Sparlösa Runestone — Vårgårda
Sparlösastenen · Vg 119
Vendel–Viking transition (c.800 CE)·Swedish (Västergötland Geatish)·🇸🇪 Västra Götaland, Vara Municipality, Sparlösa parish, Sparlösa church, Sweden
About
About Sparlösa Runestone — Vårgårda
The Sparlösa stone (c.800 CE), 1.77 m Västergötland gneiss standing 177 cm tall beside Sparlösa church north of Vara, is Sweden's second most famous runestone after Rök, inscribed on four sides and top with both elder and younger futhark. Built into the medieval church's south wall in 1669 and shattered by fire 1684, it lay split until reunited in 1937; its images include a ship, a rider, an owl and a large building interpreted as a hall. Dated c.800 (late Vendel–early Viking) by ornament, its text honours Alrik and his father Erik, father of Björn, and commemorates a battle gift and a kingship.
Why it mattersBridges elder to younger futhark; richest pictorial runestone of Västergötland.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Owl and ship iconography — pagan cult?
Theories
- 01Hall depicts Uppsala-type sacral kingship centre
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.800 CE
- Period
- Vendel–Viking transition (c.800 CE)
- Culture
- Swedish (Västergötland Geatish)
- Builders
- Swedish
- Purpose
- Memorial to Alrik/Erik lineage with pictorial proto-heraldry
- Excavation
- Not applicable
c.800 CE
Gneiss stone erected commemorating Alrik/Erik kin
1669
Found in church south wall during renovation
1684
Church fire splits stone
1937; 1970s
Pieces reunited; moved to climate-controlled porch exhibition
On the ground
Structures & features
58.3471° N · 12.8389° E · 85 m · 2 mapped features
Sparlösa Front — Alrik Inscription
inscriptionPrimary face with younger futhark text Ei viss Alrik ... gaf ... after his father Erik
58.3471° N · 12.8390° ESparlösa Top — Ship and Rider Panel
pictographTop surface incised ship with crew and mounted rider beside owl/bird — pictorial suite unique in Sweden
58.3470° N · 12.8389° E