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. Above the dying man is a large carving of the valknut. The spear-wielding figure may be cutting a Blood Eagle into the sacrificed figure’s back. 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 justification for this meaning of the valknut comes primarily from the Stora Hammar stones. 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.Īlso see What Is Odinsleep? to learn more. In Norse mythology, Odin only chose the most fierce warriors to go with him to Valhalla, and he sent his valkyries to retrieve them. Those who believe the valknut symbolizes the transition between life and death often ascribe it specifically to a warrior’s death.
Since one of Odin’s powers includes guiding people through that transition, the symbol also gets equated with the All-father. That’s why so many, though not all, scholars agree that the valknut symbolizes the transition between life and death. The symbols often appeared on burial mounds and stones found inside or near burial mounds. However, scholars have found it on surviving artifacts. 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. 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.Īlso see Who is Ymir in Norse Mythology? to learn more. The following sections will look at each of these different associations of the symbol as a whole. Other accepted meanings of the valknut include: Still others take the analogy further and claim it represents a sacrifice to Odin. 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.
The word valknut means “knots of those fallen in battle.” However, people have different opinions about what the symbol itself means. There’s no single, uncontested meaning of the valknut symbol. Unfortunately, being able to see it doesn’t necessarily equate to understanding it. The Oseberg Ship (carved into a bed and on a surviving tapestry).Today, people who want to see the valknut can view it on various artifacts in Scandinavian museums, including: What is the meaning of the valknut symbol? See below What Is the Meaning of the Valknut Symbol?
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