Altuna Runestone (early 11th century)

The Altuna Runestone (Altunastenen), listed as U 1161 in the Rundata catalog, is a Viking memorial runestone adorned with images from Nordic mythology. It is located in Altuna, Uppland, Sweden.

The Altuna Runestone is a granite stone standing at a height of 1.95 meters (6 feet 5 inches). It was discovered in 1918 by a local historian in the wall of a chapel near its current location. Before the historical significance of runic stones was fully understood, they were often repurposed as construction materials for various structures, such as roads, bridges, walls, and buildings. This runestone is unique in that it features exclusively pagan illustrations from Scandinavian mythology, making it one of the few surviving runestones with such depictions. Most surviving runestones were created in the 11th century, following the Christianization of Sweden. Many of these runestones feature inscriptions related to Christianity, as they were erected by individuals who wanted to outwardly display their adherence to the new faith.

One side of the Altuna Runestone illustrates a legend recorded in Hymiskviða of the Poetic Edda. In this myth, the Norse god Thor goes fishing for Jörmungandr, the serpent of Midgard, accompanied by the giant Hymir. They use the head of a bull as bait, and Thor succeeds in hooking Jörmungandr. The outcome of this encounter varies in different versions of the myth, with either the serpent breaking free or, according to the Prose Edda's Gylfaginning, the line being severed by Hymir. An interesting detail provided in the Prose Edda is that when Thor was pulling the line with Jörmungandr on the hook, his feet went through the bottom of the boat. The rune stone image depicts Thor, his fishing line and equipment, the serpent, and notably, Thor's leg piercing the hull of the boat.

This particular scene featuring Thor and Jörmungandr appears to have been a popular motif in Scandinavian art. Three other stone images associated with this myth include the Ardre VIII stone, the Hørdum stone, and the Gosforth Cross. A stone slab, possibly part of the second cross at Gosforth, also features a fishing scene with a bull's head.

The runic inscription on the Altuna Runestone suggests that it was erected in memory of Holmfaster and his son Arnfaster, who were likely burned, possibly as a result of a feud involving arson. It was common practice in Scandinavia at the time to incorporate one of the name elements from the parent's name into the children's names to denote a familial connection. In this case, Arnfaster and his brother Vefastr both share the name element "fastr" with their father, Holmfastr.

The runic inscription on the stone is characteristic of the Pr3 style, also known as the Urnes style. This style is known for its slender and stylized animal figures intricately woven into narrow patterns. The animal heads typically appear in profile with almond-shaped eyes and upward-bent appendages on the nose and neck. The inscription is signed by rune masters with the normalized names Frösten and Balle, and possibly Livsten. Balle, in particular, was active in southwestern Uppland and northern Södermanland during the second half of the eleventh century.