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ᛏᚨᛏᛏᛟᛟ · Valknut

Valknut Tattoo

The Valknut is three interlocked triangles found on Viking Age picture stones and objects, often near scenes of death and Odin. Its original meaning is unknown; "valknut" ("knot of the slain") is a modern name.

Where the Valknut comes from

The shape appears on Gotland picture stones such as Stora Hammars I and Tängelgårda I, in scenes that many scholars connect with Odin, battle and the dead, and it is carved on a bedpost from the 9th-century Oseberg ship burial in Norway.

We don't know what the Vikings called it or exactly what it meant. The name valknut was coined in modern times, and the link with Odin and fallen warriors is an interpretation, though a widely shared one.

What a Valknut tattoo means

Many people choose it to honour Odin, courage or loved ones who have died, or as a symbol of the connection between life, death and fate.

Design ideas

  • Three interlocked triangles in clean linework, alone or above a raven
  • Combined with Odin, ravens or runes in a larger back piece
  • The unicursal (single-line) version for a minimalist look

Good to know

The Valknut appears in the Anti-Defamation League's hate symbol database because some white-supremacist groups have used it. Most people who wear it do so for its Norse meaning, but you may be asked about it, and it is worth knowing the context before you get it.

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Valknut stencils are coming soon. In the meantime, explore The Mjölnir Collection.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Valknut tattoo mean?

It is usually linked to Odin and to those who fell in battle, but its original Viking Age meaning is unknown.

Is the Valknut a hate symbol?

No, not in itself. It is a genuine Viking Age motif, but some extremist groups have misused it, so it is listed in the ADL's hate symbol database alongside its ordinary meaning.