The Rök Runestone is the famous Viking-era Swedish monument often described as having the longest known runic inscription.
The stone stands at Rök in Östergötland, Sweden, and is generally dated to the early ninth century. Its inscription was carved in runes on multiple faces and contains references to legendary heroes, battles, and memorial remembrance. The text is unusually long and literary compared with most surviving runestones.
The stone was raised by a man named Varinn in memory of his son, Vämod. Parts of the inscription remain difficult to interpret, and scholars have proposed different readings of several passages. Its references to older stories make it an important source for understanding Norse poetic and heroic traditions.
The Rök Runestone is distinct from Denmark’s Jelling Stones, which commemorate the Danish royal dynasty and Christian conversion. It is also unrelated to the much later Kensington Runestone, whose authenticity is disputed.