This is what the runestone of Rök tells us

Sweden's most unique runestone with many interpretations

This is “Rökstenen” – the runestone of Rök.

Rök is the name of a church congregation and a former municipality in Östergötland, close to the town of Vadstena. Outside the church one of the world’s most famous runestones is placed, the runetone of Rök – Rökstenen!

Viewing the Rök stone is pure magic. I visited on a warm summer night during the pandemic, and because of that I could be all alone with this giant piece of history, which is classified as the first literature in Swedish history.

It was amazing!

It is believed to have been carved in the 800s, and the text is so enigmatic that lines of interpretations have been presented, what is actually written on the stone which is classified as the absolute oldest work in Swedish literary history.

The stone is placed in the historical area of north western Östergötland, the home to many of the king dynasties of the Middle ages. Close by, the town of Vadstena with its exciting monastery and church, as well as the Renaissance castle which is very interesting to visit. Here are also the ruins of the influential Alvastra monastery, which in the 12th century was important to the royal family that was named the House of Sverker. The village of Bjälbo, where strongman and founder of Stockholm, Birger Jarl, came from is also very close. A part of the Royal pathway “Eriksgata”, where newly elected kings were celebrated, went by here as well.

It is dizzying to think that the stone stood there through all these centuries filled with dramatic and important events right next to it.

What makes the Rök rune stone so unique in comparison to other rune stones in Sweden is partly that it is so old. Most runestones are carved in the 11th century, while the rök stone is from the 9th century, it is believed. But it is also unique that the rune line extends around the stone and that there is text both on the sides and on top of the stone.

So to the most interesting question: What does it say on the stone?

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