The valknut is an Old Norse symbol featuring three interlocked triangles. One version, the tricursal, shows three separate linked triangles, while the unicursal uses a single line to create all three. Its appearance in archaeological records is open to interpretation, and its meaning is debated. The term valknut is a modern Norwegian word that means “knot of those fallen in battle,” which refers to the theory that the symbol was associated with death. It is often found with symbols and possible depictions of the god Odin , whose roles in Norse mythology include ferrying the dead to the afterlife. Since the mid-20th century, the valknut has been adopted by white supremacists, anti-government extremists, and Neo-Pagan racists. However, it is also used for more innocuous purposes.

What does the valknut look like?

The valknut , an Old Norse symbol, consists of three interlocked triangles and appears in two versions: * Tricursal This variation depicts three separate, linked triangle shapes. * Unicursal This version uses a single line to create all three triangles. The symbol's presence in historical records is open to interpretation, and its meaning remains debated. It is found on picture stones and possible examples exist on an Anglo-Saxon ring and items from the Oseberg ship. The symbol is associated with death and the god Odin, but has been appropriated by far-right groups since the mid-20th century.

Where was the valknut used in Old Norse culture?

The valknut, an Old Norse symbol of three interlocked triangles, has been found on objects in Scandinavia and England. The oldest examples appear on picture stones, large limestone slabs primarily from Gotland, Sweden. Other possible instances of the valknut include a gold Anglo-Saxon ring found in Peterborough, England, and items recovered from the Oseberg ship burial in Tønsberg, Norway, such as a bedpost and a bucket lid. The symbol's modern name, a Norwegian compound word meaning "knot of those fallen in battle," alludes to its possible association with death, as similar emblems have been found on Anglo-Saxon cremation urns. The valknut frequently appears alongside symbols and possible depictions of the god Odin, who, in Norse mythology, conveys the dead to the afterlife.

What do historians think the valknut symbolized?

The valknut is an Old Norse symbol featuring interlocking triangles, with its meaning still debated. It appears on artifacts from Scandinavia and England. The term valknut is a modern Norwegian word that translates to "knot of those fallen in battle," which suggests the symbol was linked to death. Some historians believe the valknut is associated with the god Odin, who escorted the dead to Valhalla. Another theory suggests the valknut represents the heart of Hrungnir, a stone giant in Norse mythology. Since the mid-20th century, far-right groups have appropriated the symbol.

How is the valknut connected to Norse gods, like Odin?

The valknut is an Old Norse symbol featuring three interlocked triangles, with its meaning still debated. It appears alongside symbols and possible depictions of the god Odin , whose roles in Norse mythology include ferrying the dead to the afterlife. For example, a picture stone from Tängelgärda has been interpreted as a fallen warrior entering Odin’s hall, Valhalla, with three valknut-like icons displayed. Another theory suggests the valknut represents the heart of Hrungnir, a giant made of stone.

How is the valknut used and understood in modern times?

The valknut is an Old Norse symbol featuring interlocking triangles, with its meaning still debated. Since the mid-20th century, far-right groups have appropriated the symbol. The term valknut is a modern Norwegian word that translates to "knot of those fallen in battle," based on the theory that the symbol was linked to death. It often appears with symbols and possible depictions of the god Odin , who, in Norse mythology, escorts the dead to the afterlife. However, the valknut is also used for more innocuous purposes. For example, practitioners of Ásatrú , a Neo-Pagan religion, have claimed the symbol, insisting that a proper interpretation of the Prose Edda leads to respect and tolerance for all.

valknut

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

picture stone from Tängelgårda, Sweden, showing three icons resembling a valknut

Quick Facts

Related Topics:: Old Norse language; symbol

See all related content

valknut

Old Norse symbol

Written by

Adam Volle

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

History

Top Questions

What is the valknut?
The valknut is an Old Norse symbol featuring three interlocked triangles. One version, the tricursal, shows three separate linked triangles, while the unicursal uses a single line to create all three. Its appearance in archaeological records is open to interpretation, and its meaning is debated.

The term valknut is a modern Norwegian word that means “knot of those fallen in battle,” which refers to the theory that the symbol was associated with death. It is often found with symbols and possible depictions of the god Odin, whose roles in Norse mythology include ferrying the dead to the afterlife.

Since the mid-20th century, the valknut has been adopted by white supremacists, anti-government extremists, and Neo-Pagan racists. However, it is also used for more innocuous purposes.
1 Britannica Source
1. valknut
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What does the valknut look like?
The valknut, an Old Norse symbol, consists of three interlocked triangles and appears in two versions:
* Tricursal This variation depicts three separate, linked triangle shapes.
* Unicursal This version uses a single line to create all three triangles.

The symbol's presence in historical records is open to interpretation, and its meaning remains debated. It is found on picture stones and possible examples exist on an Anglo-Saxon ring and items from the Oseberg ship. The symbol is associated with death and the god Odin, but has been appropriated by far-right groups since the mid-20th century.
1 Britannica Source
1. valknut
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Where was the valknut used in Old Norse culture?
The valknut, an Old Norse symbol of three interlocked triangles, has been found on objects in Scandinavia and England. The oldest examples appear on picture stones, large limestone slabs primarily from Gotland, Sweden.

Other possible instances of the valknut include a gold Anglo-Saxon ring found in Peterborough, England, and items recovered from the Oseberg ship burial in Tønsberg, Norway, such as a bedpost and a bucket lid.

The symbol's modern name, a Norwegian compound word meaning "knot of those fallen in battle," alludes to its possible association with death, as similar emblems have been found on Anglo-Saxon cremation urns. The valknut frequently appears alongside symbols and possible depictions of the god Odin, who, in Norse mythology, conveys the dead to the afterlife.
1 Britannica Source
1. valknut
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What do historians think the valknut symbolized?
The valknut is an Old Norse symbol featuring interlocking triangles, with its meaning still debated. It appears on artifacts from Scandinavia and England. The term valknut is a modern Norwegian word that translates to "knot of those fallen in battle," which suggests the symbol was linked to death.

Some historians believe the valknut is associated with the god Odin, who escorted the dead to Valhalla. Another theory suggests the valknut represents the heart of Hrungnir, a stone giant in Norse mythology. Since the mid-20th century, far-right groups have appropriated the symbol.
1 Britannica Source
1. valknut
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How is the valknut connected to Norse gods, like Odin?
The valknut is an Old Norse symbol featuring three interlocked triangles, with its meaning still debated. It appears alongside symbols and possible depictions of the god Odin, whose roles in Norse mythology include ferrying the dead to the afterlife. For example, a picture stone from Tängelgärda has been interpreted as a fallen warrior entering Odin’s hall, Valhalla, with three valknut-like icons displayed. Another theory suggests the valknut represents the heart of Hrungnir, a giant made of stone.
1 Britannica Source
1. valknut
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How is the valknut used and understood in modern times?
The valknut is an Old Norse symbol featuring interlocking triangles, with its meaning still debated. Since the mid-20th century, far-right groups have appropriated the symbol.

The term valknut is a modern Norwegian word that translates to "knot of those fallen in battle," based on the theory that the symbol was linked to death. It often appears with symbols and possible depictions of the god Odin, who, in Norse mythology, escorts the dead to the afterlife.

However, the valknut is also used for more innocuous purposes. For example, practitioners of Ásatrú, a Neo-Pagan religion, have claimed the symbol, insisting that a proper interpretation of the Prose Edda leads to respect and tolerance for all.
1 Britannica Source
1. valknut
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

valknut, Old Norse symbol composed of three interlocking triangles. One version of the valknut, called tricursal, features the three separate triangle shapes linked together, and another, called unicursal, uses a single line to form all three triangles. The appearance of the valknut in the archeological record is highly open to interpretation, and its meaning remains a subject of debate. Since the mid-20th century many far-right groups have appropriated the symbol as their own.

A few historians have suggested that the valknut appears on a number of objects found in Scandinavia and England. The oldest examples are said to be inscribed on a few picture stones, large limestone slabs found primarily on Gotland, an island in the Baltic Sea, off Sweden’s eastern coast. Picture stones are usually incised with bands of figurative scenes on one side. Some scholars have interpreted symbols that appear on the picture stones from Stora Hammars and from Tängelgårda (both on Gotland) as valknuts, though others describe the emblems as triquetras, a similar triangular symbol comprising three intersecting arcs. Another example of the valknut is thought to appear on a gold Anglo-Saxon ring in the collection of the British Museum; Anglo-Saxons are another Germanic people. The ring was discovered in 1855 by an eel fisherman in Peterborough, England. In addition, the famed Oseberg ship, the largely intact Viking ship from a burial mound on the Oseberg farm in Tønsberg, Norway, contained a couple of items that may display the valknut. Inside the ship was a bed with a symbol resembling the valknut etched into one of its posts, as well as a bucket with a similar emblem on its lid.

The term valknut is a modern Norwegian compound word meaning “knot of those fallen in battle,” referring partly to the theory that the symbol was associated with death. Similar emblems appear on several Anglo-Saxon cremation urns. Moreover, the valknut is said to often accompany symbols and possibly depictions of the god Odin, whose roles in Norse mythology include ferrying the dead to the afterlife. The middle band of a picture stone from Tängelgårda, for example, has been interpreted as a depiction of a fallen warrior leading a procession into Odin’s hall, Valhalla, with three icons resembling a valknut displayed between the horse’s legs.

Another theory suggests that the valknut represents the heart of Hrungnir, a jötun (“giant”) made entirely of stone. Hrungnir appears in the Prose, or Younger, Edda, a text recounting the legends of Norse mythology by Icelandic writer Snorri Sturluson, who lived during the 12th and 13th centuries. He describes Hrungnir’s heart as being “made of hard stone and pointed with three corners, just like the carved symbol which has been called Hrungnir’s heart ever since.” While some historians think that the symbol Sturluson refers to is the valknut, others believe that he is talking about the triquetra.

Since the mid-20th century, the valknut has been adopted as a symbol by white supremacists, anti-government extremists, and Neo-Pagan racists, such as Odinists (sometimes called Wotanists). In countries where the swastika is outlawed, Neo-Nazis use the valknut as a socially acceptable substitute. The valknut, however, is also employed for more innocuous purposes. It has been claimed, for example, by practitioners of Ásatrú, a Neo-Pagan religion that insists a proper interpretation of the Prose, or Younger, Edda leads to respect and tolerance for all.

Adam Volle

valknut

Thank you for signing up!