Norse Symbols And There

Meanings( Source symboldictionary.net)

26 de mayo de 2014 a las 14:53

A modern representation of the Web of Wyrd, the matrix of fate (wyrd) as

woven by the Nornir, the fates of Norse legend. The emblem, nine staves
arranged in an angular grid, contains all of the shapes of the runes and
therefore all of the past, present, and future possibilites they represent. The
web of wyrd serves as a reminder that the actions of the past affect the present
and that present actions affect the future; all timelines are inextricably
interconnected- in a sense, it is a representation of the tree of life.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Triple Horn of Odin is a stylized emblem of the Norse God Odin. This
symbol consists of three interlocked drinking horns, and is commonly worn or
displayed as a sign of commitment to the modern Asatru faith. The horns figure
in the mythological stories of Odin and are recalled in traditional Norse toasting
rituals. Most stories involve the Gods quest for the Odhroerir, a magical mead
brewed from the blood of the wise god Kvasir. The tales vary, but typically,
Odin uses his wits and magic to procure the the brew over three days time; the
three horns reflect the three draughts of the magical mead. Below is an image
of the pre-Christian monument called the Larbro stone.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Valknut
Also known as: Hrungnirs heart, heart of the slain, Heart of Vala, borromean
triangles
The emblem at left found on old Norse stone carvings and funerary stels, is
sometimes called Hrungnirs heart, after the legendary giant of the Eddas. It

is best known as theValknut, or knot of the slain, and it has been found on
stone carvings as a funerary motif, where it probably signified the afterlife. The
emblem is often found in art depicting the God Odin, where it may represent the
gods power over death. The valknut can be drawn unicursally (in one stroke),
making it a popular talisman of protection against spirits.
The Valknuts three interlocking shapes are suggestive of related Celtic symbols
of motherhood and rebirth- it may have been a goddess symbol at some point
in history. The nine points suggest rebirth, pregnancy, and cycles of
reincarnation. The number nine also suggestive of the Nine Worlds (and the
nine fates) of Norse mythology. Their interwoven shape suggests the belief of
the interrelatedness of the three realms of earth, hel, and the heavens, and the
nine domains they encompass.
The symbols nine points have an obvious correlation with childbirth; the
placement of the symbol on funeral monuments mark it as a sign of rebirth of
reincarnation. The Valknut is also an important symbol to many followers of the
Asatru religion, who often wear it as a symbol of the faith. A variation called an
open valknut, due to the looser, non-unicursal design:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Swastika (Fylfot Cross)

The swastika is an archetypal, universal human religious symbol. It appears on
every continent and is as old as humankind. A marker of the suns travels, it can
be seen on Pictish rock carvings, adorning ancient Greek pottery, and on
ancient Norse weapons and implements.
Swastikas were scratched onto cave walls in France seven thousand years ago.
A swastika marks the beginning of many Buddhist scriptures, and is often
incised on the soles of the feet of the Buddha in statuary. In the Jain religion, the
swastika is a symbol of the seventh Jina (Saint), the Tirthankara Suparsva. To
Native Americans, the swastika is a symbol of the sun, the four directions, and
the four seasons.
Geometrically, the swastika is a type of solar cross, with arms bent at right
angles, suggesting a whirling or turning motion. Long before the symbol was coopted as an emblem of Hitlers Nazi party, it was a sacred symbol to Hindu, Jain,
and Buddhist religions, as well as in Norse, Basque, Baltic, and Celtic Paganism.
The name Swastika is derived from the Sanskrit language, from su, meaning
good, and vasti, meaning being (together: well being) In India, it is used
as a fertility and good luck charm. The right turning Indian swastika symbolizes
the sun and positive energy, and is most commonly associated with the deity

Ganesh, a God of prosperity and wealth. Some Indians regard an anti-clockwise

swastika as an opposing, dark force- a symbol of the godess Kali. Together, the
two can be regarded as symbolically similar to the Yin Yangsymbol of Taoism, or
the two Pillars of Kabbalah. The swastika is also known for its uses in heraldry
as the tetraskelion, or the the fylfot cross (fylfot meaning four feet), the cross
gammadion (because it resembles four greek letter gammas.), and the
hakenkreutz (German, hooked cross).

The swastika used in Buddhist art and scripture is known as a Manji, and
represents Dharma, universal harmony, and the balance of opposites. When
facing left, it is the Omote (front) Manji, representing love and mercy. Facing
right, it represents strength and intelligence, and is called the Ura (rear facing)
Omoje. Balanced Manji are often found at the beginning and end of buddhist
scriptures. You can read more about Manji here.
In pre-Christian Pagan Europe, the swastika was generally a solar symbol, but in
many cases, its use dates so far back in history that its original meaning is
obscured. It is most often associated with the god Thor.
In Baltic regions, the swastika is sometimes called the thunder cross, and is
associated with the Thunder God Perkons (Perkunas)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Nine Worlds
A graphic depiction of the Nine Worlds in Norse cosmology, which is divided
into three realms. These are:In the Upper Realm:
Asgard, the abode of the Aesir, ruled by Odin, the chief of the Norse Gods.
Vanaheim, the dwelling-place of the Vanir.Alfheim, the world of elves, ruled by
Freyr.
Below, connected to the upper realm by Bifrost, the rainbow bridge:
Midgard, meaning middle earth, this is the abode of humanity, the physical
plane. Midgard is surrounded by the Ocean, the abode of the world serpent
Jormungand.Jotunheim, the home of the Jotuns, or giants. Svartalfheim, the
world of the dark elves, an underground kingdom.
The lowest level, the Land of the Dead, also has three realms:
Niflheim, a frozen wasteland, eternal darkness, ruled by the Goddess Hel.
Muspelheim, the realm of the fire giants.Hel, the abode of the dead.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Helm of Awe (gishjlmr)

The Helm of Awe is magical spell of protection used by early Vikings.
According to a number of legends, this apotropaic symbol, when worn between
the eyes, was intended to confer invincibility in the wearer or instill fear in ones
enemies.
Today, it is used as a charm of protection and an emblem of identification by
Asatru believers.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jormungandr
Also known as: Iormungand, Jormungand ,Jormundgandr is the serpentine
son of the mischievous God Loki and the Frost Goddess Angrboda. He is a
monstrous serpent, destined to die by Thors hand at the battle of
Ragnarok. According to legend,the god Odin, in an attempt to forestall the
inevitable, captured the great snake and threw him into the ocean, where he
grew so large, he encircled the earth. He is also known as the Midgard Serpent.
Jormungandr is sometimes pictured with three heads, symbolic of his existence
in all three realms of Norse Cosmology

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Runes are a Norse alphabet developed around 200 BCE, from characters used
for magical purposes. According to Norse myth, the alphabet was discovered in
a vision by the god Odin as he hung upside down and wounded for nine days on
the World Tree Yggdrasil.There are three commonly known runic alphabets: the
elder and younger Futhark (futhark being the transliteration of the first few
letters of that alphabet), the Anglo-Saxon futhork, and the Danish short twig or
script alphabet.
The word rune literally means a whisper or secret. The Elder Futhark is the
oldest, and consists of three sets of eight letters; there have been as many as
thirty three runic characters, and as few as sixteen at various times in history.
Runes have been used as a divinatory device from the beginning, and some
scholars believe that at one time, a special class of diviners existed dealing
solely in rune reading.
In the present time, runes are created and used by Asatru believers as a device
for meditation and divination. One is generally expected to construct their own
set of rune stones.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Shield Knot (Four Corners, Quaternary knot)

The shield knot is an ancient and nearly universal symbol. The shield knot has
been used for thousands of years by a variety of cultures for protection and
warding. While the common design is most often associated with the Celts and
ancient Norse, the most basic form is much older.
The fourfold version at right is Mesopotamian in origin and is associated with
protective spells invoking the gods of the four corners of the earth.
Later, the four-corners emblem was used in the Kabbalah as a symbol of
the Shema, the prayer/spell to invoke the four Archangels; it is the origin of the
Qabbalistic Cross ritual still used in magic today. This knot is sometimes
referred to as the Earth Square or St. Hans cross, named for the biblical
John the Baptist. The Norse and Celtic versions of the knot are used for the
same purposes of protection but are related to the fourfold solar cross in origin.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Troll Cross
The troll cross is an amulet made of a circle of iron crossed at the bottom
(possibly in the shape of an odal rune), a charm worn by early Scandinavian
peoples as a protection against trolls and elves. Iron and crosses were both
believed to ward off evil creatures.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Solar Cross (Odins Cross, Sun Cross, Wheel of Taranis)

The Solar cross is probably the oldest religious symbol in the world, appearing
in Asian, American, European, and Indian religious art from the dawn of history.
Composed of a equal armed cross within a circle, it represents the solar
calendar- the movements of the sun, marked by the solstices. Sometimes the
equinoxes are marked as well, giving an eight armed wheel. The swastika is also
a form of Solar cross.
The sun cross in its most simplified form (shown above) is known in Northern
Europe as Odins cross, after the Chief God of the Norse pantheon. It is often
used as an emblem by Asatruar, followers of the Norse religion. The word
cross itself comes from the Old Norse word for this symbol: kros.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hugin and Munin

Hugin and Munin (Norse, thought and memory) are the twin ravens of
Norse mythology. They are the servants of the Norse All-Father, Odin. According

to legend, they are sent out each morning and report back to Odin each evening
on the reports of thehappenings of the world.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Gungnir
Also known as: Gar, Spear of Odin, Sword of Odin
The Norse Runeletter Gar, which symbolizes the legendary weapon of Odin,
Gungnir.
Gungnir was a Dwarven magical weapon given to Odin by Loki, which never
misses its mark, and always returns to Odins hand.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Spirit Ship (Ship of the Slain)

The spirit ship is a common theme of Norse pictograph stonecarvings, some
dating as far back as the fifth millenium CE. The spirits ship is most commonly
found on funerary monuments, where it represents the journey to the
afterlife. The symbol has obvious connections to the Viking practice of sending
the deceased into the afterlife aboard a burning ship. Interestingly, the form of
the boat in the ancient carvings is identical to the Viking longship. Similar
carvings have been found in Canada, dating as far back as 800 BCE.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sleipnir (Steed of Odin)

Sleipnir (Norse, gliding one) is the legendary eight-legged horse belonging to
Odin, the Father-God of the Norse pantheon. Sleipnir carries Odin between the
world of the Gods and the world of matter. The eight legs symbolize the
directions of the compass, and Sleipnirs ability to travel through both land and

air.The eight legs of Sleipnir were probably symbolic of the eight spokes solar
wheel, and probably relate to an earlier form of Odin as a sun-god. There is
some evidence that Odin himself was at one time anthropomorphized as a
horse; Sleipnirs ability to travel instantaneously associates him with sunlight. In
Norse mythological tales, Sleipnir is the offspring of the God Loki and Svaldifari,
the great horse of the Giants. Sleipnir can be compared to the otherworldly
horses of Celtic gods such as Manannan Mac Lir and Im Dagda.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Irminsul
The irminsul is a common symbol of the Asatru faith. The historical irminsul
was a solar-phallic pillar used in religious worship practices by early AngloSaxons, and destroyed by Charlemagne in 772 AD. Its exact meaning is
unknown, although it may be connected with the Anglo-saxon deity Irmin, who
is possibly related to the Norse God Tyr (a theory supported by the shape of the
runeletter tyr). The Irminsul was likely related to the World Tree Yggdrasil, a
symbol of the axis mundi (world axis), a symbol of man and the cosmos.
Modern Irminsuls usually consist of an upright pole or cross, representing the
union of earth with the heavens, and are often surmounted or hung with a solar
wheel or sun cross.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jumis
The symbol of Jumis (pr. Yoo-mis), the Baltic Pagan God who personified the
harvest. The symbol of Jumis is two stylized, crossed corn stalks, a glyph which
may be related to the sanskrit word for twin. The two tied stalks are
reminiscent of offerings left after the gathering in of the grain; they represent
the two faces of the God, who is also related to the Roman Janus.
The symbol is one of prosperity and good fortune, and is often found on clothing
and decorative painting.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Nidstang (Nithing Pole)

Nidstang means, literally, curse pole. The nidstang (sometimes called a
Nithing or niding pole) is an ancient Scandinavian custom of formally
cursing or hexing someone. A wooden pole or stake was inscribed with the
intended consequence and erected with a ceremony.
A horses head or carcass was placed atop the pole in the facing in the direction
one wished to send the curse. Today, the nidstang is more likely to be virtual- an
internet curse accompanied by a virtual horses head (Im sure the horses are
relieved).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Yggdrasil (Norse Tree of Life)

A stylized image of Yggdrasil, the Norse World Ash, the giant mythological Tree
that holds together the Nine Worlds or realms of existence. This image appears
on the famous verhogdal Tapestry, which dates to the year 1066 and depicts
the events of Ragnarok, the apocalyptic prophecy of Pre-Christian Norse legend.
The World-ash encompasses the Nine Worlds, and is guarded by the
serpent Jormungandr. Yggdrasil is one of many variations of the Cosmic Axis
or Universal World Tree known to all human cultures.
Yggdrasil is home to many creatures, most notably the serpent or Dragon
Nidhogg, who lurks in the base, The Rooster Gullinkambi (golden comb), who
lives at the trees peak, and the squirrel, Ratatosk, who carries messages
between them. These animals can be viewed as metaphors for the human body.
According to Norse legend, Yggdrasil is where the god Odin hung upside-down
for nine nights in order to obtain the Rune Alphabet. Beneath the roots of the
World Ash lies the spring, Mimir, to which Odin sacrificed an eye to gain wisdom.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Einherjar (Heroic Dead)

In Norse Pagan (Asatru) mythology, the Einherjar are the heroic dead culled by
theValkyries from the battle field, and divided amongst Odin and the goddess
Freyja. These warrior spirits live with the Aesir in Valhallah, where they practice
for the final battle of Ragnarok, where they will fight alongside Odin and the
Aesir. The Einherjar were often depicted in Norse funerary artifacts as armed
helpers of the god Odin, and are holdovers from Neolithic times. Einherjar
accompanied to Valhallah by Valkyries.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Oseberg Buddha
]This enigmatic character appears as a decoration on a metal bucket uncovered
in the remains of a Viking ship uncovered in Oseberg, Norway, which dates to
about 800 CE. Called the Oseberg Buddha because his lotus-posture pose and
decorative swastikas are reminiscent of eastern designs, this character is most
likely a representation of the God Thor. More about the Oseberg Viking Ship

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Another, less common version of the Valknut, called a triceps, resembles a cutaway triangle, or a triangle formed of three diamonds (three othala runes
interwoven):
Triceps
The triceps was used into the middle ages as a magical sign of protection. The
othala rune signifies the home and ones ancestors.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lady of the Beasts (Mistress of animals)

The Mistress of animals, as she is sometimes referred to, is a fourth century
stone carving of an unknown Norse Goddess. She usually appears with serpents
in each hand, possibly linking her to the ancient Babylonian Goddess Ishtar, or
to the Cretan Bee Goddess. She is probably a creatrix, as she is posed in a
birthing position.
The triskele above her head most likely symbolizes the Goddess as creatrix. It is
made up of the three animals emblematic of the Celtic domains of existence:
the boar, representing the earth; the snake, an emblem of water; the bird,
representing the sky.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Julbock (Christmas Goat)

The Julbock or Yule-goat is a ubiquitous symbol of the winter holidays
in Scandinavian countries. A throwback to Pre-Christian times, the Julbock is
another Pagan Yule symbol that was absorbed into Christian holiday customs. In
the Norse pagan religion, the goat was the conveyance of the gods- early
images of Odin in a goat-drawn cart are eerily similar to later depictions of
Santa Claus.
As Christianity became the norm, the Yule-goat remained popular as a trickster
figure, a stand-in for the devil who accompanied the elf Tomten, and later, St
Nick, on gift-giving missions. It became customary for men of the villages to
dress up as the julbock and play pranks on the unsuspecting.

Today, the Julbock is most often represented in modern times by a straw

figurine of a goat, traditionally made from the last grain of the harvest, bundled
in red ribbons and kept as a token of hope for the New Year.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ausekla Zvaigzne (Star of Auseklis, Morning Star)

Aueskla means star in Lithuanian, and the Ausekla Zvaigzne (star cross,
from the rootAust, dawn), or Star of Auseklis, is the emblem of the morning
star in the Baltic region- the Latvian God Auseklis, as well as the Lithuanian
goddess Ausrine, the daughter of the sun.The symbol is one of many ancient
cosmological and magical symbols used in Eastern European folk art, and
represents the god/goddess as the personification of the planet Venus.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tryzub (Ukrainian Trident)

The Tryzub (pronounced treh-zoob) is the ubiquitous symbol of Ukraine. The
ancient symbol is believed to have originated as a tribal symbol; today it is
emblazoned on the countrys flag, on postage, money, business logos, even
Easter eggs! The highly stylized version seen almost everywhere in Ukraine
originated as the family crest of Volodymyr, a tenth century Ukrainian Prince.
Today, the tryzub is worn as a symbol of national pride, as a symbol of the
Christian trinity, or as a synthesis of the divine elements of fire and water in the
manifest world.

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Lietuvis Kryzius (Lithuanian Cross)

The Lietvos Kryzius (Lithuanian Cross) is a stylized folk art cross commonly
found in Lithuania, used for funerals and as votive offerings. The cross marries
Lithuanian pagan and Christian symbolism, and is derived from pre-Christian
renditions of the cosmic tree. Most images include solar and lunar symbolism,
such as suns rays and crescent moons, as well as tree branches, etc.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thors Hammer (Mjolnir)

This Mjolnir, or Thors Hammer, is an ancient Norse symbol, a stylized
representation of the legendary magical weapon of the Norse God Thor.
Mjolnir means lightning, and symbolized the Gods power over Thunder and
Lightning. The Hammer Mjolnir was said to always return after it had been
thrown.
The Thors Hammer amulet was worn frequently by believers as a symbol of
protection- a practice so popular it continued even after most of the Norse
population had converted to Christianity. In modern times, is often used as an
emblem of recognition for members of the Asatru faith, and as a symbol of
Norse heritage.
A later form of the Mjolnir is called the Wolfs Cross, or Dragons Cross, and was
associated with early Norse Christianity: