The Vikings, seafaring Norse warriors known for their exploration, trade, and conquests, have left an indelible mark on world history. While their expeditions to the British Isles, North America, and other parts of Europe are well documented, there's a lesser-known but equally fascinating aspect of Viking history: their interaction with the Byzantine Empire, modern-day Greece. The physical testament to this connection can be found in the form of Greklandsstenarna, or the Greek Runestones.
What are the Greklandsstenarna?
Greklandsstenarna, translated as "Greek or Greece Runestones," are a collection of about 30 runestones—stones with runic inscriptions—that describe the travels and experiences of Viking individuals within the Byzantine Empire. These stones stand as proof of the far-reaching travels of the Vikings, who ventured as far south as the Mediterranean and the heart of what was once the Roman Empire.
They were made during the Viking Age until about 1100 and were engraved in the Old Norse language with Scandinavian runes. Most were inscribed in memory of members of the Varangian Guard who never returned home, but a few inscriptions mention men who returned with wealth, and a boulder in Ed was engraved on the orders of a former officer of the Guard.
Since the first discoveries by Johannes Bureus in the late 16th century, these runestones have been frequently identified by scholars, with many stones discovered during a national search for historic monuments in the late 17th century. Several stones were documented by Richard Dybeck in the 19th century. The latest stone to be found was in Nolinge, near Stockholm, in 1952.
Origins and Inscriptions
Most of these Greek Runestones are found in Sweden, primarily in Uppland (18 runestones) and Södermanland (7 runestones), and they date from the 9th to the 11th centuries. The inscriptions often commemorate the travels or deaths of individuals in Greece," a term the Vikings broadly used to refer to the Byzantine Empire.
The inscriptions vary in length and detail. Some are short and to the point, indicating an individual's travel or death in the Byzantine lands, while others provide elaborate tales of adventure, battle, or service to the Byzantine emperors. These stories highlight the role some Vikings played as members of the Varangian Guard, an elite unit of the Byzantine Army composed mainly of Norsemen.
On these runestones, the word Grikkland ("Greece") appears in three inscriptions, the word Grikk(j)ar ("Greeks") appears in 25 inscriptions, two stones refer to men as grikkfari ("travelers to Greece), and one stone refers to Grikkhafnir ("Greek harbors"). Among other runestones which refer to expeditions abroad, the only groups which are comparable in number are the so-called "England runestones" that mention expeditions to England and the 26 Ingvar runestones that refer to a Viking expedition to the Middle East.
A map of the main routes eastwards.
Vikings in the Byzantine Empire
But why were Vikings in Byzantium in the first place? There are several reasons:
Trade: The Vikings were avid traders, and their quest for riches often took them down the river systems of Eastern Europe and into the Byzantine heartlands. Byzantium was wealthy, and its markets teemed with goods that were rare in the Norse world.
Adventure: The Vikings' legendary wanderlust drove them to explore vast stretches of the known world, and the exotic lands of the Byzantines would have been a powerful draw.
Employment: As mentioned earlier, many Norsemen found employment in the Varangian Guard. This elite unit served as the personal bodyguards of the Byzantine Emperor. They were renowned for their loyalty and prowess in battle.
Varangian Guardsmen, an illumination from the 11th-century chronicle of John Skylitzes.
The Cultural Exchange
The relationship between the Vikings and the Byzantines wasn't merely transactional. These runestones suggest a deeper cultural exchange. Viking artifacts have been found in Byzantine territories, and Byzantine artifacts in Viking graves. This mutual exchange of goods, ideas, and culture enriched both civilizations.
For instance, certain designs in Viking art from this period are believed to have been influenced by Byzantine aesthetics. Similarly, the Norse sagas occasionally reference the Byzantines, indicating a familiarity with this southern civilization.
The Greklandsstenarna serve as stone sentinels that whisper tales of a time when Norse longships sailed not just the stormy North Sea but also the warm waters of the Mediterranean. They remind us of the vast interconnectedness of the medieval world, shattering the misconception that civilizations of that time were isolated entities. In understanding the Greek Runestones, we gain a deeper appreciation for the Vikings' true scope of exploration and the intricate web of relationships they weaved with the world around them.
