Valknut

The world of the Vikings was filled with symbols. They were not only a powerful means of expressing ideas, but the Vikings also believed that symbols held power. They not only represented the world but were believed to have the ability to shape it when crafted by the right hands.

One of the most common yet mysterious symbols of the Vikings was the Valknut. It appears throughout Viking culture in relation to death and burial but is not mentioned in any of the surviving literary sources. This means that we must derive its meaning from what we know about the Vikings in general.

The Valknut Symbol

The Valknut is a symbol consisting of three interlocking triangles. It appears on a variety of items found in the archaeological records of the ancient Germanic peoples. The term "Valknut" is a modern invention, and the terms used to describe the symbol during its historical use are unknown.

Scholars have proposed various interpretations of the symbol, sometimes associating it with the god Odin, and it has been compared to the symbol of three horns found on the Snoldelev Stone from the late 9th century, with which it may be related.

Archaeological Finds of the Viking Symbol

The Valknut symbol has been found on a variety of objects from the areas inhabited by the Germanic peoples. It is clearly visible on the Nene River Ring, an Anglo-Saxon gold ring dating from the 8th to 9th century. A carving of the symbol appears on a wooden bed from the Viking Age Oseberg ship, which was buried near Tønsberg, Norway, and the fragments of the Oseberg tapestry, partially preserved and found in the ship burial, also show the symbol. Additionally, the Valknut appears on two image stones from Gotland, Sweden: the Stora Hammars I stone and the Tängelgårda stone.

Historically documented examples of the symbol appear in two traditional, independent forms. The symbol appears in a one-corner form that resembles a type of cloverleaf knot, also seen in the Triquetra. This unicursal form is found, for example, on the Tängelgårda stone. It also appears in a three-cornered form, consisting of three interconnected triangles that topologically correspond to Borromean rings. This three-part form is found on one of the Stora Hammars stones, the Nene River Ring, and the Oseberg ship post. While other forms are possible, these are the only confirmed forms discovered so far.

Modern Interpretations and Theories

Several explanations have been proposed for the symbol:

• The Heart of Hrungnir: Chapter 17 of the Prose Edda from the 13th century, Skáldskaparmál, describes Hrungnir’s heart as being made of hard stone with three sharp points, resembling the engraved symbol hrungnishjarta (Hrungnir’s Heart). Comparisons have been drawn between this description and the Valknut symbol.

• Odin and Mental Bonds: Hilda Ellis Davidson suggests that there may be a connection between the Valknut, the god Odin, and "mental bonds." The symbol may represent Odin's power to bind and loosen, as mentioned in various texts. Odin had the ability to bind the minds of warriors, rendering them helpless in battle, and also to release tension through his powers of battle frenzy and inspiration.

• Religious Practices: Due to the presence of the Valknut symbol on stones depicting Odin and burial items in the Oseberg ship burial, Rudolf Simek suggests that the symbol may have been connected to religious practices related to death.

Topology of the Valknut

Topologically, the Valknut corresponds either to Borromean rings, a cloverleaf knot (Triquetra), or (in modern usage) a closed three-part chain, depending on the artistic representation:

• Valknut as Borromean Rings: This form is seen on the Stora Hammars I stone.
• Valknut as Triquetra (unicursal): This form, resembling a cloverleaf knot, appears on the Tängelgårda stone.
• Valknut as Closed 3-Part Chain: In modern representations, this form is sometimes seen as a closed chain of three interconnected loops.

Modern Popular Culture

The Valknut symbol is used in modern popular culture for a variety of purposes. It is used by followers of Heathenry, a new religious movement inspired by historical Germanic paganism, as a religious symbol.

In Europe, the Swedish forestry company Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget uses a Triquetra-Valknut as a logo on many of their products. The German Football Federation (DFB) has used a logo inspired by the Valknut since 1991 for the German national football team.

The symbol appears as an inlay on the fretboard of some "Tyrant" models of Arch Enemy/Carcass guitarist Michael Amott's guitars, and is also used as the logo of the American engineering company RedViking. In Civilization VI, the winged button serves as the national symbol of Norway, represented in the game by Harald Hardrada, symbolizing the Vikings rather than the modern country.