Study › Runes & Norse › Viking Graffiti in the Hagia Sophia
In the upper gallery of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, a Viking carved runes into the marble. Worn as they are, they read roughly "Halfdan carved these runes".
The runes in the Hagia Sophia
In 1964 a runic carving was found on a marble parapet in the upper gallery of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Worn as it is, it reads roughly "Halfdan carved these runes". It was most likely left by a Scandinavian serving in the Varangian Guard, the Byzantine emperor's bodyguard. A second carving, perhaps the name Ári, was found in 1975.
Another far-travelled carving is the Piraeus Lion; both are in the Younger Futhark.
Questions
What do the Hagia Sophia runes say?
Roughly "Halfdan carved these runes".
Who carved them?
Most likely a Scandinavian serving in the Varangian Guard.