Sverd i fjell (Swords in Rock)
Sverd i fjell (Swords in Rock) is a monument of three 10-metre bronze Viking swords planted in rock at Hafrsfjord in Stavanger, unveiled in 1983 to commemorate the Battle of Hafrsfjord in 872 when King Harald Fairhair unified Norway.
FAQFrequently asked questions
What kind of swords are these anyway and where do they stand?
These are three bronze swords 10 meters high, carved into a granite hill near Hafrsfjord Bay, near Stavanger, Norway.
Why exactly three swords and what do they mean?
The biggest sword is the victorious king, the two smaller ones are the rulers who lost the battle. They are stuck firmly in the stone, because they are supposed to symbolize the peace that no one will be able to pull out.
What is the monument connected with historically?
With the Battle of Hafrsfjord in 872, after which Harald the Fair-Haired dealt with his rivals and united Norway into one state for the first time.
When was it produced and who is the author?
The monument was opened by King Olaf V in 1983, and it was made by the sculptor Fritz Ree from Brunn.
Where to go to see?
Look for the shore of Hafrsfjord near Stavanger in southwest Norway - the swords are right on a hill by the water, hard to miss.
