Definitions
Definitions
1 grafgangs-maðr
m. a Norse law term; if freed slaves married against their master’s will, and became paupers, the master might put them into an open grave till one died, when the survivor was taken out. The tale of Svaði digging a grave for the poor, Fms. ii. 222, refers no doubt to this cruel law, which is described in N. G. L. i. 33, but not recorded elsewhere.
2 grafgangs-maðr
II. generally a proletarian, N. G. L. i. 97.
Runic Inscription
Runic Inscription
grafgangs-maðr
The runic text above represents the Old Norse word "grafgangs-maðr" as it might appear in runic inscriptions from the Viking Age (c. 800-1100 CE).