Hällestad Runestones, Norse runestones at Hällestad Church, Lund Municipality, Sweden
The Hällestad Runestones are three stones made of sandstone and granite built into the walls of Hällestad Church. They carry runic inscriptions that commemorate warriors who fell during Viking Age conflicts.
These stones date from the late 10th century and reference conflicts that took place during that era across Scandinavia. They contain names and details connected to notable historical figures of the time.
The inscriptions tell us how warriors saw themselves and their bonds with leaders during the Viking Age. They show how people honored those who died in battle and what mattered most in their world.
The stones can be viewed at Hällestad Church, located roughly 20 kilometers east of Lund in southern Sweden. Visitors can see them directly at the church walls where they have been built in for centuries.
The inscriptions on these stones use boustrophedon writing, where the text direction changes from line to line. This unusual technique was rare in that period and preserves the names and stories of people whose memory would have otherwise been lost.
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