Altunastenen

The Altuna Runestone is an early 12th-century Viking-Age monument in the province of Uppland, Sweden, protected as a prehistoric memorial under Swedish law. What sets it apart from the more than 2,500 runic stones in Sweden is a carved scene from Norse mythology: Thor fishing for the Midgard Serpent — one of the clearest surviving stone depictions of the myth anywhere in Scandinavia. The runic inscription follows the standard commemorative formula of Uppland memorial stones, but the mythological imagery makes it a rare document of pre-Christian Germanic belief on the cusp of Scandinavia's Christianisation. The stone stands quietly in its rural setting with little on-site interpretation, rewarding visitors who seek it out with a direct encounter with Viking-Age craftsmanship.