DK Eyewitness Books - Viking

61

BEARDED

CHRIST

The third side

of the stone is

carved with the

oldest picture of Christ

in Scandinavia. Christ’s

arms are outstretched, as if he

were on the cross, but no cross is

actually shown. Harald was converted to

Christianity around 960. He was influenced

by a miracle performed by the monk Poppo.

But he also converted for political reasons, to

strengthen his kingdom and to make sure that

Denmark could trade with Christian countries.

Carvings are

in low relief

Christ wit h
outstretched
arms

Halo, a symbol of

Christ’s holiness

These bright colors
are only a guess,
because t he
original pigment
has disappeared

A ribbon forms a

border to t he carving

Plant leaves and shoots spring

from t he ends of t he ribbon

Horizontal lines

of runes cut into

t he stone

HARALD’S INSCRIPTION

One side of the Jelling Stone is

covered in runes. They read: “King

Harald commanded this memorial to

be made in memory of Gorm, his

father, and in memory of Thyre,

his mother—that Harald who

won the whole of Denmark for

himself ...” The inscription

continues beneath the great

beast and finishes

below Christ.

More plant like

ribbons wrap

around Christ

Harald’s inscription

ends beneat h t he

figure of Christ wit h:

“...and made t he

Danes Christian.”