ancientart:

The Glavendrup stone ship and the runestone which forms the end of it. Dating from after 900, the Glavendrup stone ship and runestone is located on the island of Funen, Denmark.

The runestone ends in a curse to discourage any tempering with the stone, and is accompanied by a series of standing stones laid out in the shape of a ship. Thought to reflect a belief that the deceased had to make a voyage in the afterlife, this practice goes back to the Iron Age.

Here is a translation of the runestone (DR 209) via the Scandinavian Runic-text Database:

“Ragnhildr placed this stone in memory of Alli the Pale, priest of the sanctuary, honourable þegn of the retinue.

Ragnhildr placed this stone in memory of Alli, priest of the Sølve, honourable þegn of the sanctuary-retinue.

Alli’s sons made this monument in memory of their father, and his wife in memory of her husband. And Sóti carved these runes in memory of his lord. Þórr hallow these runes.

A warlock be he who damages(?) this stone or drags it (to stand) in memory of another.”

Photos taken by Kåre Thor Olsen.