Name/TitleThe Jelling Stone, The National Museum of Denmark, Jelling II, Rundata DR 42

About this objectOne of two runestones at the royal burial site of Jelling, Denmark, this one was erected in c. 965 by Harald Bluetooth in memory of his parents, Gorm and Thyra who are buried here (the older stone was commissioned by Gorm on his wife's death). It also commemorates the Christianisation of Denmark and is decorated with a crucifixion image. Erected in 965 this was taken as the date of conversion, but the discovery of earlier crosses, as shown in this exhibition, suggest that there was already a Christian population before this. The stone was originally coloured and this potential reconstruction of the original colours was created by the National Museum of Denmark.

Date Madec. 965

PeriodViking

Place MadeJelling

Subject and Association KeywordsArrivals

Subject and Association KeywordsCrosses

Subject and Association DescriptionLearn More: Eisenschmidt 2013, Stäcker 2003, UNESCO listing, Video on Jelling Stones,

Medium and MaterialsStone and pigments

TechniqueCarved

TechniquePainted

Credit LineThe National Museum of Denmark

Object numberEXH8: Jelling II, Rundata DR 42