Uppland Runic Inscription 755

Uppland Runic Inscription 755
Created	11th Century
Discovered	Kälsta, Uppland, Sweden
Rundata ID	U 755
Runemaster	unknown
Text – Native
Old Norse : Liðsma[ndr](?) ok Toki ræistu stæin þenna æftiʀ Agaut. Byggi i Kælsstaðum.[1]
Translation
Liðsmaðr(?) and Tóki raised this stone in memory of Ágautr (who) lived in Kelsstaðir.[1]

U 755 is the Rundata designation for a Viking Age memorial runestone located in Kälsta, Uppland, Sweden.

Description

This runestone was first documented by Richard Dybeck, who is known as the author of the lyrics to the Swedish national anthem, in 1860: "The runestone stands between Litslena and Herkeberga Church, so close to the edge of the road by Kalstad - part of the lower inscription has been damaged."

The cross on the stone indicates that Ágautr was a Christian. The name Ágautr does not appear in any other material (either other rune inscriptions or middle age sources). Lidhsmadhr is also an unusual name, there is however a mention on another runestone in nearby Simtuna with this name, on inscription U 1160, which possibly could reference the same person.

The place name Kelsstaðir in the runic text, sometimes read as Kal-taþum, refers to the modern hamlet of Kälsta.^[2]

Inscription

A transliteration of the runic inscription is:

+ lis(m)[a]--... auk + tuki + rastu × stain + (þ)i(n)a + aftir + akaut + bu(k)i + i + k[a](l)[staþ](u)m^[1]

See also

• List of runestones

References

1. Project Samnordisk Runtextdatabas Svensk Rundata entry for U 755.
2. Larsson, Mats G. (1998). "Runic Inscriptions as a Source for the History of Settlement". In Düwel, Klaus (ed.). Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde. de Gruyter. p. 645. ISBN 3-11-015455-2.

Drawing of U 755 from 1860.

59.6674°N 17.2308°E / 59.6674; 17.2308