{"id":4200,"date":"2025-09-08T13:34:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T11:34:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fjordsandmountains.com\/?p=4200"},"modified":"2025-09-08T13:36:35","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T11:36:35","slug":"vangsteinen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fjordsandmountains.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/08\/vangsteinen\/","title":{"rendered":"Vangsteinen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Besides the mountains, there is one more reason to visit Vang. And it is not a wooden church, because it was moved from here in the 19th century and we all know where it ended up. Currently, there is a stone temple in Vang, similar to many others in many small towns across the Norway. The nearest wooden church can be found in neighboring \u00d8ye, as I wrote here<\/a>. The reason why you should stay in Vang for a while is the Stone. And of course it is not just any stone but a runic plate from the Viking era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, displayed in front of the church, hidden behind glass, is the main attraction of the town. Originally, the Vang Stone was located in front of the stave church (the one that can now be admired in Karpacz, Poland), but after its demolition and the erected of a new temple (1840s), it was moved to its present location. It has an irregular shape and measures 2.15 m in height, 1.25 m in width and 8-13 cm in thickness. On the stone, next to the runic inscriptions, the rich animal ornamentation catches the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is assumed that the slate stone was erected in the years 1010 \u2013 1040, and the style of decorations refers to the Ringerike style. Similar grooves in the stone have been found at \u00c5l in Hallingdal. The stone from Vang (Vangsteinen) is compared to similar objects in Jelling, Denmark, due to the similarity of the decorations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The painting shows serpentine lines and leaves arranged in a cross, or maybe a stylized tree. At the top, a stylized creature resembling a lion. Some details have been completely eroded and much of the sketch is now only vague to be traced. Missing details here have been reconstructed based on the overall Ringerike style characteristics. Among the missing pieces, the tip of the beast\u2019s mouth and front paws are the most visible, as well as the details of the whiskers weave of the two stalks protruding diagonally from each side of the upper lobe of the cross from the rosette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A runic inscription was carved on the side edge of the stone:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u16b4\u16ad\u16cd\u16c6 \u16ec \u16cd\u16a2\u16bf\u16c1\u16b1 \u16ec \u16b1\u16c1\u16cd\u16d0\u16a2 \u16ec \u16cd (\u16d0) \u16c1\u16bf \u16ec \u16a6\u16c1\u16bf\u16cd\u16c1 \u16ec \u16c6\u16a0 (\u16d0) \u16c1\u16b1 \u16ec \u16b4\u16a2\u16bf\u16c6\u16b1 \u16ec \u16d2\u16b1\u16a2\u16a6\u16a2\u16b1 \u16ec \u16cd\u16a2\u16bf<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transliteration:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

kosa: sunir: ristu: s (t) in: \u00feinsi: af (t) ir: kunar: bru\u00feur: sun<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Old Norse:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

G\u00e1sa synir reistu stein \u00feenna eptir Gunnar, br\u00f3\u00f0urson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What can be translated to English:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Gasi\u2019s sons erected this stone in memory of Gunnarr, (their) nephew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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