Valknut

Odin with Sleipnir, Valknuts are drawn beneath the horse (Tängelgarda stone)

For other uses, see Valknut (disambiguation)

The valknut (Old Norse valr, slain warriors + knut, knot) is a symbol consisting of three interlocked triangles.

It is also called:

heart of the slain
heart of Vala
Hrungnir's heart
Odin's knot

It appears on Scandinavian image stones in connection with Odin, e.g. on the 7th century Tängelgarda stone from Gotland.

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.

Geometrically, it is topologically equivalent to the Borromean rings, a closed 3-link chain, or the triquetra, depending on the particular artistic depiction:

Image:Valknut-Symbol-borromean.png|The Valknut as Borromean rings Image:Valknut-Symbol-3linkchain-closed.png|The Valknut as closed 3-link chain (modern only?) Image:Valknut-Symbol-triquetra.png|The Valknut as triquetra

Paganism

The valknut symbol plays a role in pagan faiths drawn from Norse mythology, particularly Asatru, where it is sometimes said to represent the nine worlds. [link]

References

Davidson, Hilda Roderick Ellis. "Gods and Myths of Northern Europe." Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1964. ISBN 0140206701
Cromwell, Peter. Letter to the Editor: "Borromean Triangles in Viking Art." 17 Mathematical Intelligencer, pp. 3-4, 1995.[link]

Valknut

Paganism

References

See also