Lifting stone

The most famous of Iceland's legendary lifting stones is the Húsafell Stone, named after the west country farming estate where it is located, about 132 km north east from Reykjavík by road. The triangular-shaped stone which weighs 186 kg (410 lb) is said to have been crafted from a large rock over two centuries ago, when a local pastor named Snorri Björnsson used it as the door to his sheep and goat pen. Nicknamed the 'Kviahellan' (pen slab) by Snorri, the stone has been since used by strong men as a test of strength, either by simply lifting the stone to the knee and waist, or by lifting it all the way up to the chest and carrying the stone around the perimeter of the pen for fullsterkur status.

At the tip of the west coast, on Djúpalónssandur beach at the foot of Snæfellsjökull, at the western end of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, there lie four stones which are called Dritvík Stones. Historically, the sailors and fishermen who rowed out from this port would lift the stones to prove their worth to a ship's crew and earn themselves better pay. The four stones are classified as:

• Amlóði (hamlet or "weakling" ) at 23 kg (51 lb)
• Hálfdrættingur ("half-carrier") at 54 kg (119 lb)
• Hálfsterkur ("half strength") at 100 kg (220 lb)
• Fullsterkur ("full strength") at 154 kg (340 lb)

Located in the Látravík cove at the westernmost point of the Westfjords region, the Judas Stone earned its name more than a century ago, when local farmers repeatedly tried to use it in the construction of a wall, only to have it 'betray' them like Judas by always slipping out of place due to its unbalanced nature.

The heaviest of Iceland's legendary lifting stones is the 281 kg (620 lb) Brynjólfstak Stone, a 1.5 meter long basalt located near Tálknafjörður in the Westfjords region. Legend says that the stone was first pulled from the sea in 1845, when a mighty farmer named Brynjólfur Eggertsson asked four of the strongest men in the area to lift the giant slab on to his shoulders. From there, Brynjólfur is said to have attached the stone to him with straps and carried it uphill, to the nearby ridge where it is currently located. The stone has since been named in his honor.

Also located in the Westfjords region between Tálknafjörður and Bíldudalur in the famous seabird cliffs are four stones called Latra Stones. For many generations, local fishermen used them to stay fit and to gain bragging rights in their little time on dry land. Like the Dritvík Stones, there is a hierarchy based on their size, and the heaviest of the four is called 'Alsterkur'.

There is also an additional fifth stone called the 'Klofi stone' weighing 200 kg (441 lb) which is heavier than the Alsterkur.

This pillar-like stone which is also known as the Tomb Stone is said to mark the spot where an unfortunate farmer made a pact with the devil. As the story goes, the lazy farmer wanted a fast track to an easier, more prosperous life, so the devil offered him his dream if he could simply complete one task: lifting the 220 kg (485 lb) Leggstein stone. It is located in the middle of the Westfjords region in Heydalur near Reykjanes. The legend says the farmer is buried under the massive plinth near the stone, to be carried around the plinth for several revolutions for his salvation.

Near Dynjandi waterfall in the Westfjords lies a black slate stone known as the Petursstein Stone weighing 204 kg (450 lb).

Located near Árbæjarsafn, an outdoor museum near Reykjavík are 8 stones caleed Árbær stones, with the heaviest of them weighing 143 kg (315 lb).

Gaelic for "manhood stones", these originate from Scotland. Manhood stones were used there for centuries as tests of strength. Typically, a young man was welcomed into manhood when he was able to lift his clan's testing stone to waist height.[4] There are many examples in Scotland, including:[5]

• Inver Stone - Oval shaped granite stone weighing 118 kg (260 lb) which dates back to the 18th century.[6] In 2021 Rogue Invitational, the athletes had to lift a five stone set replica weighing 125-191 kg (275-421 lb) over a 4 ft platform, and in 2020 Arnold Strongman Classic the athletes had to overhead press 125 kg (275 lb) and 136 kg (300 lb) replicas.
• McGlashen Stones/ Atlas Stones/ Castle Stones - Inspired by the Inver Stone, these are smooth and perfectly spherical stones carved out from granite used in Highland Games and other strongman competitions like Pure Strength. The 'Stones of Strength' event introduced first at the 1986 World's Strongest Man is an evolution of the classic McGlashen stones which has now become a benchmark in modern day Strongman.[7] The competitors have to grip the stone, lap it in a squatting position and finally drive up, to load the stone on top of a podium.[8] There are five (occasionally six) stones of increasing weight, to be hoisted on top of a podium for each stone. In the early competitions of the 1980s and 1990s, these podiums were of varying height, with the lightest stone requiring to be lifted approximately to a normal person's head height. The heavier the stone was, the closer it was located to the podium. From the 2000s onwards, the stones increased in weight, and the podium heights and distance from the stone were kept uniform.[9] Alternatively, the stone is lifted over a bar for reps as well.[10] Almost all the Atlas Stones-related world records are currently shared between Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, Tom Stoltman, Travis Ortmayer, Brian Shaw and Žydrūnas Savickas.
• Dinnie Stones - Two heavy stones with metal rings fixed to each, made famous by strongman Donald Dinnie, weighing 332.49 kg (733 pounds) combined. The heavier stone weighs 188.02 kg (414.51 pounds) and the lighter stone weighs 144.47 kg (318.5 pounds).
• Nicol Stones - Two stones inspired by the Dinnie Stones which are meant to be a stepping stone towards the Dinnies, weighing a combined 252 kg (555.5 lbs). The heavier stone weighs 138 kg (304 lbs) and the lighter 114 kg (251 lbs).[11]
• Menzies Stone - Another historic spherical stone weighing 115 kg (253.5 pounds).[12]

A Clach-ultaich (pronounced [kʰl̪ˠaxˈul̪ˠt̪ɪç]; plural clachan-ultaich) is another type of lifting stone found in Scotland. Examples are:

• the so-called Clach-ultaich Iain Ghairbh MhicGilleChaluim Ratharsair, "the lifting stone of Iain Garbh MacGilleChaluim of Raasay", in Duntulm on the Isle of Skye. Its weight is said to be a ton.[13]
• the Charter or Blue Stones of Dailly in Ayrshire are a pair of lifting stones located in the cemetery of Old Dailly church.[14]
• MacLeod's Lift (Scottish Gaelic: Ultach Fear Hiort lit. "St. Kildan's Lift") on Rona, named after one John MacLeod who was at one time tacksman and steward of St Kilda.[15]

The 'Blue or Charter Stones' of Old Dailly.

Near Auldgirth in Dumfries and Galloway is a small farm named Liftingstane where a large stone with an iron handle once stood that was used as a test of strength.[16]

At Old Dailly in South Ayrshire are the 'Blue or Charter Stones' that were used for trials of strength to the extent that the local council has bound them with metal bands to prevent their continued use.[17]

The 'Leper's Charter Stone' at Kingcase in Prestwick, South Ayrshire was made of black basalt and kidney shaped, used as a lifting stane until it was broken; although the parts remain, built into the walls of the old chapel.

• Ardblair Stones - A series of nine concrete spheres ranging from 18 kg (40 pounds) to 152 kg (335 pounds) used in the Blairgowrie & Rattray Highland Games.
• Stone put - Being similar to the shot put, it uses an ordinary stone or rock instead of a steel ball.

In ancient Japan, stone lifting was carried out around Shinto shrines as a sport. サシ石 (Hiragana: さしいし)(sashi-ishi) ("overhead pressing stone"), 石担, (ishikatsugi) ("shoulder carried stone") and 石運び (ishihakobi) ("stone carrying") are some popular disciplines.[24]

Rock carrying is traditional in Tibet, where the rocks weigh up to 150 kilograms (330 lb), and the rest of China.[25][26] In Tamil Nadu, India, rocks of over 80 kilograms (180 lb) are carried.[27]