The Runestones – the Vikings' Messages to Eternity

Today they stand there, in the middle of the landscape – silent witnesses to the Viking Age. Runestones, erected over a thousand years ago, tell stories of people, journeys, faith and glory.

But the runestones were more than just memorials. They were messages carved for eternity – written in the Vikings' own alphabet, the Younger Futhark.

The memory that was not allowed to die

Runestones were often erected in memory of a beloved family member, a friend, or a fallen warrior . They served the same function as tombstones, but also as monuments to the lineage and its honor.

In the 11th century, it was common for inscriptions to begin with words like:

“X had this stone erected after Y, his father/brother/son.”

Example:

“Tola had this stone erected after Geir, her husband, a very capable man.”

The words were carved not just to remember, but to ensure that the name lived on . To be forgotten was worse than to die.

A stone that speaks

Runestones were carved with the Younger Futhark – the 16 characters used by the Vikings. The runes were carved into the stone with a chisel and hammer , often with beautiful ornaments in the form of snakes, dragons and loops where the text followed the contours.

When the stone was finished , it was painted in bright colors – red, blue and black – so that the runes would shine against the landscape. They were often placed by roads, bridges or gathering places , where many could see them.

The runestone was thus a public message , not a hidden sign.

The runestones tell us about the world

Many runestones bear witness to the Vikings' travels and contacts with the outside world . They tell of men and women who went to England, Miklagård (Constantinople) or away in Viking trains – and sometimes never came home.

Example from Uppland:

“Sigrid had this stone erected after Javelin, who died west in England.”

Others describe the building of bridges or churches , often as Christian deeds :

“Gunnvor had the stone erected and the bridge made after Assur, his son, for his soul.”

In this way, the runestones reflect the transition between Asatruism and Christianity – where old symbols and new ideas were mixed.

From Asceticism to Christianity

During the 11th century, many runestones began to be adorned with crosses , a sign that Christianity had taken hold in the Nordic countries . But even as the Christian symbols took over, the language and the runes continued to live on.

It shows how strong the old traditions were – the runes had become so deeply rooted in the culture that not even a new religion could erase them.

The runes became a language in the transition between two worlds – the pagan and the Christian.

The Runemasters – the stone carvers of the time

Those who carved the runestones were called rune masters . Some of them were so skilled that they signed their works – and their names survive to this day.

Example:

• Foot , active in Uppland in the 11th century. Known for its elegant curves and symmetrical style.
• Öpir , another master, often wrote his name at the end of the inscription: “Öpir carved the runes.”

Their signatures are among the oldest artist names in the Nordic countries – long before the concept of artist even existed.

The language of runes on stone

Most runic inscriptions are brief, direct and personal . But behind the few words, strong emotions are often hidden.

The language on the runestones also shows how Swedish began to take shape. By studying them, linguists can follow the transition from Old Norse to Old Swedish – step by step, carving by carving.

The runestones are not just historical monuments – they are linguistic time capsules.

The runestones in numbers

Sweden has more runestones than any other country in the world – making us the world's largest "rune archive".

A language carved in stone

When we read a runestone today, we encounter a voice from the Viking Age – unchanged for a thousand years. The words have withstood rain, wind, ice and time – and they still tell stories of love, sorrow, honor and faith.

The runestones show that the Vikings were not only warriors – they were also storytellers, artists and bearers of memory.

Their message lives on. And as long as we can read the runes, they will continue to speak.

Eternal voices in stone

The runestones are the first public texts of the Nordic countries. They tell not only about a person – but about how the person wanted to be remembered.

They are more than just history. They are the Vikings' own words , carved in stone to never be silenced.