Ardre VIII

Ardre VIII is the largest of ten rune and picture stones dating from the 8th to 11th centuries, that were discovered at Ardre Church, in Ardre, Gotland. The stones had been re-used as paving under the wooden floor of the church and were discovered when the church was being restored c. 1900.

The Ardre VIII stone is dated to the 8th or 9th century and depicts scenes from Norse mythology including the forge of Wayland the Smith showing a female figure (Bodvild); Immediately behind her the winged figure of Wayland; then forge and furnace, together with the smith’s tools; and on the far right the decapitated bodies of King Niðhad’s sons.

The Wayland scene from the Ardre Picture Stone from Gotland.
image: Wikimedia

The upper panel of Ardre VIII shows Odin riding to Valhalla on his horse, Sleipnir, and other scenes include Thor fishing for Jörmungandr; and the punishment of Loki for causing the death of Baldr.