The valknut is a Norse symbol of three interlocked triangles, found on Viking Age picture stones and grave goods and closely linked to Odin and to death. That is about as far as the evidence goes. The Vikings left no written explanation of it, and they did not even leave us its name. Everything beyond that is interpretation, and this guide separates what is documented from what is guesswork.
Valknut Meaning at a Glance
- What it is: three interlocking triangles, nine points in all, sometimes drawn as one continuous line.
- Where it appears: Viking Age picture stones from Gotland in Sweden, and the Oseberg ship burial in Norway.
- What it is linked to: Odin, death, sacrifice and the fallen warrior.
- What is not known: what the Vikings called it, and exactly what it meant to them.
What Does "Valknut" Mean?
"Valknut" is a modern word, not an Old Norse one. It is a modern Norwegian compound, usually understood as valr (those fallen in battle) plus knut (knot): knot of the slain. It sounds ancient, but no Viking Age source uses it. The name tells you how modern people have read the symbol, not what its makers called it.
The Two Forms of the Valknut
The symbol appears in two shapes. The tricursal valknut is made of three separate triangles that interlock like linked rings. The unicursal valknut is drawn as a single unbroken line that weaves into the same three-triangle shape. Both forms are found on Gotlandic picture stones, and neither has a surviving Viking Age label.
Where the Valknut Appears
The symbol turns up on Viking Age objects, never in the written sources. The best-known examples are:
- The Stora Hammars I stone, Gotland (Sweden). A picture stone with scenes that include a hanged figure and warriors, and a tricursal valknut. Many scholars connect the imagery with sacrifice to Odin.
- The Tängelgårda stone, Gotland (Sweden). Shows the unicursal form, in a scene with warriors and figures often read as connected to Odin and the dead.
- The Oseberg ship burial, Norway. A ship burial from the early 9th century. A valknut-like design is recorded on grave goods from the burial, including a carved bedpost and fragments of textile.
The pattern is what matters. In the surviving examples the symbol keeps company with Odin, death and burial. That is a strong clue, but it comes from a small number of objects, so it is a clue and not a proof.
What Does the Valknut Symbolise?
No Norse text explains it, so every meaning below is a scholar's reading of the evidence.
Odin and the power to bind and unbind
The scholar Hilda Ellis Davidson noted that the symbol appears next to Odin figures on memorial stones. She linked it to Odin's power, described in Old Norse sources, to bind and unbind the minds of warriors in battle, so that men could be struck helpless or freed.
Death and the honoured dead
Rudolf Simek has connected the valknut with religious practices around death, because of where it appears: picture stones that show Odin and a ship burial. This sits well with the modern name, "knot of the slain", and with the idea that the symbol marked someone or something belonging to Odin's realm of the dead. It is a reasonable reading, not a settled fact.
Hrungnir's heart
In the Prose Edda, Snorri Sturluson describes the giant Hrungnir's famous heart as made of hard stone with three sharp corners, "like the carved symbol called Hrungnir's heart" (hrungnishjarta). Some scholars have asked whether this is the valknut. Snorri only says the shape had three points, which fits many designs, and the Gotland stones don't show the story of Hrungnir, so most writers treat this as an interesting possibility rather than an answer.
What about the nine points?
You will often read that the nine points stand for the nine worlds of Norse cosmology, or that the three triangles mean life, death and rebirth. These are attractive modern readings. There is no Viking Age source for them, and we think it is more honest to call them modern interpretation. The nine worlds themselves belong to Yggdrasil, the World Tree.
The Valknut and Odin
Odin is the god of the hanged, the wanderer, and the keeper of runes and magic. He hung on the tree for nine nights to win the runes, and he gathers the dead who fall in battle. A symbol with a link to death, sacrifice and binding fits him well, which is why the valknut is usually called Odin's symbol. Odin's practice of seiðr magic adds to the same picture of a god who works at the edge between life and death.
Valknut vs Helm of Awe vs Vegvisir
People often confuse these three, and they are quite different. The valknut is a Viking Age motif of three interlocked triangles. The Helm of Awe (Ægishjálmr) is an eight-armed protective sign that comes from later Icelandic magical sources. The Vegvisir is an Icelandic magical stave first recorded in the 19th century. If you want to know the oldest of the three, it is the valknut.
Valknut Tattoo Ideas
The valknut is a popular tattoo because it is clean, geometric and carries a serious meaning. It works as a small mark on the wrist or forearm, larger on the chest or shoulder, or woven into knotwork. If you are thinking of one, see our guide to Viking tattoo ideas and the real meanings of Norse symbols, and take the time to decide between the three-triangle and single-line versions, because they look quite different.
Is It Okay to Wear the Valknut?
The valknut is a genuine ancient Norse symbol and it is used today as a religious symbol by many followers of Norse heathenry. Some white supremacist groups have also adopted it, and the Anti-Defamation League advises looking at the context of a use before assuming it is racist, because many people who use the symbol are not. Our view is simple: wear it knowing its history, and it is yours to wear as a mark of Norse heritage, of Odin, or of respect for the dead.
The Valknut Today
Today the valknut appears on jewellery, clothing, tattoos and art. It is one of the most searched Norse symbols, alongside the Vegvisir and the Helm of Awe. Part of the appeal is that it is still a mystery: the Vikings left us the shape and not the explanation.
At Runestone Norway, we believe Norse symbols carry the most meaning when they are understood and not just worn. If you want to build a personal connection to Norse symbolism, you might explore your own birth rune or design a custom bind rune.
Carry the Valknut
If the Valknut's history resonates with you, these pieces let you carry it with real meaning — each one designed in Norway.
- Viking T-Shirt – Valhalla Valknut — Bold Valknut emblem with weathered VALHALLA lettering on black cotton. Worn quietly, understood deeply.
- Valhalla Hoodie – Norse Valknut — Midweight fleece with the Valknut graphic. Built for Nordic weather and those who live in it.
- Valknut Mug – Norse Symbol of Odin & the Fallen — A black Viking mug carrying the Valknut and raw weathered lettering. A daily reminder of what the symbol actually means.
- Valknut Canvas Art – Norse Symbol Print — The Valknut in burnished gold against a deep dark background. Statement Norse wall art for your home.
- Valknut Canvas – Nordic Mountain Sunset — Bronze Valknut set against a twilight mountain sky. Atmospheric Norse art for any wall.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the valknut mean?
The valknut is a symbol of three interlocked triangles linked on Viking Age objects to Odin, death and sacrifice. The name means "knot of the slain" in modern Norwegian, but it is not a Viking Age name, and no Norse source explains the symbol.
Is the valknut a Viking symbol?
Yes. It appears on Viking Age objects, including Gotlandic picture stones and grave goods from the Oseberg ship burial. The word "valknut" itself is modern.
Is the valknut the symbol of Odin?
It is closely associated with Odin because it appears beside him and in contexts of death and sacrifice. It is an association drawn from the evidence, not something a Norse text states.
What is the difference between a unicursal and tricursal valknut?
A tricursal valknut is three separate interlocking triangles. A unicursal valknut is a single continuous line forming a similar shape.
Is the valknut the same as Hrungnir's heart?
Some scholars have suggested it, because Snorri describes Hrungnir's stone heart as having three corners. The evidence is thin, so it remains a theory.
Is the valknut safe to wear?
It is a legitimate ancient Norse symbol and an important one for many heathens. Some extremist groups have also used it, so it is worth knowing the context, but the symbol itself is not a hate symbol.