Study › Runes & Norse › The Rök Runestone
The Rök Runestone in Östergötland, Sweden, carries the longest known runic inscription on stone. A man named Varinn carved it for his dead son around 800–850 CE.
What is the Rök Runestone?
The Rök Runestone carries the longest known runic inscription on stone. It stands near Rök in Östergötland, Sweden, where it has likely stood since it was carved around 800–850 CE, making it approximately 1,200 years old; it was rediscovered in the 19th century. The inscription was created by a man named Varinn in memory of his son and weaves together historical references, mythology, riddles and complex rune forms, marking an important transition between the older Elder Futhark tradition and the Viking Age Younger Futhark. The granite stone is approximately 2.4 meters tall and weighs around 5.1 tonnes, its hundreds of runic characters covering several sides and making it one of the most studied runic texts in the world.
It stands between the Elder and Younger Futhark; another great stone is Jelling.
Questions
Who carved the Rök Runestone?
A man named Varinn, in memory of his son.
How tall is the Rök stone?
About 2.4 metres.