The stone of Assur in Bro parish

The stone named Brostenen, also known as Assurs sten or Assursstenen (signum U 617), is a rune stone in Bro parish. It was previously built into the weapon house of Bro church. Now, it stands just south of the railway and the community of Upplands-Bro, north of Bro church.

The granite rune stone stands in open meadow along Assurs väg, approximately 250 meters north of Bro church. The road previously ran directly adjacent to the stone. The nearly square rune stone is 158 cm wide and 157 cm high. The ornamentation consists of straight rune bands framing a Christian cross.

Inscribed with runes, it reads (in translation): Ginnlög, Holmgers daughter, sister to Sygröd and Göt, she let make this bridge and raise this stone after Assur, her man, son to Håkon jarl. He was a land defender against the vikings with Geter. May God help his soul and body. Ginnlög commissioned the stone after her husband Assur's death.

Håkon jarl and Ginnlög belonged to some of the most prominent noble families in the region. It is possible that the people mentioned are related to those on the Sigurdsristningen and Kjulastenen Sö 106. Multiple interpretations exist about who Håkon jarl might have been, ranging from the Swedish Håkan the Red to the son of the Norwegian Ladejarl Hakon Sigurdarson.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons