Jelling Stones

The two famous Jelling Stones were raised by kings of Denmark. The older, smaller stone was raised by King Gorm the Old in memory of his wife, Thyra. The larger, more famous stone was raised by his son, King Harald Bluetooth, to celebrate his conquest of Denmark and Norway.

The larger Jelling Stone features a runic inscription that translates to 'King Harald bade these memorials to be made after Gorm, his father, and Thyra, his mother. The Harald who won the whole of Denmark and Norway and turned the Danes to Christianity.' Because of this text, it is widely referred to as Denmark's baptismal certificate.

The Jelling Stones are located in the town of Jelling, in the Vejle municipality of Denmark. They stand between the Jelling Church, a large burial mound, and a massive stone ship setting. The site is a protected UNESCO World Heritage site, and the stones are currently housed in a glass casing to preserve them from weathering.

Harald Bluetooth's stone is famous because its inscriptions represent the first time the name 'Denmark' was recorded on Danish soil. Furthermore, it physically documents the official conversion of the Danes to Christianity. It is widely considered the most magnificent and historically vital runic monument in Denmark.