{"id":108624,"date":"2025-08-29T18:55:38","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T18:55:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/viking-runes-reveal-secrets-of-ancient-queen"},"modified":"2025-08-29T19:07:05","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T19:07:05","slug":"viking-runes-reveal-secrets-of-ancient-queen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/viking-runes-reveal-secrets-of-ancient-queen","title":{"rendered":"Viking Runes Reveal Secrets of Ancient Queen"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Experts from the National Museum of Denmark have harnessed cutting-edge 3D scanning technology to decode enigmatic Viking runes etched over a millennium ago. The findings are poised to rewrite history books by spotlighting the pivotal role of a Danish queen in the formation of the Scandinavian nation.<\/p>\n

Archaeologists from Denmark and Sweden recently used 3D scans to probe the inscriptions on ancient Danish stones that have revealed an unexpected connection to a powerful Viking queen known as Thyra.<\/p>\n

The inquiry primarily focused on two sets of runestones, both dating back to the 10th century. The initial collection, known as the Jelling Stones, was closely associated with Harald Bluetooth, a renowned 10th-century Danish king recognized as the nation’s creator.<\/p>\n

Yet, historical accounts had been frustratingly silent about Harald’s parents, King Gorm and Queen Thyra.<\/p>\n

The second set of runestones, named the Ravnunge-Tue Stones after their rune-carver, offered a glimmer of insight into the royal family. Scholars have posited these stones were carved in homage to Queen Thyra, commissioned by Harald Bluetooth.<\/p>\n

“We aimed to uncover if we could identify the same rune carver on some of these stones, linking the Ravnunge-Tue Stones with the Jelling stones. A connection would strongly suggest that all the stones pay tribute to the same influential figure: Thyra, mother of Harald Bluetooth,” explained lead researcher Lisbeth M. Imer.<\/p>\n

Remarkably, the runes on the stones unequivocally designate Thyra as a “queen,” signifying her authority in relation to Ravnunge-Tue, the rune-carver. Three-dimensional scans unveiled distinct patterns that function as the carver’s personal signature within the runic engravings.<\/p>\n

Queen Thyra’s name stands alone in the annals of Viking history, as “no other Viking man or woman in Denmark has been mentioned on that many runestones,<\/b>” emphasized Imer. The stunning revelation underscores her pivotal role in the unification of the realm under her son, Harald Bluetooth’s rule.<\/p>\n

The findings were published on Wednesday in the journal Antiquity.<\/p>\n\r\n