Gamla Uppsala
Gamla Uppsala · Gamla Uppsala Church and Royal Mounds · Old Uppsala · Kungshögarna (King's Mounds)
Vendel Period → Early Viking Age 500–1100 (Swedish pre-Christian)·Vendel Period Svear (Yngling dynasty) — Swedish pagan royal·🇸🇪 Uppsala County, Uppsala Municipality, Gamla Uppsala village 4 km NW of Uppsala city on Uppsala esker plateau (Fyris River valley), Sweden
About
About Gamla Uppsala
Gamla Uppsala — Vendel Period royal cult centre (c.500–800 CE pagan temple and 6th c King's Mounds Kungshögarna: three 45–60 m diameter burial mounds 9–11 m high, Thing Mound flat-top) on Uppsala esker plateau, 4 km NW Uppsala city. Adam of Bremen 1076 describes pagan temple with Thor–Odin–Frey idols; church 12th c built over temple (archaeology Lindqvist tunnel 1846–47 on Östhögen). Vendel boat graves nearby (Valsgärde). Uppsala öd estate centre, gathering Thing assembly. Uppsala museum, ‘huge ancient monument’ timber poles 400–500 AD discovered 2013. Fyris valley Hearn? central-place. Sweden's pagan heart before Christian Uppsala.
Why it mattersSwedish pagan heart — Adam of Bremen temple and three 60 m Viking royal mounds 500–600
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Temple under church — confirmed or projected?
Theories
- 01Yngling dynasty Uppsala öd estate heart
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.500–600 CE Vendel royal mounds Kungshögarna; temple c.800
- Period
- Vendel Period → Early Viking Age 500–1100 (Swedish pre-Christian)
- Culture
- Vendel Period Svear (Yngling dynasty) — Swedish pagan royal
- Builders
- Svear Svear kings (Yngling Vendel dynasty)
- Purpose
- Uppsala öd royal temple and Thing mound assembly controlling Fyris–Mälaren Sweden
- Abandoned
- c.1100 Christianisation to Uppsala cathedral
- Rediscovered
- 1846 Lindqvist tunnel on Östhögen; Adam 1076 Temple text
- Excavation
- Excavated
500–600 CE
Three King's Mounds Kungshögarna 60 m built
1076 CE
Adam of Bremen describes pagan temple Thor-Odin-Frey
1846
Lindqvist tunnel on Östhögen reveals mound
On the ground
Structures & features
59.8980° N · 17.6300° E · 30 m · 3 mapped features
Kungshögarna Three King's Mounds
moundThree 60 m diameter 11 m high royal mounds 500–600 Vendel on esker
59.8983° N · 17.6300° EThing Mound Flat-Top
moundFlat-top Assembly Thing mound east of church, 1846 tunnel on Östhögen
59.8980° N · 17.6320° EGamla Uppsala Church Over Temple
church12th c church over Adam's 1076 pagan temple with Thor–Odin–Frey
59.8978° N · 17.6336° E
Gallery