12/24/2023 0 Comments Three triangle norse symbol![]() ![]() As Norse mythology becomes more mainstream with the introduction of various pop-culture Vikings and Norse gods, more people are beginning to seek out their own Scandinavian ink. The Oseberg Ship (carved into a bed and on a surviving tapestry).Knowing which Norse tattoos to avoid is becoming increasingly important in today’s world. Unfortunately, being able to see it doesn’t necessarily equate to understanding it. There’s no single, uncontested meaning of the valknut symbol. The word valknut means “knots of those fallen in battle.” However, people have different opinions about what the symbol itself means. One of the most common interpretations is that it symbolizes the transition between life and death.Īnother common association with the valknut is the god Odin. Other accepted meanings of the valknut include: Still others take the analogy further and claim it represents a sacrifice to Odin. The following sections will look at each of these different associations of the symbol as a whole. The Transition Between Life and Death & Odin They’ll also discuss a common opinion among scholars on what the symbol’s various aspects mean individually. These two things go hand-in-hand and are the most commonly accepted meanings of the valknut symbol, sometimes called “Odin’s knot.”Īs mentioned earlier, the word valknut doesn’t appear in any Norse or Viking literature. However, scholars have found it on surviving artifacts. The symbols often appeared on burial mounds and stones found inside or near burial mounds. That’s why so many, though not all, scholars agree that the valknut symbolizes the transition between life and death. Since one of Odin’s powers includes guiding people through that transition, the symbol also gets equated with the All-father. Those who believe the valknut symbolizes the transition between life and death often ascribe it specifically to a warrior’s death. In Norse mythology, Odin only chose the most fierce warriors to go with him to Valhalla, and he sent his valkyries to retrieve them. Why do people get tattoos of the valknut symbol? See below Sacrifice, Specifically to Odin Therefore, any death associated with Odin would’ve been a warrior’s death. The justification for this meaning of the valknut comes primarily from the Stora Hammar stones. One of the images carved into the stone shows a sacrifice to Odin.Ī figure lies on a table near another figure with a spear. The spear-wielding figure may be cutting a Blood Eagle into the sacrificed figure’s back. Above the dying man is a large carving of the valknut. Hrungnir was a giant who Thor defeated in the Prose Edda’s “Skáldskaparmál.” The heart’s description is as follows: “Hrungnir had the heart which is notorious, of hard stone and spiked with three corners, even as the written character is since formed, which men call Hrungnir’s Heart.” Īs a result, some people think that’s the real meaning behind the valknut. However, most artifacts featuring it also feature Odin, not Hrungnir. ![]() Therefore, most serious Norse mythology and Viking scholars discount this meaning out of hand. These last two “meanings” of the valknut aren’t widely accepted. ![]() Though not as well known for his magical abilities as Loki, Odin was magical. He practiced a form of magic called Seidr. Many people think the valknut represents magical spells cast by Odin. Others assume the three triangles in the valknut represent: Additionally, a valknut carved into an ax or shield would “magically” protect the bearer. Therefore, a valknut on a burial stone could be a magical symbol that would lead the deceased back into a new life. Historians break these differences down into two distinct valknut styles: The valknut looks slightly different in many of the images in which it appears. The unicursal valknut is one cohesive symbol with no breaks. If someone were to draw it on paper, they’d never lift their pen. However, the tricursal valknut is three distinct triangles combined.Įither way, most people agree on what they think the symbol’s individual aspects represent. They attribute the nine triangle points to the nine worlds in Norse mythology. ![]() Is the valknut symbol controversial? See below Why Do People Get Tattoos of the Valknut Symbol? (Others call it Heaven, Earth, and Hell.) The three triangles are the three most famous worlds: Asgard, Midgard, and Niflheim (Hel). People get tattoos of the valknut for different reasons. Some do so in honor of a deceased friend, loved one, or fellow soldier. Others insist it represents reincarnation. ![]()
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