Valknut meaning

The valknut, "knot of the slain" in Old Norse, from valr, "slain warriors" and knut, valknut meaning, "knot", is a figure composed of valknut meaning intertwined triangles. Although the age of its name is debated, it is an old symbol of Norse mythology that can mean several things.

Archaeologically, it appears on several runestones and pictorial memorial stones that date from the Viking Age and stand on the Swedish island of Gotland, as well as on grave goods from the Oseberg ship burial in Norway. In the archaeological record, the Valknut appears only in connection with the cult of the dead, as in the aforementioned runestones and ship burial. Similar-looking symbols can also be found on the cremation urns of the Anglo-Saxons, [3] another Germanic people closely related to the Norse linguistically, ethnically, and in terms of their pre-Christian worldview and religion. In most of these cases, Odin is also present. For example, the Anglo-Saxon urns feature depictions of horses and wolves, two animals that are often the companions of Odin in the Norse mythological tales. To find associations with both death and Odin together should come as no surprise, since Odin was, among many, many other things, a psychopomp — that is, a figure who ferries the spirits of the dead to the underworld and then back to the world of the living — as well as the leader of various hosts of the dead, such as the warriors of Valhalla and of the Wild Hunt. Odin was also one of the most powerful of all magicians and shamans.

Valknut meaning

The Viking world was full of symbols. Not only were they a powerful way to express ideas, but the Vikings also thought that symbols had power. As well as expressing the world, the Vikings believed that symbols, when made by the right hands, had the power to shape the world. One of the most common but enigmatic symbols that the Vikings used was the Valknut. It appears in association with death and burials throughout the Viking world, but none of the surviving literary sources makes mention of it. This means that we have to infer its meaning from what we know about the Vikings in general. The Valknut symbol involves three interlocking triangles. It is known from the Viking world in two forms. The Borromean form is three interlocking but separate triangles, while the unicursal form is drawn using a single line. It is generally though that these are variations of the same symbol, as archaeologically, they appear in the same contexts. The name Valknut is not a traditional Viking name, but a modern Norwegian title given to the symbol.

Southern Poverty Law Center. Davidson says that similar symbols are found beside figures of wolves and ravens on "certain cremation urns" valknut meaning Anglo-Saxon cemeteries in East Anglia.

A symbol is an image or object that represents an abstract concept, usually associated with religious beliefs. All civilization from the earliest times to the present day have used symbols to make the abstract visible and to convince themselves that a higher power is interested in and compassionate towards the struggles of humanity. The symbols of Norse mythology refer not only to supernatural beings, but also to the challenges of everyday life and the mysteries that await after death. Some of these symbols can be safely attributed to the Viking Age c. Other symbols seem to have developed after the introduction of Christianity in Scandinavia around AD. There are many powerful symbols of the Viking Culture , one of which is the Valknut. What is the valknut and what does it mean?

The Valknut is a recognizable yet somewhat enigmatic symbol. The Valknut has several fringe variations but its two most prominent designs are both comprised of three interlocking triangles. Very often, the triangles create a tricursal form meaning that each of the triangles is depicted as its own separate shape with them simply interlocking with each other. The other common appearance is a unicursal shape where all three triangles are actually comprised of the same line. In either case, the variations of the Valknut look very similar. There are six sharp 60 o angles, two pointing upward, two pointing downward to the left, and two — downward to the right. The difference is that in the tricursal design there are also three more angles in the center of the symbol, either hidden behind the interlocked sides of the triangles or showing behind them. With the unicursal design, however, there are no inner angles as the line keeps going from one triangle to the next. Other similar designs include the Trefoil knot , the Triquetra , and the Borromean rings.

Valknut meaning

With its distinctive interwoven triangles, this symbol has been found on a variety of ancient artifacts, and has been the subject of much speculation and study. But what does the Valknut actually mean? Where did it originally come from? And was it really used by the Vikings? What that name is we do not know, so for the sake of simplicity I will refer to it as the Valknut throughout the article.

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A symbol is an image or object that represents an abstract concept, usually associated with religious beliefs. The visual appearance of these shapes is quite different from that of the present Valknut, so there is no certainty about the connection between them, although this tends to show that the term is not a recent invention and may indeed have an ancient origin. Mjolnir Symbol. Retrieved 25 May The valknut as Borromean rings Knot Atlas L6a4. The valknut as closed 3-link chain Knot Atlas L6n1. Davidson says that similar symbols are found beside figures of wolves and ravens on "certain cremation urns" from Anglo-Saxon cemeteries in East Anglia. In particular, it is linked to the god Odin evoking valour and death in the sense of liberation of the soul and the roots of Yggdrasil in the sense of the interconnection of the nine worlds of the Nordic religion. It is said that these ravens fly across Midgard the realm of humans and gather information, bringing it back to Odinn to keep him updated on the latest gossip. This name was chosen as the Valknut appears to be associated with the dead, and with Odin , the god of war and the dead. Not only were they a powerful way to express ideas, but the Vikings also thought that symbols had power. Size Guide. Happy Independence Day, Iceland! For example, the Anglo-Saxon urns feature depictions of horses and wolves, two animals that are often the companions of Odin in the Norse mythological tales.

The valknut is always composed of a succession of three triangles that often overlap. The Borromean method is sometimes used for drawing triangles as three shapes overlap and interlock.

A partially preserved tapestry found within the ship burial also features the symbol. This also makes sense within the context of death, and Hrungnir was a spirit of night, winter, darkness and the grave. Behind the burial mound there is also shown a warrior hanging from a tree. The Valknut symbol involves three interlocking triangles. This was a reference to the story of Odin hanging himself from Yggdrasil , the Tree of Life, for nine days and nine nights pierced by his own spear in order to gain the knowledge of the runes. Your cart is empty. A Dictionary of Northern Mythology. Add content to this section using the sidebar. Contemporary uses of the Valknut Symbol Valknut in Religion, arts and cultures The symbol of the Valknut plays a role in contemporary paganism, especially in the resurgence of the ancient Nordic religion called Asatru faith in the Aesir. The valknut as closed 3-link chain Knot Atlas L6n1. QLD, Australia, However, everyone has a different interpretation of the valknut symbol, and if its meaning fits your idea and itself, then why not get it tattooed on your body and show how you see the symbol, or even the world. To start off, we will discuss the Valknut itself. The name Valknut is not a traditional Viking name, but a modern Norwegian title given to the symbol. All civilization from the earliest times to the present day have used symbols to make the abstract visible and to convince themselves that a higher power is interested in and compassionate towards the struggles of humanity.