#Odin valknut series#

The conjunction of Odin’s symbol/the Valknut, a dead warrior, a burial mound, and a figure holding a spear and flanked by a raven while another lies overhead is significant for the identification of that figure – it can only be Odin, god of death. Above the warrior is a Borromean Valknut, indicating that he was slain in battle, and above it, another raven soars.

The second of these from the top depicts a scene which features a Valknut.Īt its very center is a figure who carries a spear and has a raven over his shoulder as he places his hands in blessing over a warrior interred in a burial mound. This is a large monolith on the island of Gotland in Sweden that has several horizontal scenes from Norse mythology carved and colored into its front. The most well-known of these is perhaps the Lärbro Stone or Stora Hammar. In the absence of written records, we are forced to resort to interpretations of the symbol from the context within which it appears in archaeological relics. This is because there is literally not a single written contemporary record that mentions the Valknut from the period when it was in use.

The Three Worlds and the Three Roots of the Tree of Lifeĭeciphering the Valknut, the Symbol of Odinįor a symbol that seems to have held such great importance and was associated with the chief god of the Norsemen, disproportionately little is known about its exact meanings and uses.

The Norns, the Three Goddesses of Destiny.

So Much Evidence, So Little Confirmation.

Deciphering the Valknut, the Symbol of Odin.

The Valknut symbolizes the recognition of brave individuals in the prime of life who sacrificed themselves for the good of the clan.

While this might seem accurate upon a cursory look, it is actually a shallow interpretation of something much more meaningful. This association with the dead and with the god of death have led to the Valknut being regarded as the symbol of a ‘Cult of the Dead’. That is the main reason why it is known as the symbol of Odin today. Several depictions of the Valknut that have been unearthed from archaeological sites also bear the figure of Odin himself, or animals like the raven and the wolf that were his constant companions. In fact, ‘valr’ is the source of the English word ‘valour’ which we associate with great deeds of brave individuals.

Warriors who lost their lives in battle earned themselves a place in the grand hall overseen by Odin, Valhalla (Hall of the Slain) and became his adopted sons. Odin was not only the ruler of all of the Norse gods but also the Norsemen’s god of war and of death. This ancient symbol is associated with the god Odin of Norse mythology. Sometimes, the triangles are drawn in the Borromean style as three discreet but overlapping and interlocking shapes however, the more interesting variation is an ingenious unicursal where a single, unending line completes all three shapes as one.

#Odin valknut series#

The design of the Valknut is always a series of three interlocking triangles. Thus, the Valknut is the ‘Knot of the Slain Warrior’. The name comprises of two root words, ‘valr’ which means ‘slain warrior’ and ‘knut’, which is rather more easily decipherable as ‘knot’. The Valknut is one of the most intriguing symbols that the Norse people have left behind.