
The warrior Hrungir battled Thor and was killed by Thor’s hammer Mjolnir. Hrungir was the brawler in the poem Edda by Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson. Welch argues that the Valknut is an ancient symbol of the female divinity, and that the three interlocking triangles represent the three aspects of the goddess: mother, daughter and grandmother.Īnother theory is that the Valknut is in fact Hrungir’s heart. For example, in Goddess of the North, Lynda C. There are also other, less satisfying theories regarding the Valknut. Other Theories about the Origin of the Valknut According to her, the Valknut serves as a symbolic expression of this idea. Ellis Davidson put it: “Odin had the power to lay bonds upon the mind, so that men became helpless in battle, and he could also loosen the tensions of fear and strain by his gifts of battle-madness, intoxication, and inspiration” (as cited in McCoy, The Valknut ). He and his attendants frequently used magic that is described as binding or unbinding. Odin was also one of the most powerful magicians in Norse mythology.


Archaeologists and historians had to give the symbol a name, because it appears farther back than any documented name for it. The words varl meaning ‘slain warrior’, and knut, meaning ‘knot’ were combined to make Valknut. It’s a compound word from Norwegian that means ‘knot of those fallen in battle’. Valknut is a name only given to the symbol recently. Unicursal (left) and tricursal (right) variations of the Valknut symbol. The Norse God Odin: Viking God of War, Father of Thor, but There’s More.Decoding Viking Signs: Nine Norse Symbols Explained.

The second variant is unicursal, using a singular line to create the three interconnected triangles. This features three triangles interlocking with each other, each with their own separate shape. There are numerous variations of the Valknut, although two specific configurations are by far the most common styles found. In this article, we will discuss the origins, variations, and theories surrounding this emblem. Composed of three interlocking triangles, it is not entirely clear what exactly the symbol represents, but it has been found on many Viking Age artifacts, so it was clearly of some importance. The Valknut is a symbol shrouded in mystery, and it is still the cause of much debate today. One of the most controversial and mysterious of these symbols is the Valknut. It has provided us with some iconic gods, monsters, and even symbols. Norse mythology is a rich and vibrant source of tales, myths and legends.
