The serpent-carved memorial

The Uppland Runic Inscription Fv1946;258, also known as the Täby Runestone, stands 2.23 meters high and is inscribed with Old Norse script. Carved in 1011 AD, it tells the story of two fathers, Rauðkárr and Hróðgæiʀ, memorialized by their sons, Vígr and Ótryggr, and balli. The inscription is carved on a serpent intertwined in an intricate design. Above the serpent is the figure of a man with raised arms. The inscription is classified as being carved in runestone style Pr4 (also known as Urnes style).

This runestone style is characterized by slim and stylized animals that are interwoven into tight patterns. The animal heads are typically seen in profile with slender almond-shaped eyes and upwardly curled appendages on the noses and the necks. One of the most famous runemasters, Visäte, is believed to have carved this inscription, as the inscription bears the signature (u)isiti * (r)i(s)ti, meaning Viseti risti.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons