A Red-Tinted Memorial to Áskell in Vadstena

The runestone known as Östergötland Rune Inscription 179 or Ög 179 stands on the east side of the Vadstena Abbey in Vadstena, Sweden. The stone is tinted red and is about 193 cm in height. The inscription is classified as being carved in runestone style Fp, which is the classification for runic bands that have attached serpent or beast heads depicted as seen from above.

The runic text indicates that the stone was raised as a memorial to a father named Áskell. In the text, the runes for the initial vowels in Old Norse words for æftiʀ and the name Æskel were replaced by a ʀ-rune. A similar replacement of the initial vowel in the word æftiʀ is indicated on eight other inscriptions, including Ög 219 in Lundby and Sö 82 in Tumbo.

Earliest information indicates that the stone originally stood close to Lake Vättern. When it was moved to its present location, it was discovered that the lower part of the stone had been worn away by the waves and none of the runes on that part of the stone remain.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons