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:''For other uses, see Valknut (disambiguation)''
The 'Valknut' (Old Norse ''valr'', slain warriors + ''knut'', knot) is a symbol consisting of three interlocked triangles. The name is an unattested modern invention used to describe the image and was not used contemporaneously with when the symbols were carved.
The symbol appears on Scandinavian rune stones in connection with Odin. Appearing in a unicursal form, e.g. on the 7th century Tängelgarda stone from Gotland, and in a tricursal "brunnian linked" form, such as on the Lärbro stone, also in Gotland, as well as upon a ring found in the River Nene in England and on the Oseberg ship from Stagen, Norway. The only traditionally and historically attested forms found so far have been the Borromean tricursal, and the triquetra unicursal.

Contents

Symbolism

Geometry

Suebian knot

Modern use

Neopaganism

Other uses

See also

References

External links

Symbolism

According to H. R. Ellis Davidson (p. 146), the valknut —
:''is thought to symbolize the power of the god Odin to bind or unbind [a man's mind] ... so that men became helpless in battle, and he could also loosen the tensions of fear and strain by his gifts of battle-madness, intoxication, and inspiration.''

Geometry

Geometrically, it is topologically equivalent to the Borromean rings, the trefoil knot, or (in modern use only) a closed 3-link chain, depending on the particular artistic depiction:

Suebian knot

The Valknut has also been speculated to be related to the Suebian knot hair style recorded by Tacitus.[1]

Modern use

Various groups related to or that place interest in Germanic paganism make use of the Valknut.

Neopaganism

The Valknut symbol plays a role in modern Germanic neopagan faiths drawn from Germanic paganism, particularly Ásatrú, where numerous explanations and interpretations of the symbol are given.

The symbol is also called [2] [3]:

★ heart of the slain

★ heart of Vala

★ Hrungnir's heart

★ Odin's knot

★ Star of Wotan

Other uses

The company Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget uses a triquetra Valknut as their logo. It is also used by certain neo-Nazi groups, although this use is controversial [4]. Organizations such as The White Order of Thule [5] [6] have used Valknut variants based on the triskelion.

See also

★ Snoldelev Stone, another tri-part Nordic runestone symbol.

References

★ Davidson, Hilda Roderick Ellis. ''"Gods and Myths of Northern Europe."'' Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1964. ISBN 0-14-020670-1

★ Cromwell, Peter. Letter to the Editor: ''"Borromean Triangles in Viking Art."'' 17 Mathematical Intelligencer, pp. 3-4, 1995.[7]

External links

★ Borromean Triangles: A Viking Symbol

★ The knots of death, essay on potential meaning of the valknut [8][9][10][11]

★ About.com entry on the valknut

★ Page on "asatru symbols"

★ .pdf format file on 'heathen symbols'