Rök
In memory of Vémóðr/Vámóðr
stand these runes. And Varinn coloured them, the father, in memory of
his dead son. I say the folktale / to the young men, which the two war-booties
were, which twelve times were taken as war-booty, both together from various
men. I say this second, who nine generations ago lost his life with the
Hreidgoths; and died with them for his guilt. Þjóðríkr
the bold, chief of sea-warriors, ruled over the shores of the Hreiðsea.
Now he sits armed on his Goth(ic horse), his shield strapped, the prince
of the Mærings. I say this the twelfth, where the horse of Gunnr
sees fodder on the battlefield, where twenty kings lie. This I say as
thirteenth, which twenty kings sat on Sjólund for four winters,
of four names, born of four brothers: five Valkis, sons of Hráðulfr,
five Hreiðulfrs, sons of Rugulfr, five Háisl, sons of Hôrðr,
five Gunnmundrs / Kynmundrs, sons of Bjôrn. Now I say the tales
in full. Someone ... I say the folktale / to the young men, which of the
line of Ingold was repaid by a wife's sacrifice. I say the folktale /
to the young men, to whom is born a relative, to a valiant man. It is
Vélinn. He could crush a giant. It is Vélinn ... I say the
folktale / to the young men: Þórr. Sibbi of Vé, nonagenarian,
begot (a son).
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The Rök-stone in Östergötland and
the Sparlösa-stone in Västergötland are the most famous
rune stones in Sweden. They both date from around 800 AD, and they both
have very cryptic texts, referring to things that people 1200 years ago
were aware of, but are now long forgotten.... Or perhaps they were already
forgotten for most people back then ? The mentioning of Þjóðríkr
the bold (Theoderic) ; the king of the Ostrogoths, who besieged Ravenna
( Battle of the Ravens ) for three years, and had control of most of what
is now Italy, from 493 AD until his death in 526 AD.... that was a long
time ago, even when the Rök-stone was carved.... Talking about Theoderic and Goths - take a look at the Silver Bible !
top runes....
Here's a link to a more recent and perhaps more accurate interpretation of the text.
