Tillinge Runestone, Runic stone monument at Tillinge Church, Sweden
The Tillinge Runestone is a carved stone monument displaying runic inscriptions created in the medieval Norse alphabet. It stands in front of Tillinge Church and features interlaced serpentine designs typical of Scandinavian memorial stones from that period.
The stone was created in the first half of the 11th century and commemorates a man who died during travels to distant eastern lands. For centuries it lay hidden within the church wall before being identified and restored to its current location.
The inscription commemorates a person's life using the language and symbols of medieval Scandinavia, reflecting how Scandinavian communities honored their deceased. The carved message shows the religious beliefs of that era, mixing references to the person with spiritual wishes.
The stone stands in front of the church and is freely accessible at all times with no entrance restrictions. The carved runes are quite small and worn, so visitors will need to stand close to the stone to read the inscriptions clearly.
The stone was rediscovered in 1946 after being hidden for centuries within the church wall, where it had served as ordinary building material. Workers stumbled upon it accidentally during church repairs and managed to extract and preserve this rare example of medieval stonecarving.
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