Jelling Mounds: Everything You Need To Know About It!

The Jelling stone ship is the longest known, which may be found beneath the two noble barrows at Jelling, Denmark.

The Jelling ship was previously considered 557 ft (170 m) long and extended between the two mounds. It is by far one of the largest runic stones ships to have been unearthed.

According to archaeological digs and studies, only the North mounds feature a burial chamber. It is possible that this room previously housed Gorm the Old's bones, which were subsequently discovered beneath what is now Jelling Church.

Gorm created the little Jelling stones in honor of his wife Thyra in about 950. Around 965, Harald constructed the largest of the two Jelling stones, which bears the words: 'King Harald had this monument erected in commemoration of his father, Gorman, and his mother, Thyrvé; that Harald who gained for himself all of Denmark and Norway and converted the Danes to Christianity.'

Location Of The Jelling Mounds

The Jelling Mounds is one of the three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Denmark. Thanks to two runic stones on the country's most ancient Christian site, it's a one-of-a-kind stop.

The Jelling stones are enormous engraved runic stones dating from the 10th century that were discovered in the Danish town of Jelling. King Gorm the Old erected the oldest of the two runic stones to remember his wife, Thyra. The largest of the two runic stones was erected in commemoration of King Gorm's parents, Harald Bluetooth, to commemorate his father's conquest of Denmark and Norway and his conversion of the Danes to Christianity. The runic inscriptions on these runic stones are the most well-known in Denmark's national museum. The runic stones, together with the accompanying burial mounds and modest church, were listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994 as an outstanding illustration of pagan Nordic Culture and Christian Nordic culture.

The larger Jelling stones, alongside a depiction of the crucified Christ, explicitly mention Denmark's conversion from Norse paganism through the process of Christianization; it is thus popularly referred to as 'Denmark's baptismal certificate,' an expression that was coined by art historian Rudolf Broby-Johansen in the '30s.

The World Heritage Collection has exceptional universal value, as Jelling, located in central Jutland, was a regal monument during the kingdoms of Gorm. His child, Harald Bluetooth, born in the 10th century, may have pre-dated this era.

History Of The Jelling Mounds

King Harald Bluetooth carved Denmark's name on runic stones near Jelling in the tenth century and built two barrows and a chapel. Since 1994, the royal monument has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you ever get a chance to visit, discover the intriguing world of the Vikings and their monument at Kongernes Jelling, a tourist and experience center. Following the discovery and study of a massive diamond-shaped retaining wall between 2006 and 2013, the entire region surrounding the barrows was altered and surrounded by thousands of building structures. White concrete blocks encircle this same site, highlighting the general population location of the old wooden fence.

The site includes a 12th-century chapel, two massive runic stones, and two burial mounds. The current Jelling church was constructed on top of two former churches, the first of which was erected by King Harald when the kingdom adopted Christianity as its religion. For the same purpose, he carved a figure of Jesus on the second, bigger Jelling stone. Runic stones are positioned outside the Jelling church and are protected from the weather by the glass.

The church is a long brick structure coated in a superficial coating of stucco and whitewash, standing proudly amongst a well-kept cemetery and in-between two old mounds.

It is the year 965. Viking King Harald Bluetooth abandons the Norse pantheon in favor of Christianity. This statement is carved onto a massive rune stones in Jelling, near the runic stone constructed a few years previously by his father, King Gorm the Old. Harald boasts on the Jelling stone of conquering Denmark and Norway and bringing Christianity to the Danes.

Its Cultural Importance

The greatest of the two Jelling runic stones, known as the 'birth certificate' of Denmark as a country, was constructed by King Harald Bluetooth in the late 10th century to commemorate his union of Norway and Denmark as one realm, christening the Danish people. For these reasons, Jelling has come to represent the thousand-year-old pillars of Danish identity: the continuous bloodline of the royal family, Christianity, and the nation. The monuments were designed as a World Heritage Site in 1994.

Presently, the two runic stones are protected by glass near the door inside of a little whitewashed Romanesque parish church constructed in Jelling stone, surrounded by a small churchyard. Just a few meters from north and south of the church lies more Jelling stones, which are two massive Viking-Age burial mounds created for King Harald's parents, King Gorm the Old, who erected the shorter runic stones for his bride Queen Thyra.

A Jelling stone ship setting was discovered during archaeological digs in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The ornamental Jelling Monument and the majestic building dates from the mid-10th century.

FAQs

What do the Jelling Stones say?

A: The stones are firmly associated with Denmark's establishment as a sovereign state. Both inscriptions mention the name 'Danmark' on the huge runic stones. 

What is special about the Jelling Mounds?

A: King Gorm the Old erected the Jelling Stone in the 10th century as a tribute to his wife, Queen Thyra

Who is buried at the Jelling Mounds?

A: King Gorm the Old's burial is inside the church.

How did it get its name?

A: It is possible that his name was derived from the fact that Denmark had the oldest surviving monarchy in Europe.

Where are the Jelling Stones located?

A: The Jelling Stones are huge, engraved rune stones from the 10th century that were discovered in the Danish town of Jelling.