Rok Runestone

The stone stands where it has long stood, beside the church at Rok, and carries something like 750 runes across five surfaces - far more than any other known runic inscription. Varin raised it in the ninth century in memory of his son Vamod - a stone about 2.4 metres tall and around five tonnes, found built into the wall of the old church in the nineteenth century - and after that opening line the text becomes very difficult: it moves through several rune systems including cipher runes, refers to Theodoric the Great on horseback, and poses what read as riddles. Interpretations differ sharply, one recent reading arguing the whole thing responds to a climate crisis and fear of a coming winter. A shelter covers the stone and a small exhibition beside it sets out the arguments.

What you'll find

• About 750 runes on five faces - the longest inscription known.
• A ninth-century memorial - Varin for his son Vamod.
• Cipher runes and riddles - which is why readings disagree.
• A reference to Theodoric - on horseback, in the text.

When to go

May to September for the exhibition; the stone is always there. Half an hour.

Before you go

It is a single stone under a shelter - the visit is short. Without reading the interpretation first, the stone means little. The exhibition is seasonal. The plain around it is flat and featureless.

Nearby

Alvastra and Omberg are north-west; Vadstena is north.

Key facts