Snottsta and Vreta stones
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Snottsta and Vreta stones are individual runestones known as U 329, U 330, U 331 and U 332. They are found on the homesteads of Snottsta (also spelled Snåttsta) and Vreta, and they tell in Old Norse about the family story of Gerlög and Inga in 11th century Uppland, Sweden, together with the Hillersjö stone (U 29) and the runestone U 20/21.
The style of the stones suggest that they were carved in the period 1050-1080. They were carved first, then U 20/21, and last Gerlög's Hillersjö stone.
The four runestones say that Ragnfast, Inga's husband has died. Ragnfast was the sole inheritor of the homestead Snottsta after his father Sigfast. The runestone standing at Vreta gives the central information "she inherited her child". This statement agrees with what is said on the Hillersjö stone (U 29), which is that Inga inherited her son, a son who was not named, probably because he was very young. The central message of these runestones is "Inga inherited Snottsta after Ragnfast.
Further information which is provided by the runestones is that Ragnfast had a housecarl named Assur. Why this is important is not mentioned, but it is likely that Assur had a strong position in the clan and may have inherited some of Ragnfast's property.
Furthermore, the runestone U329 contains some information about a third and a fourth woman, Estrid and Gyrid. It says that Ragnfast is the brother of Gyrid and Estrid, and the reason why this is mentioned is possibly because there was a disagreement about the inheritance. What is clear is that they are mentioned to explain how they relate to Inga.
Estrid is probably the same person as the Estrid who is mentioned on a number of the Jarlabanke Runestones in Täby and other locations (Broby bro Runestones, Harg Runestones and Uppland Rune Inscriptions 101, 143 and 147). This Estrid was the maternal ancestor of a great clan called the Jarlabanke clan, and she was the maternal grand-mother of the powerful Jarlabanke who claimed to own all of Täby. The carver of U 329, where Ragnfast's sister Estrid is mentioned, was Fot who also made the runestones for the Jarlabanke clan. This strongly suggests that Estrid was born in Snottsta, married Östen of Täby and married for the second time in Harg near Snottsta.
Contents |
[edit] U 329
[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters
× inka × lit × raisa × staina × þasi × eftiR × raknfast × bonta × sin × han × uaR × broþiR × kuriþaR × auk × estriþaR ×
[edit] Transcription into Old Norse
Inga let ræisa stæina þasi æftiR Ragnfast, bonda sinn. Hann vaR broðiR GyriðaR ok ÆstriðaR.
[edit] Translation in English
Inga had these stones raised in memory of Ragnfastr, her husbandman. He was Gyríðr's and Ástríðr's brother.
[edit] U 330
[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters
× inka × lit × raisa × staina × auk × bro × kiara × eftiR × raknfast × bont×a sin × asur × uaR × huskarl × hans ×
[edit] Transcription into Old Norse
Inga let ræisa stæina ok bro gærva æftiR Ragnfast, bonda sinn. Assurr vaR huskarl hans.
[edit] Translation in English
Inga had the stones raised and the bridge made in memory of Ragnfastr, her husbandman. Ôzurr was his housecarl.
[edit] U 331
[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters
× inka × lit × rista × runaR × eftiR × raknfast × bonta × sin + han × at[i +] ain ×× by × þina × eftiR × sikfast × faþur × sin × kuþ × hialbi × ant þaiRa ×
[edit] Transcription into Old Norse
Inga let rista runaR æftiR Ragnfast, bonda sinn. Hann atti æinn by þenna æftiR Sigfast, faður sinn. Guð hialpi and þæiRa.
[edit] Translation in English
Inga had the runes carved in memory of Ragnfastr, her husbandman. He alone owned this estate after Sigfastr, his father. May God help their spirits.
[edit] U 332
[edit] Transliteration of the runes into Latin characters
inka * raisti * staf * auk * staina * at * raknfast * bonta * sin * han * kuam * at * arfi barn * sins *
[edit] Transcription into Old Norse
Inga ræisti staf ok stæina at Ragnfast, bonda sinn. H[o]n kvam at arfi barns sins.
[edit] Translation in English
Inga raised the staff and stones in memory of Ragnfastr, her husbandman. She came to inherit from her children.
