The History of Religion on Gotland

We know very little about ancient religion in the Nordic region—very, very little. On the other hand, speculations are both plentiful and entertaining. There are countless theories and explanations, although proving religious beliefs is impossible. At least in the Western world today, you are free to believe in whatever suits your fancy.

Early Times

There seems to be some consensus that ancient peoples followed a type of sun cult—possibly a moon cult for the Gotlanders—but this isn't certain.

You may also hear about something called a death cult, although it's hard to know exactly what is meant by that. Honoring the dead appears natural to humans, perhaps through rituals like consuming them or creating burial sites. Various burial customs existed, such as the graves at Kauparve or Tjelvar's grave, where the ashes of the deceased were stored in urns or small death houses. But what people truly believed in those distant times is lost to us.

Norse Mythology

Eventually, Norse mythology, or Asatru, seems to have gained a foothold in Gotland, but how widespread it was and what it entailed is also unclear. Some hope that everyone believed in the Aesir gods and that the greatest temple was in Old Uppsala, but that may be wishful thinking.

Around the 6th century AD, something seems to have changed in the religious world. Norse mythology might have gained ground, though evidence is scarce. Some believe that hints in the Icelandic sagas suggest a religious shift, but even this isn't certain. It is evident, however, that the first settlers of Iceland did not worship the Aesir. There are no concrete proofs that Asatru was widely practiced on Gotland, though some argue that the picture stones offer evidence of such beliefs.

Christianity

By the early 11th century, Christianity had taken firm root, as evidenced by the age of the island’s churches.

Today, the narrative tends to focus on the negative view of women that Christianity supposedly introduced. Many argue that this was a decline from earlier times, despite little being known about the status of women before Christianity.

Christianity was not officially adopted as the state religion of Gotland until the 12th century, through the Gutnaltinget assembly.

Signs of Ancient Worship on Gotland

Many ancient Gotlandic picture stones, dating from around the 5th century, feature a symbol known as the spiral wheel. Some believe it represents the sun and its rays, but modern researchers often dismiss this interpretation. However, the historian Erik Nylén cautiously remarks that a solar cult in Nordic religion "cannot be considered impossible" between 400 BC and 500 AD.

Gotland is also home to over 3,500 groove markings, shallow channels carved into granite blocks. These are thought to have been used to track the positions of the moon and sun at different times of the year, suggesting some form of celestial worship.

Bronze Age finds, such as the solar chariot in Denmark, are thought to further support the theory of a sun cult, as are rock carvings from Sweden.

In general, though, little can be said for certain about sun worship on Gotland.

The Serpent Goddess

One of the more puzzling images from Gotland’s picture stones is that of a serpent goddess or enchantress, dating from between 400 and 600 AD. This motif appears nowhere else in the Nordic region.

Serpents do appear on Gotland’s picture stones, and Nylén suggests that snake pits for execution are clearly depicted. He also notes the serpent's importance as a symbol during the transition from paganism to Christianity.

Christian Runes and Picture Stones

One famous stone from the 11th century features a cross and the following runic inscription:

"Rodvisl and Rodälv raised stones for their three sons. This one for Rodfos, who was betrayed by the Valaks on his journey. May God help Rodfos's soul. May God curse those who betrayed him."

Rodvisl and Rodälv were evidently Christian, and their plea to God reflects a combination of religious beliefs and justice.

Modern Times

The beliefs of modern-day Gotlanders are diverse and often difficult to define. Many express a belief in "something," though this vague spirituality is not always easily aligned with traditional religious definitions, especially when viewed through the lens of secular or socialist ideologies, which tend to favor more structured societal systems over organized religion.

The distinction between magic and religion has also faded over time. In ancient traditions, rituals were thought to bring about specific outcomes—such as rain dances to summon rainfall. Today, religious beliefs often center around miracles that transcend natural laws, such as the Virgin Mary’s immaculate conception or Jesus walking on water.

Though Gotland is historically Christian, the religious landscape today is varied, with many residents identifying as agnostic or adhering to a range of personal spiritual beliefs.