Viking Age runestones in Sweden honor the memory of brothers Forkunnr and Þórir

The Lilla Vilunda runestones stand as weathered monuments in Upplands Väsby, Stockholm County, Sweden. These three Viking Age memorial stones, catalogued as U 293, U 294, and U Fv1972;172, were raised by members of the same family. One stone, U 293, stands 1.8 meters high and features an intricate carving of a serpent enclosing a Christian cross. The runic text states that the stone is a memorial raised by two brothers, Forkunnr and Þórir, in memory of their father Ketill. The inscription concludes with a prayer for Ketill's spirit.

Nearby, U 294 stands 2.1 meters tall and is carved on a granite stone with several intertwined serpents. This stone was raised by a woman named Guðlaug in memory of her husband Forkunnr, who had also raised U 293. The text indicates that a man named Ketilelfr was also responsible for having the inscription carved. Ketilelfr is likely a relation to Forkunnr because his name shares a common element with the father's name, Ketill.

The third stone, U Fv1972;172, is a 1.6-meter-high granite runestone discovered while digging a trench for an electrical cable in 1971. Its inscription states that Guðlaug raised the stone in memory of her husbandman. This stone was also attributed to the runemaster Visäte, who was active in the last half of the 11th century. Visäte was known for using different designs for consecutive stones, as seen in the variations between these pieces.

These stones were all located alongside a former road to the nearby village of Smedby. They are carved in styles classified as Pr3, Pr4, or Urnes style, characterized by slim and stylized animals interwoven into tight patterns. The runestones serve as a testament to the memory the families held for their loved ones, standing as a monument to the legacy of the Viking Age in Sweden.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons