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Tillbaka till löpsidanGunne Hand – a Colourful ManABSTRACTOn one of the runic stones belonging to the Hunnestad monument in Scania, Sweden, there is also a man depicted. His outfit is somewhat peculiar compared to what you expect to see a viking to wear at about the time when the stone was erected (AD 970-1020). Who was he and what did he look like in reality thus attired?The author tries to show that the man had been a varangian (belonging to the emperors personal guard) or had in some way done military service in Byzantium. As evidence he uses the dresses worn by two byzantine officers that are depicted in Racinet's "The Historical Encyclopedia of Costume". The problem is complicated by the fact that the runic stone is damaged so a drawing from the 17th century is also used. Some critical aspects on this are discussed. A comparison shows that there are certain detail that correspond. Among these are how the neckband is cut and the use of clavi (stripes) on the garment, and not least a kind of long "tail" on the headgear. But where as the officers have their tail hanging down on the side of the head the man on the runic stone has his in a curl. The man is hypothetically identified as Gunne Hand. He is mentioned on the stone which is erected in memory of two of his sons, Roi eller Leikfrød. At the end of the article the author makes an attempt to visualize what Gunne Hand would have looked like at the time when the stone was carved.
Bert Åkesson
For pictures see article 50 in Swedish |