Despite that, however, Fenrir is not so much a symbol of evil but rather a symbol of strength, retribution, ferocity, and destiny, as the Nordic people believed that what is to be will be. All three of them had their roles to play in Ragnarok, the Norse “End of days”, an apocalyptic event where the gods and all the heroes of Midgard would be defeated and the universe would begin again.įenrir’s role in Ragnarok was quite special as he was prophecized to kill the All-Father god Odin for chaining him to a rock for most of Fenrir’s life. His siblings were also the World serpent Jörmungandr and the goddess Hel. The Fenrir wolf in Norse myths is the son of the god Loki and the giantess Angrboða. It’s one of the most important symbols of Norse mythology. Simply put, Yggdrasil symbolized the universe for the Nordic people. It was also thought to be inhabited by various creatures and monsters. From its branches to its roots, Yggdrasil was believed to connect Valhalla, Midgard (or Earth), Asgard, Hel, Svartalfheim, and the other realms. The Tree of Life or the World Tree, Yggdrasil is a cosmic tree in Norse mythology that is believed to connect the nine different realms or worlds together. The Triquetra was later adopted by Christianity where it was used to represent the Holy Trinity. It’s likely that the Norse incorporated it into their own culture from the Celts after Viking raiders s began integrating with the Celtic people. While the symbol was widespread through Nordic cultures and is quite similar to other Norse symbols such as the Valknut in its design, the Triquetra is believed to be a Celtic symbol originally. In Norse culture, the Triquetra symbolized the eternal spiritual life which was also believed to have no beginning or end. TriquetraĪlso known as the Trinity Knot, the Triquetra symbol is comprised of three interlocking arcs with no beginning or end. As such, it’s a popular symbol of strength, bravery, fearlessness and battling evil. Overall, the Valknut is believed to symbolize fallen soldiers and a warrior’s death. The symbol was often used on burial memorials, on warriors’ shields and armor, and was also used in relation to Odin, the All-Father god who was also responsible for accepting the fallen warriors into Valhalla. Even the term “Valknut” is a contemporary name that was given to these three interlocking triangles, as the original name of the symbol is unknown.Īs best as historians have managed to discern, the Valknut was used to represent the Norse and Viking warriors fallen in battle.
The Valknut is a geometrically intriguing symbol with a rather mysterious significance.
Many of the symbols listed below are still used in a variety of ways, including in logos, jewelry, decorative items, fashion and pop culture. However, while Norse refers to the people in general, Viking refers to the Norsemen who were seafarers and warriors, and left their homelands to colonize and raid other lands. Norse and Viking both refer to the same Germanic people, who spoke Old Norse and settled in Scandinavia. While not usually thought of as philosophers, the Norse had a unique outlook on life and the world which is vividly represented by their runes and mythical symbols and figures.īefore we begin, it’s important to distinguish between Norse and Viking. They’ve inspired lots of later art and religions and have become steeped in our pop-culture.
The Nordic cultures and peoples have brought us some of the most colorful and unique myths and symbols we’ve seen.
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