Valknut, or Hrungnir’s Heart

The valknut is an image consisting of three interlocking triangles. It appears in various archaeological finds related to Germanic peoples, including the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons. Scholars have long speculated as to its significance, but its meaning is not clear. Rudolf Simek suggests there was a role for it in the “cult of the dead,” citing its frequent appearance on picture stones with the figure of Óðinn, a Norse god of war and poetry. Simek translates the Norwegian word, valknuter, as “probably ‘knots of those fallen in battle.’”[1] H.R. Ellis Davidson links the symbol to Óðinn’s ability to “bind and unbind” the minds of men, and points out too its appearance in heathen burials in East Anglia, connecting the symbol to Woden, Anglo-Saxon god of the dead.[2] These theories do not take into account the knot’s appearance on objects that seem to have nothing to do with Óðinn, however, such as a coin discovered in Ribe, Denmark, whereon the symbol appears below a deer or a horse.[3] The image’s meaning remains elusive, then, and any claim of its “definitive” meaning should be viewed with ample suspicion.

The valknut is a fairly common symbol found both in Norse neo-pagan, or heathen, circles, as well as white nationalist groups. It is important, as the ADL points out, to always be aware of the context surrounding the symbol before assuming its user’s intent. Numerous flags and banners at the infamous Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally bore the valknut symbol, which in right-wing extremist circles is often taken to demonstrate its bearer’s readiness to join Óðinn in Valhǫll, or Valhalla. Its incorporation as a symbol of righteous battle and worthy death makes it an appealing image for white nationalists who venerate struggle for a white ethno-state.

Charles Martel

The Medieval Church