Notice of Runic Inscriptions Discovered during Recent Excavations in the Orkneys

Date of Inscriptions.

The meaning of the word Maes-Howe is very obscure. It is, as Professor Munch remarks, not easy to explain. The haugr, pronounced how, is plain enough; the word Maes might have been derived from Meitis, pronounced almost like Meiss, Meitir, gen. Meiris, which was the name of a fabulous sea king, and was afterwards used to denominate any mighty king or warrior. Meiris-haugr therefore might have been synonymous with the how, or tumulus of this fabulous sea king. This opinion of Professor Munch’s is at all events not unlikely to be correct; certainly local tradition has always ascribed a sepulchral character to the mound. Professor Rafn thinks that the word is derived from Mar,³ the name of a man, and that valuable information might be obtained if it were found possible to read with a greater degree of accuracy the Runes Nos. 6 and 7, since Orki and Mar are named in these inscriptions, and it is to be inferred that Mar Orkason had engraved some of these Runes.

Nos. 13 and 20 are justly attributed to the times of the Crusaders,⁴ but many of the other inscriptions must have been engraved by different persons at different times. Professor Stephens believes that most of them are of a much earlier date than the twelfth century, and this opinion is much strengthened by the worn appearance of some of the Runes, and the uncertain character of others. Some of the proper names cannot be read as certainly correct, owing to the marks and abrasures in the stones. Two of them, Orki and Oframr, are supposed to be hitherto quite unknown, and may therefore perhaps be referred to the earlier inhabitants of the How, whilst Gawkr and Trandill both belong to an historical person in Iceland. The other names are common, and known from Runic inscriptions, as well as from ancient manuscripts and documents. The name Ingibiorg, occurs several times in the Orkneyinga Saga, and was by no means an uncommon name in Orkney. Ingibiorg, the widow of earl Thorfinn (who died in 1064) afterwards married Malcolm, king of Scotland; but it cannot be safely asserted that this was the Ingibiorg mentioned in No. 8. On the whole, it seems not unreasonable to suppose that all the names found inscribed on the walls may belong to persons who lived since the construction of the barrow, and that we have as yet no certain evidence to justify us in determining either the name of the builder, or the period when the tumulus was first erected.

Most of the inscriptions are in the subjoined form of the later Runic alphabet, or the “Norwegian division of the Scandinavian Runes” as described by Professor Munch. The dots inside the B, and G, do not occur here, and the (y) is not often used.

In the earlier or “Gothic” Alphabet, many of the letters are quite different.

Readings of the Inscriptions by ProfessorsStephens, Munch, Rafn

Plate VII.

No. I

Thatir Vikinkr.. a, kom, Vtir, Hir, til

Thatir the Viking, came here to weary – (perhaps from the sea, or from battle.)

The inscription is incomplete, several letters being obliterated. The a in the Bind-rune Ak is probably the termination of the word Fra, from. – Professor Stephens.

Thatir Vikinkr.. KOMUTIRHIRTIL

That which the Wicing.. came outerly here to

This is only a fragment, some of the letters being obliterated. It may mean that a pirate or Wicing had been at the tumulus and found something, or that some person had found what the Wicing had left. It may however be merely the name of some person, as Vikingr is sometimes used as a Christian name. – Professor Munch.

That Ir Vikingr.. A Kom Ut Irhirtil

This is a Viking.. come out is hereto

The inscription is incomplete. Vikingr may be the name of a man. – Professor Rafn.

No. II

Molfr Kolbainssonr Raeist Runa Thesa Ghaut

Molf Kolbainsson carved these Runes to Gaut

Probably a memorial to a comrade who had fallen in battle. – Professor Stephens.

Tholfr Kolbeinssonr raeist runar thesa

Tholf Colbanesson engraved these Runes

The last word, read as haua, seems superfluous. It is possible there may have been some mis-spelling, the first (a) in haua may have been an (e) the dot having been a little prolonged, and the (u or v) may have been intended for an R, the word would then read hér á, hereon, or on this stone. – Professor Munch.

Tholfr Kolbeinssonr reist Runar thessar hatt

Tholf Kolbeinsson carved these Runes on High.– Professor Rafn

(Note.– Nos. 1 and 2 are both engraved on the upper part of the building. – J. F.)

No. III

Bra Hoh Thana

Bra hewed this

The third letter (a) is very rare, and is an indication of the great antiquity of the inscription. The word hew is often used for carve or write. – Professor Stephens.

Bre Hoh Thena, or, BRAUT HAUG THENNA

Broke this tumulus

The inscription seems to be incomplete, some words may have been engraved on another stone and lost. – Professor Munch.

(Note.– The present state of the stone hardly justifies this supposition. – J. F.)

Bre höh Thena, bre hoh Thenna

Professor Rafn does not translate this. He remarks that what precedes is “incomplete and undecipherable.”

No. IV

Vemuntr Raeist

Vemunt carved.– Professor Stephens

Vemuntr Raeist

Wemund engraved (these Runes).– Professor Munch

Vimundr Raeist

Vemund carved (the Runes).– Professor Rafn

No. V

F, U, Th, O, R, K, H, N, I, A, S, T, B, M, L, Y

This is the Scandinavian Runic Futhork, or Alphabet. The form of the second letter is very rare, the last three are also very unusual, and may be considered as an indication that the building had been for a long period of time in the hands of many people. It was the custom to write the Alphabet wherever it was most likely to meet the eye, and a passing visitor, or treasure seeker, would have hardly taken so much trouble. – Professor Stephens.

F, U, Th, O, R, K, H, N, I, A, S, T, B, U, L, U

The Runic Alphabet – Some of the letters here have been placed out of their proper order, owing probably to carelessness on the part of the writer. Time has also produced its effects upon the letters, the ǁ is clearly , and the long stroke in the third letter (th) is also accidental. – Professor Munch.

F U Th O R K H N I A S T B M L R

The common Runic Alphabet. – Professor Rafn.

No. VI

Orkasonr, Saghthi, a, Runom, thaeim, Ir, Han, Ristu

Orkason said, in the Runes which he wrote

No. VII

Nuari Kulturmr, Sikurthr, Iru, Falnir, Kiaebik, Uil Saeghian Ir, So, Mair

Orkason said in the Runes which he wrote – Nuari, Kulturmr Sikurthr, Iru, are fallen.Kiaebik will say ye (tell you) so more

These two inscriptions must be taken together; they have been written at the same time, and by the same person. It is probably a military message from some battle-field, sent through a trusty officer who is commissioned to make known the details. The word Nuari is very doubtful; this part of the inscription is very indistinct. It becomes more legible advancing from left to right. – Professor Stephens.

Orkasonr sagthi a run om theim er halir ristu

The son of Orca dictated the Runes which heroes engraved

There seems to have been some blunder in the writing. If the dot on the right side of the letter has been the end of a stroke, it would convert the letter into the Bind-rune (Al.) and if the were a combination of L and R, the word would then read Halir, that is Men-fellows-heroes. The second part of the inscription, No. 7, is only a fragment – perhaps some part of a verse, but it is doubtful. – Professor Munch.

Orkason sahthi A Runum Thaeim Ir Han Risti.. Saethian Ir So Maur

The resolution which this Mar Orkason mentioned in the Runes he carved

The two inscriptions are to be read together, but much of No. 7, is very indistinct. – Professor Rafn.

Plate VIII.

No. VIII

Ingibiorgh, Hin, Faret, Lutin, Hir, Mighil, ofl, ate

Ingibiorgh, the fair lady. Many a woman hath fared skinclad (or bent) here, (who) great wealth owned

Ingibiorgh probably resided here for safety, and, as the word Lutin signifies bent, it may refer to the low cells which are within the walls of the How. (Note.– The entrance also is very low and narrow.) The six Crypt Runes, or secret staves, represent the letters, A. Æ. R. L. I. K. R., and signify Aalikr or Erling, a proper name, or perhaps the beginning of some sentence. – Professor Stephens.

Inkibiorh, Hin, Fahra, ÆHkia Morhk, Kona,Hæfer, Faret, Lut, in Hir Mikil Oflati

Ingiburg, the fair widow! Many a woman has wandered stooping in here (although) ever so haughty

The writer is probably recording the name of some fair woman, who has perhaps slighted him, and then reflects that the women who had been buried here, though ever so haughty, had been curbed by death. Ingibjorg, or Inkibiorh, is a common female name in the north. The other characters in the third line are known as Limouna, or Bough Runes. They were used in the later times of the Runic period, in the same manner as the Irish Ogum, but are not here intelligible. The writer probably intended to represent the chief vowels – A. E. I. O. Y. U. The Runic alphabet was divided into classes; the strokes on the left of the vertical line indicating the class, and those on the right the rune itself. Figures of fishes were occasionally in use, and were known as Fish-runes. – Professor Munch.

Ingibiorg Hin Fahra Æhkia a Morhg KonaHæfir Farit Lut in Hir Mihkil Oflati

Ingibiorg, the fair widow, or Ingibiorg the Fair, the widow. Many a rather proud womandid walk here stooping (bent forward), or did walk stooping here in (into)

The Palm-runes underneath cannot be read in the usual manner; the first, third, and fourth of the runes being a, o, and i; the writer probably intended to give all the vowels, but some of the letters have been obviously miscarved, and have perhaps been altered and defaced at a later period by other persons. In the first of them a cross line has been added to shew that the letter or (a) is intended. – Professor Rafn.