Say picture stone and many people think of Gotland, but in Häggeby you can look at one of the few made in Uppland. You may recognize it, the original is now at the Historical Museum in Stockholm, while a copy is on display in Häggeby.
The stone is made of red sandstone and was used as a floor stone in the church for a long time. In the 1870s it was taken up and sold to the Historical Museum. The copy, dating from 1953, is now placed in the cemetery between the porch and the tower.
The stone dates from around 400-500 AD and shows on one side a slender ship propelled by twelve oarsmen. On the other side is a stallion's head. Horse fighting was a popular feature of large meetings and festivities in prehistoric times. Betting was certainly an essential part of the fun. The stallions were incited to direct their aggression towards each other, resulting in a bloody fight, often with a fatal outcome.
The environment at Häggeby church is reminiscent of Bullerbyn. A stone's throw from the church is the old small school, which has become the local community association's school museum.
