Valknut meaning

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

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.

Valknut meaning

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? Many tattooists choose to tattoo this pattern on their bodies, hoping to gain the power of Odin, the father of the gods, to help them face the challenges of life; it is said that Vikings People worship Odin very much. They like adventure, they are not afraid of death, and they are brave to fight for what they want. They can be said to be a real fighting nation. In the painting, Odin appears next to the tomb in the form of a crow, so scholars also associate this symbol with Odin and death. The so-called symbol is actually an interpretation of a simple image from an unusual perspective. In this seemingly ordinary triangle, the secret of "3" is actually hidden.

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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.

Their powerful blessings fortified their warriors for battle and their curses would crush their enemies. These shaman left behind an ancient symbol, called the Valknut, which represented their magical powers. The Valknut pronounced: val-knoot is a symbol in Nordic mythology depicting three interlocked triangles. The Valknut symbol itself, however, dates back to ancient times and relates to the cult of the dead. The three triangles of the Valknut were seen most often on gravestones and runestones, usually alongside the figure of Odin, or the animals which represented him, the horse or wolf. A number of possible explanations of the origins of the Valknut have been suggested by historians. The Valknut symbol was believed to be linked to Odin, a revered and powerful god in Nordic mythology.

Valknut meaning

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.

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However, Hellers notes that the term existed as early as the eighteenth century to refer to both an S-shaped double knot and a geometric pattern used in tapestry, similar to the Bowen knot. Our Impact. This tricursal form can be seen on one of the Stora Hammars stones , as well as upon the Nene River Ring, and on the Oseberg ship bed post. The symbol has also been appropriated by some white supremacist groups, but it is not generally considered an offensive symbol like the Swastika. ISBN Although the age of its name is debated, it is an old symbol of Norse mythology that can mean several things. There is not much known about the other Norse afterlives, and even what we know of Hel is marred by significant Christian influence. Anti-Defamation League. The valknut is topologically equivalent to either the Borromean rings , the trefoil knot , or in modern use only a closed three-link chain, depending on the particular artistic depiction:. However, with the change of time and cultural environment, the meaning of "3" began to have more interpretations, including the three laws of the universe's operation "creation, preservation, circulation", the place where human beings exist "heaven, earth, hell", The important concepts of Christianity "Father, Son, Holy Spirit", the basic elements of life "air, water, fire", the dimension of time "past, present, future", and the part of personal practice "body, mind, spirit" and so on.

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.

Ultimately, then, while we can be relatively sure of the ideas with which the Valknut was associated, its particular meaning is a tantalizing mystery. We've just created a new Youtube channel! Although other forms are topologically possible, these are the only attested forms found so far. Viking Skull Beard Beads. The valknut is a symbol consisting of three interlocked triangles. He describes the heart as made from stone and having three sharp corners. Hope you enjoyed this. They like adventure, they are not afraid of death, and they are brave to fight for what they want. Hilda Ellis Davidson theorizes a connection between the valknut, the god Odin , and "mental binds":. To that end, it was not unusual for the Vikings to stab those dying of illness, or place a sword in their hand after death, in order to trick Odin and his Valkyries into thinking that the warrior had died in battle. It also appears on a ring found in the Nene River, an Anglo-Saxon gold finger dated to the same period, in England, and on the Oseberg boat, in Norway. So, given the present state of our knowledge, we can reasonably assume that the meaning of the Valknut has much to do with death, the transition from life to death and probably back again, Odin, and the power to bind and unbind.