The pictures on the greater Jelling stone
Rita Wood
The greater Jelling stone, with an informative runic inscription mentioning King Harald Blåtand and the conversion of Danes, is at core a large important archaeological site late tenth century situated in centre Danish peninsula. stone thought to have been positioned immediately south some sort church, between two mounds ever since that period. great boulder has three main surfaces, all closely covered by carving. first face most inscription, which, unusually for runes, arranged parallel lines as Latin text. second shows animal entwined snake, third earliest image Scandinavia Christ – these ‘pictures’ can be compared diptych they share similar border are connected ‘hinge’. Identifying implies faces must compatible not antagonistic subjects. It suggested design carving was controlled missionary party from Ottonian Germany, choosing motifs used various sources, mostly writings Pope Gregory Great. Following early snake interpreted God Father Holy Spirit. likely shown ascending heaven triumph, so pictures show Trinity united celebration redemption mankind.
Danish journal of archaeology