled to the Caspian Sea with Ingvar the Far-Travelled). In addition, there were also voyages to Western Europe mentioned on runestones that are treated in the articles Viking runestones, England runestones and Hakon Jarl runestones.
Below follows a presentation of the runestones based on the Rundata project. The transcriptions into Old Norse are mostly 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 180

This runestone is possibly in style Pr4 and it is located at the church of Össeby-Garn. It was made by the runemaster Visäte. The stone commemorates a man who either died in Viborg, Jutland, or in Vyborg, Karelia. Part of the inscription's text "he died in Véborg" is written on the design's cross, which may have indicated to those at home that Sigsteinn, while dying abroad, had received proper Christian burial treatment.
sihatr
Sighvatr
uk
ok
þurbiorn
Þorbiorn
uk
ok
þurkri(m)
Þorgrimʀ
uk
ok
erinmontr
Ærinmundr
litu
letu
reisn
ræisa
stein
stæin
aftiʀ
æftiʀ
broþur
broður
sin
sinn
sikstnin
Sigstæin.
hn
Hann
to
do
i
i
uib(u)(r)kum
Viborgum.
+ sihatr * uk + þurbiorn + uk * þurkri(m) + uk * erinmontr '× litu × reisn + stein + aftiʀ + broþur + sin + sikstnin + hn to i uib(u)(r)kum
 Sighvatr ok Þorbiorn ok Þorgrimʀ ok Ærinmundr letu ræisa stæin æftiʀ broður sinn Sigstæin. Hann do i Viborgum.
Sighvatr and Þorbjǫrn and Þorgrímr and Erinmundr had the stone raised in memory of their brother Sigsteinn. He died in Véborg."

### U 214

This runestone from c. 1100 is in the style RAK. It is in the wall of the porch of the church of Vallentuna. The U 215 contains the first part of the message. The stones were carved in memory of a man who drowned in Holmr's sea, but runologists are divided on the meaning of the expression. One interpretation proposed by Jansson is that it means the "Novgorodian sea" and refers to the Gulf of Finland. The runestone provides the earliest Swedish attestation of an end rhyme, whereas the earliest Old Norse attestation is Höfuðlausn composed by Egill Skallagrímsson.
uk
ok
inkiber
Ingebærg
eftiʀ
æftiʀ
buanta
boanda
sin
sinn.
han
Hann
troknaþi
drunknaði
a
a
holms
Holms
hafi
hafi,
skreþ
skræið
knar
knarr
hans
hans
i
i
kaf
kaf,
þriʀ
þriʀ
eniʀ
æiniʀ
kamo
kvamu
af
af.
... uk × inkiber × eftiʀ × buanta × sin ' han ' troknaþi ÷ a ' holms ' hafi ' skreþ ' knar ' hans ' i ' kaf þriʀ ' eniʀ ' kamo ' af
... ok Ingebærg æftiʀ boanda sinn. Hann drunknaði a Holms hafi, skræið knarr hans i kaf, þriʀ æiniʀ kvamu af.
"... and Ingibjǫrg in memory of her husbandman. He drowned in Holmr's sea - his cargo-ship drifted to the sea-bottom - only three came out (alive)."
Swedish translation:
    "... och Ingeberg efter bonde sin. Han drunknade på Holms hav, skred knarr hans i kvav, tre endast kommo av."

### U 346

This runestone has disappeared but it was located at the church of Frösunda. It was made by the runemaster Åsmund Kåresson in style Pr3-Pr4, and it was raised in memory of a man who died in Virland. It contains the same message as U 356.
[rahnfriþr
Ragnfriðr
lit
let
rt
retta
stain
stæin
þino
þenna
aftiʀ
æftiʀ
biurno
Biorn,
sun
sun
þaiʀa
þæiʀa
kitilmuntaʀ
Kætilmundaʀ.
hon
Hann
fil
fell
a
a
urlati
Virlandi.
kuþ
Guð
hialbi
hialpi
hons
hans
ant
and
auk|
ok
|kuþs
Guðs
muþiʀ
moðiʀ.
osmunr
Asmundr
mar'kaþi
markaði
runaʀ
runaʀ
ritar]
rettaʀ.
[rahnfriþr * lit rt stain þino ' aftiʀ biurno sun þaiʀa kitilmuntaʀ ' hon ' fil a urlati ' kuþ hialbi hons ant auk| |kuþs muþiʀ ' osmunr mar'kaþi runaʀ ritar]
Ragnfriðr let retta stæin þenna æftiʀ Biorn, sun þæiʀa Kætilmundaʀ. Hann fell a Virlandi. Guð hialpi hans and ok Guðs moðiʀ. Asmundr markaði runaʀ rettaʀ.
"Ragnfríðr had this stone erected in memory of Bjǫrn, her son and Ketilmundr's. He fell in Virland. May God and God's mother help his spirit. Ásmundr marked the right runes."

### U 356

This runestone in style Pr3 is located in Ängby. It was made by the runemaster Åsmund Kåresson for a lady in memory of her son who died in Virland. It contains the same message as U 346.
ra(h)nfriþr
Ragnfriðr
lit
let
rasa
ræisa
stain
stæin
þino
þenna
aftiʀ
æftiʀ
biurn
Biorn,
sun
sun
þaiʀa
þæiʀa
kitilmun(t)aʀ
Kætilmundaʀ.
kuþ
Guð
mialbi
hialpi
hons
hans
(a)nt
and
auk|
ok
|kuþs
Guðs
(m)uþiʀ
moðiʀ.
hon
Hann
fil
fell
a
a
uirlanti
Virlandi.
in
En
osmuntr
Asmundr
markaþi
markaði.
ra(h)nfriþr ' lit rasa stain þino ' aftiʀ biurn * sun þaiʀa * kitilmun(t)aʀ ' kuþ mialbi hons (a)nt auk| |kuþs (m)uþiʀ hon fil a uirlanti * in osmuntr markaþi
Ragnfriðr let ræisa stæin þenna æftiʀ Biorn, sun þæiʀa Kætilmundaʀ. Guð hialpi hans and ok Guðs moðiʀ. Hann fell a Virlandi. En Asmundr markaði.
"Ragnfríðr had this stone raised in memory of Bjǫrn, her son and Ketilmundr's. May God and God's mother help his spirit. He fell in Virland. And Ásmundr marked."

### U 439

This runestone in style Fp is one of the Ingvar Runestones and due to uncertainties as to the decipherment also one of the Serkland Runestones. It was located at Steninge Palace, but it is 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.
[harlaif
Hærlæif
auk
ok
þurkarþr
Þorgærðr
litu
letu
raisa
ræisa
stain
stæin
þina
þenna
at
at
sabi
Sæbiorn,
faþur
faður
sin
sinn.
is|
Es
|sturþi
styrði
austr
austr
skibi
skipi
maþ
með
ikuari
Ingvari
a/a|
a
|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 letu ræisa stæin þenna at Sæbiorn, faður sinn. Es styrði austr skipi með Ingvari a 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 533

This runestone is in the wall inside the porch of the church of Roslags-Bro. It is in style Pr1, and it was raised in memory of a man who died in Virland (in Estonia). The style shows that it was made by the runemaster Torbjörn Skald.
sigruþ
Sigruð
lit
let
raisa
ræisa
stain
stæin
eftir
æftiʀ
anunt
Anund,
sun
sun
sin
sinn.
han
Hann
uas
vas
tribin
drepinn
a
a
uirlanti
Virlandi.
* sigruþ * lit + raisa * stain * eftir + anunt * sun * sin * han uas ' tribin + a + uirlanti
 Sigruð let ræisa stæin æftiʀ Anund, sun sinn. Hann vas drepinn a Virlandi.
"Sigþrúðr had the stone raised in memory of ǫnundr, her son. He was killed in Virland."

### U 582

This runestone has disappeared but it was located at the church of Söderby-Karl. It was possibly in style Pr1 and it commemorated a son who died in what is called Finland. At this time, Finland referred to the south-western part of what today is Finland.
[biarn
Biorn
huk
ok
ikulfriþ
Igulfrið
raistu
ræistu
stain
stæin
aftʀ
æftiʀ
utrik
Otrygg,
sun
sun
sain
sinn.
han
Hann
uaʀ
vaʀ
tribin
drepinn
o
a
fin*lonti]
Finnlandi.
[biarn huk * ikulfriþ : raistu : stain : aftʀ : utrik : sun : sain * han * uaʀ : tribin : o * fin*lonti]
Biorn ok Igulfrið ræistu stæin æftiʀ Otrygg, sun sinn. Hann vaʀ drepinn a Finnlandi.
"Bjǫrn and Ígulfríðr raised the stone in memory of Ótryggr, their son. He was killed in Finland."

### U 698

This runestone has disappeared but it was located at the church of Veckholm. It was in style Pr2-Pr3. The inscription was considered difficult to read, but it refers to a man who fell in Livonia, and possibly in an expedition led by Freygeirr.
[sufar
<sufar>
lit
let
aristn
ræisa
þin
stæin
afir
æftiʀ
askir
Asgæiʀ,
sun
sun
sin
sinn.
han
Hann
ut
uti
fai
fioll
a
a
liflai|n|þ|i|
Liflandi
|i|
i
|i|n|þ|i
liði
frai...]
Frøy[gæiʀs](?).
[sufar lit : aristn * þin * afir * askir sun : sin : han * ut fai : a liflai|n|þ|i| |i| |i|n|þ|i * frai...]
<sufar> let ræisa stæin æftiʀ Asgæiʀ, sun sinn. Hann uti fioll a Liflandi i liði Frøy[gæiʀs](?).
[sufar
<sufar>
lit
let
aristn
ræisa
þin
stæin
afir
æftiʀ
askir
Asgæiʀ,
sun
sun
sin
sinn.
han
Hann
ut
ut
fai
fioll
a
a
liflai|n|þ|
Lifland
i|
i
|i|n|þ|i
liði
frai...]
Frøy[gæiʀs](?).
[sufar lit : aristn * þin * afir * askir sun : sin : han * ut fai : a liflai|n|þ| i| |i|n|þ|i * frai...]
<sufar> let ræisa stæin æftiʀ Asgæiʀ, sun sinn. Hann ut fioll a Lifland i liði Frøy[gæiʀs](?).
"<sufar> had the stone raised in memory of Ásgeirr, his son. He fell in Lífland, abroad in Freygeirr's(?) retinue."

## Södermanland
### Sö 39

This is a runic inscription on bedrock at Åda. It is in style Pr3 and it commemorates a brother who drowned in Livonia.
hermoþr
Hærmoðr
lit
let
hagua
haggva
at
at
barkuiþ
Bergvið/Barkvið,
bruþur
broður
sin
sinn.
h[an]
Hann
trukn-þi
drunkn[a]ði
[a]
a
lf:lanti
Liflandi.
: hermoþr : lit : hagua : at : barkuiþ : bruþur : sin : h[an] trukn-þi : [a] lf:lanti :
 Hærmoðr let haggva at Bergvið/Barkvið, broður sinn. Hann drunkn[a]ði a Liflandi.
"Hermóðr had (the rock) cut in memory of Bergviðr/Barkviðr, his brother. He drowned in Lífland."

### Sö 198

This runestone in style Fp is found in Mervalla on the island of Selaön in lake Mälaren. It is raised in memory of a man who regularly sailed a valuable knarr to Zemgale, passing Cape Kolka (Dómisnes). North of the Cape there is a long underwater reef which probably was infamous among the sailors of the Viking Age, and this is probably why Sigríðr wanted posterity to know that her husband had often passed it. The expression dyrum knærri ("valued cargo-ship") is an instrumental dative and it also appears in a famous stanza by the Icelander Egill Skallagrímsson. Egill had written that his mother had promised him a fast ship so that he could sail with the Vikings and
| standa upp í stafni stýra dýrum knerri | Stand in the stern, Steer a dear vessel, |
siriþ
Sigrið
lit
let
resa
ræisa
stan
stæin
[þin](a)
þenna
(a)(t)
at
suen
Svæin,
sin
sinn
[b]unta
bonda.
h[n]
Hann
uft
oft
siklt
siglt
til
til
simk(a)(l)(a)
Sæimgala,
t(u)ru[m]
dyrum
knari
knærri,
um
um
tumisnis
Domisnæs.
siriþ * lit * resa * stan * [þin](a) [*] (a)(t) * suen * sin * [b]unta * h[n] * uft * siklt * til * simk(a)(l)(a) * t(u)ru[m] * knari * um * tumisnis
Sigrið let ræisa stæin þenna at Svæin, sinn bonda. Hann oft siglt til Sæimgala, dyrum knærri, um Domisnæs.
"Sigríðr had this stone raised in memory of Sveinn, her husbandman. He often sailed a valued cargo-ship to Seimgalir, around Dómisnes."

## Gästrikland
### Gs 13

This runestone in sandstone is found in the church of the holy trinity in Gävle. It is in style Pr2 and it commemorates a brother name Egill who died in Tavastia. Åsmund Kåresson was one of the runemasters. Egill probably fell in a leidang expedition, led by Freygeirr who was a military leader.
brusi
Brusi
lit
let
rita
retta
s-...
s[tæin
þenna]
[(a)]b--ʀ
æf[ti]ʀ
(i)h(i)(l)
Ægil,
brur
broður
sin
sinn.
in
En
h-n
h[a]nn
uarþ
varð
tauþr
dauðr
a
a
tafstalonti
Tafæistalandi,
þo
þa
brusi
Brusi
furþi
førði
lank
læiðang(?)
lans
lands
abtiʀ
æftiʀ
[br](u)r
broður
sin
sinn.
h(o)[n]
Hann
fur
for
(m)iʀ
meðr
fraukiʀi
Frøygæiʀi.
kuþ
Guð
hialbi
hialpi
hons|
hans
|salu|
salu
|uk|
ok
|kuþ(s)
Guðs
(m)(u)[þiʀ
moðiʀ.
suain
Svæinn
uk
ok
osmunrt
Asmundr
þaiʀ
þæiʀ
markaþu]
markaðu.
× brusi lit rita s-... ... [(a)]b--ʀ (i)h(i)(l) brur sin : in h-n uarþ tauþr a tafstalonti × þo brusi furþi lank lans ' abtiʀ [br](u)r sin h(o)[n] fur (m)iʀ fraukiʀi kuþ hialbi hons| |salu| |uk| |kuþ(s) (m)(u)[þiʀ ' suain ' uk osmunrt ' þaiʀ markaþu] +
 Brusi let retta s[tæin þenna] æf[ti]ʀ Ægil, broður sinn. En h[a]nn varð dauðr a Tafæistalandi, þa Brusi førði læiðang(?) lands æftiʀ broður sinn. Hann for meðr Frøygæiʀi. Guð hialpi hans salu ok Guðs moðiʀ. Svæinn ok Asmundr þæiʀ markaðu.
Translation by Sven B.F Jansson 1981: "Brúsi had this stone erected in memory of Egill, his brother. And he died in Tafeistaland, when Brúsi brought (= led?) the land's levy(?) (= army) in memory of , his brother. He travelled with Freygeirr. May God and God's mother help his soul. Sveinn and Ásmundr, they marked."
Translation by Henrik Williams 2005: "Brúsi had this stone erected in memory of Egill, his brother. And he died in Tafeistaland, when Brúsi bore long-spear (=battle standard) after his brother. He travelled with Freygeirr. May God and God's mother help his soul. Sveinn and Ásmundr, they marked."

## Västergötland
### Vg 181

This runestone in style Pr1 is found at Frugården. It was raised in memory of a man who died in Estonia.
kufi
Gufi
rsþi
ræisti
stin
stæin
þesi
þennsi
eftʀ
æftiʀ
ulaf
Olaf,
sun
sun
sin
sinn,
trk
dræng
hrþa
harða
kuþan
goðan.
hn
Hann
uarþ
varð
trbin
drepinn
i
i
estlatum
Æistlandum.
hu(a)rþ(r)
Havarðr(?)
iuk
hiogg
s---
s[tæin].
kufi : rsþi : stin : þesi : eftʀ : ulaf : sun : sin * trk * hrþa * kuþan * hn * uarþ * trbin * i * estlatum * hu(a)rþ(r) * iuk * s---
Gufi ræisti stæin þennsi æftiʀ Olaf, sun sinn, dræng harða goðan. Hann varð drepinn i Æistlandum. Havarðr(?) hiogg s[tæin].
"Gufi raised this stone in memory of Ólafr, his son, a very good valiant man. He was killed in Estonia. Hávarðr(?) cut the stone."

## Gotland
### G 135

This runestone, originally located in Sjonhems, tells of the same family as G 134 and G 136, and it was made in memory of a man who died in Vindau (Ventspils, Latvia).
þina
Þenna
eftir
æftiʀ
a(i)---
Æi...
--rþ
[va]rð
tauþr
dauðr
a
a
ui(t)au
Vindau/Vindö.
systriʀ
Systriʀ
[tuaʀ]
tvaʀ
...-ʀ
bryþr
brøðr
þria
þria.
roþanþr
Hroðvaldr(?)
auk
ok
roþkutr
Hroðgautr,
roþar
Hroðarr
auk
ok
þorstain
Þorstæinn,
þiʀ
þæiʀ
iʀu
eʀu
faþur:bryþr
faðurbrøðr.
þina : eftir : a(i)--- : --- : --rþ : tauþr : a : ui(t)au : systriʀ : [tuaʀ] ...-ʀ : bryþr : þria : roþanþr : auk : roþkutr : roþar : auk : þorstain : þiʀ : iʀu : faþur:bryþr
Þenna æftiʀ Æi... ... [va]rð dauðr a Vindau/Vindö. Systriʀ tvaʀ ... brøðr þria. Hroðvaldr(?) ok Hroðgautr, Hroðarr ok Þorstæinn, þæiʀ eʀu faðurbrøðr.
This (one) in memory of Ei-... (who) died at Vindey/Vindö. Two sisters ... three brothers. Hróðvaldr(?) and Hróðgautr, Hróðarr and Þorsteinn, they are the father's brothers."

### G 319

This is a late runic inscription on a grave which is dated to the early 13th century. It is located in Rute Church and it commemorates a man who died in Finland.
si[h]tris
Sigtryggs(?)
aruar[r]
arfaʀ
litu
letu
giera
gæra
st[a]en
stæinn
yfir
yfiʀ
auþu-l-
Auðv[a]l[d](?),
broþur
broður
sin
sinn,
a
a
finlandi
Finnlandi
do
do
aglia...
<aglia...>.
si[h]tris : aruar[r] : litu : giera : st[a]en : yfir : auþu-l- : broþur : sin : a : finlandi : do : aglia...
Sigtryggs(?) arfaʀ letu gæra stæinn yfiʀ Auðv[a]l[d](?), broður sinn, a Finnlandi do <aglia...>.
"Sigtryggr's(?) heirs had the stone made over Auðvaldr(?), their brother, who died in Finland ..."