<strong>Rune Kingdom:</strong> The Jarlabanke Bridge is a common starting point for a tour of Runriket, a collection of ancient runestones in Sweden that sheds light on the country's Viking past. The original bridge once helped Vikings cross over a bog.
Rune Kingdom: The Jarlabanke Bridge is a common starting point for a tour of Runriket, a collection of ancient runestones in Sweden that sheds light on the country's Viking past. The original bridge once helped Vikings cross over a bog.
Justin Calderon
<strong>Gathering place: </strong>Runriket is believed to be one of Scandinavia's most significant historic sites. This stone marks the former location of a Viking assembly area from the early 11th century.
Gathering place: Runriket is believed to be one of Scandinavia's most significant historic sites. This stone marks the former location of a Viking assembly area from the early 11th century.
Arash Bahrehmand
<strong>Norse code: </strong>Researcher Magnus Källström of the Swedish National Heritage Board reviews a runestone. The stones, he says, reveal surprising truths about Sweden's ancestors and their relationship with Christianity.
Norse code: Researcher Magnus Källström of the Swedish National Heritage Board reviews a runestone. The stones, he says, reveal surprising truths about Sweden's ancestors and their relationship with Christianity.
Arash Bahrehmand
<strong>On the waterfront: </strong>Runriket includes much of the surrounding area of Lake Vallentuna, a short drive north of Stockholm.
On the waterfront: Runriket includes much of the surrounding area of Lake Vallentuna, a short drive north of Stockholm.
Justin Calderon
<strong>Glory seeking: </strong>Many of the stones pay tribute to Jarlabanke, an 11th-century Viking ruler who, experts believe, used the stones to stoke his own massive ego.
Glory seeking: Many of the stones pay tribute to Jarlabanke, an 11th-century Viking ruler who, experts believe, used the stones to stoke his own massive ego.
Eric Östergren
<strong>Kingdom for a Norse: </strong>Jarlabanke once claimed to own all of the peaceful town of Taby.
Kingdom for a Norse: Jarlabanke once claimed to own all of the peaceful town of Taby.
Justin Calderon
<strong>Jarlabanke was here: </strong>Källström says this two-sided runestone next to the Vallentuna church was erected by Jarlabanke to trumpet his own glory. The inscription reads: "Jarlabanke had this stone raised in memory of himself while alive. And made this assembly place, and alone owned all of this hundred."
Jarlabanke was here: Källström says this two-sided runestone next to the Vallentuna church was erected by Jarlabanke to trumpet his own glory. The inscription reads: "Jarlabanke had this stone raised in memory of himself while alive. And made this assembly place, and alone owned all of this hundred."
Justin Calderon
<strong>End of an era: </strong>The runestone that marks the death of Jarlabanke.
End of an era: The runestone that marks the death of Jarlabanke.
Justin Calderon