Ardre image stones

Before the historical significance of rune and image stones was understood or appreciated, they were often used as materials in the construction of roads, bridges, and buildings.

The largest and most noted of the stones is the Ardre VIII stone, dated to the 8th[2] or 9th century, depicts scenes from Norse mythology, notably the Lay of Weyland the smith, Thor fishing for Jörmungandr, the punishment of Loki for the death of Baldr,[3] and Odin riding to Valhalla on Sleipnir.

Other images on this stone, such as the woman on the right with two swords, are not currently understood as they do not conform to any known Norse myth that has survived to the present time.

[3] The image-stone's longboat motif with its mariners somewhat resembles a depiction found on the Överhogdal tapestry No.

The runic text, which is signed by a runemaster with the normalized name of Likraiv, indicates that it was raised as a memorial with different sponsors for the inscriptions on each side of the stone.