The image containing the world tree depicts a representation of Ragnarök, the apocalypse that is also said to destroy it. Yggdrasil is also depicted on the Overhogdal Tapestry dating from the year 1066. For the Vikings it was also the creator of the first human beings, Ask and Embla, who sprung from its acorns.Ī Norse symbol for Yggdrasil. Four deer feed from the branches and three old wise women known as the Norns protect it.Īs a world tree, the figure of Yggdrasil appears in various forms in many mythologies across the globe. An eagle was said to live at the top of the tree, while the dragon Nidhoggr resided at the bottom. Yggdrasil is the tree which holds all of the nine worlds in its branches. As the symbol contains three triangles, the multiplied number three might represent the nine worlds of Norse mythology. The Valknut also resembles the old Celtic symbols representing rebirth and motherhood. When the symbol is drawn in one stroke, it is said that it has the power to protect against evil spirits. It is also quite often associated with Odin - who had power over death. This symbol appears on funerary stone carvings as a representation of the afterlife. The Stora Hammars I stone, where the valknut occurs in the most central and predominant position, alongside images interpreted as Odin (with a characteristic spear) hunting another figure into a burial mound, while a raven is overhead and another man is hanged. The Legend of Fenrir: a Wolf with a Bite.Neo-pagans are building a temple to practice the ancient Norse religion.The Enigmatic Loki, a Trickster among Gods in Norse Mythology.The word itself is believed to be a combination of the words ‘valr’ meaning ‘slain warrior’ and ‘knut’ meaning ‘knot,’ thus it’s the knot of the slain warrior. The meaning of the symbol is not totally clear, but it is linked to the idea of dying in battle. Hrungnir was a legendary giant from the Eddas whose heart is said to be ‘made of hard stone with three sharp-pointed corners.’
The symbol was also known as “Hrungnir’s Heart”, “the Heart of Vala”, “borromean triangles,” and “the Heart of the Slain”. The Valknut is the Norse symbol for death in a battle. When early Norse Christianity appeared, later forms of Mjolnir were used - such as the Wolf’s Cross or Dragon’s Cross. Dwarves are said to have forged the hammer for the god.Īs an amulet of protection, the symbol of Mjolnir was very common and one of the most popular Viking symbols. Also, when he used his hammer, Thor used to wear a special gauntlet. ( Public Domain )Īs a magical weapon, Mjolnir always returned to its master after it was thrown. Thor's Battle against the Jötnar (1872) by Mårten Eskil Winge. According to legend, Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer, had the power to level mountains.
Thor was the son of the earth goddess Fyorgyn and Odin, the chief deity of Norse mythology. Therefore, his image is quite prominent in Norse mythology. Thor is an ancient god of war who was beloved by the Vikings. The Norse believed that Thor’s hammering caused thunder and lightning during storms. This was a clear reference to Thor’s power as the god of thunder and lightning. Thor’s hammer was named Mjolnir, meaning “lightning”. The following is a list of some of the most significant ancient Norse symbols. There are even some Viking symbols which still have unknown meanings. Such symbols were widely used in Viking society and they represented elements of their beliefs and myths. The Vikings used many symbols in accordance to Norse mythology.
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