English: Scenes of death and the afterlife

This picture stone, from Tangelgarda on the island of Gotland, Sweden, shows scenes from the journey to Valhalla. All of these images would probably have been understood instantly by people who viewed them.

At the top you can see a battle and battlefield. Warriors fight with swords. There are eagles and ravens feeding off the dead. A funeral scene is shown below. Friends of the fallen warrior parade behind the body, which is lying on Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged horse. Sleipner might represent four men carrying the dead warrior on a stretcher.

The next scene shows the dead warrior arriving in Valhalla. He is on horseback and is welcomed by a Valkyrie, who is holding a drinking horn. The warrior holds his oath ring, with which he swears eternal allegiance to Odin. He is followed by a number of friends, all with rings in their lifted hands. Two infinity symbols (triquetra) appear beneath the horse and a burial ship is shown at the bottom.

From the Maritime Museum exhibition