An ancient monument in Norway has revealed a connection between Roman-era burial practices and Viking mythology. New research shows how five standing stones at Avaldsnes, known as the “Five Foolish Virgins,” became associated with the Norse god Thor and later Christian legends. The monument has stood for more than 1,700 years, surviving major changes in religion and culture.
The study, led by Håkon Reiersen of the University of Stavanger, traces the monument’s history from the Late Roman Age to modern times.
Roman burial discovered beneath ancient Norwegian monument
The Five Foolish Virgins stand near the Karmsund Strait in southwestern Norway. Some stones rise more than 16 feet (5 meters) high. Avaldsnes was an important center of political power because of its position along a major coastal shipping route. Strong tidal currents made the narrow strait difficult to navigate.
Around the third or fourth century A.D., people erected five standing stones within a large, three-armed, star-shaped stone mound overlooking the water. Archaeologists excavating the monument in the early 20th century discovered a cremation burial containing a Roman brass vessel known as a “Hemmoor bucket.” Researchers also found bear claws and textile remains inside the vessel.
An ancient monument in Norway is revealing a surprising link between Roman burials and Viking mythology. Dating back more than 1,700 years, the five standing stones became connected to the Norse god Thor and later Christian legends. pic.twitter.com/hXkgvHaEUm
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) October 21, 2026
The discovery adds to evidence of ancient burial traditions in Norway. Other archaeological investigations have uncovered Iron Age and Viking Age mortuary houses that shed light on how communities honored their dead.
Viking mythology links the monument to Thor
According to Reiersen’s research, a Viking-era tradition connected the location to Thor, the Norse god of thunder. The myth describes Thor wading across the Karmsund Strait toward Yggdrasil, a site associated with a public assembly known as a “thing.” Such assemblies served as gathering places where communities settled disputes and made important decisions.
The connection reflects the importance of religious traditions in Viking society. Norse mythology shared several similarities with ancient Greek beliefs, including gods associated with natural forces, warfare, and human affairs.
Christian legends give the stones a new name
Following Norway’s conversion to Christianity, the monument acquired the name Five Foolish Virgins. The name refers to a biblical parable about five wise and five foolish virgins. Another local legend connects the stones to St. Olaf, Norway’s national saint. According to the story, five women attempted to tempt Olaf as he traveled toward Avaldsnes. When he refused, they turned to stone.
The monument’s changing identity reflects the wider spread of Christianity through Viking society, which gradually transformed older religious traditions.
Ancient stones survive modern development
During the 18th and 19th centuries, antiquarians recognized the stones as remains of Norway’s pre-Christian past. The monument continued serving as a landmark for sailors navigating the Karmsund Strait. Its preservation highlights the lasting importance of Norway’s ancient burial sites. Archaeologists have also identified monumental ship burials that predate the Viking Age, providing further evidence of early Scandinavian burial traditions.
After World War II, engineers changed the planned route of the Karmsund Bridge to avoid the stones. The bridge opened in 1955, leaving the ancient monument standing beside the waterway it had overlooked for centuries.
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