The Armour Archive

Is the "valknut" an actual historical symbol of Odin or is it rooted in modern paganism?

There is a Valknut on a Gotlandic picture stone, I'll try and find it for you ... brb

OK, a quick check with my copy of "Scandinavian Mythology" by HR Ellis Davidson documents two... Page 50 has a pic of the the Kirk-Andreas stone from the Isle of Man, and page 123 describes it as portraying Odin being eaten by the Fenris Wolf, with a raven on his shoulder and a Valknut beside him. It's a pretty weird looking Valknut though, and IMO could simply be a snatch of knotwork. I can't find a pic online.

The Stora Hammers Stone depicts a more standard Valknut. Look in the center, where the man holding the shield is being hanged, there's a Valknut by his head. I assume he's being sacrificed to Odin.

The Tängelgårda Stone depicts a number of Valknuts surrounding the mounted figure leading the men on foot. Because they are all holding rings (gold rings I assume), the figure on horseback is probably Odin, and the men following him are probably his warriors in Valhalla.

There's more out there, but these three are all I can find quickly.

~Wil

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Thanks, man. I appreciate the research

No problem. The historical Valknut's I've seen are all this thick, angular knotwork type. Whenever I've seen modern pagans employ the symbol for some reason, they just draw it as a line figure, like a swastika with three arms instead of four. I don't think these stick Valknut's have any basis in history, but I could be wrong.

Good luck.

~Wil

What are they designed to represent?

Valknut is 'Dead-Knot'. I don't know what they represent, they are a symbol of Odin. Judging by their use in various art sources, I would say they are used to show the audience that you aren't seeing something everyday, something having to do with the affairs and the world of men, but something spiritual. The artist who did the Stora Hammers stone wanted us to know that that guy wasn't being hanged for politics or crime, but for a other-world purpose. In a modern sense, think of the Valknut as a white, shimmering aura around a person; something artists use to show you that this is supernatural/religious stuff.

My theory anyway.

~Wil

Those linked triangles?

Yup.

Being a norvegian I am probably supposed to know everything there is to know about this, but I`m sorry I don`t. What I do know is that in norvegian a valknute is a qadrat- shaped symbol with little loops in each corner. It is supposed to be drawn in one fluid motion to keep its powers. I think that it`s been used here in Norway since the viking age -usually you inscribe it by your door or on food-containers to keep the evil powers away.
I`m very interested in learning more about these triangular valknuts, because they are quite new to me.
I`ll go look them up in the library to see what I can find.

Reidunn