Torstein av Heimnes

A memorial stone at Hebnes in memory of Torstein av Heimnes, King Håkon Håkonsson's foremost advisor in war and peace. It was erected in 2002 by the Ropeidhalvøya Village Committee, with support from Suldal Municipality, Ryfylkefondet, and SR-bank at Sand.

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Torstein is perhaps the greatest chieftain who ever lived in Ryfylke. He was Håkon Håkonsson's standard-bearer, carrying the king's banner in battle. The chieftain from Hebnes was crucial in the Battle of Oslo in 1240 when Håkon Håkonsson defeated Duke Skule and ended the 100-year-long civil war in Norway.

Even long before Torstein, Hebnes was an area inhabited by powerful individuals. This is evident from the many burial cairns (40-45 exist today), including the largest in Ryfylke. Several of the five or six large mounds may date back to the Bronze Age, 3500-2500 years ago. Most of the mounds are likely from the Iron Age (2500-1000 BCE). Behind the memorial stone, you can see seven of these burial cairns, as well as an Iron Age boathouse.

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Well-arranged: The Torstein av Heimnes monument stands on a large, open, and paved area that is easily accessible.

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