The irminsul is a common symbol of the Asatru faith. The historical Norse irminsul was a solar-phallic pillar used in religious worship practices by early Anglo-Saxons, 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.
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| Two depictions of Charlemagne tearing down the Irminsul |
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.
See also: Borjgali
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I’m sorry. I don’t want to be that guy, but there innacuracies here. The Saxons (not including the Angles or the Jutes, which some Saxon tribes united with) are the only ones known to have had a monument of an irminsul. Yes, it was destroyed by Charlemagne. These were Saxons that remained on the mainland.
Also, why aren’t you refering to Germanic people in general with these posts? I’m sure the Goths, Suebi, Teutons, Marcomanni, Jutes, Bastarnae, and many others would like some representation. Why the heavy focus on the “Norse” and the “Anglo-Saxon” alliance? These symbols have origins much older than them, being later groups.
All due respects. You have a great site here and I appreciate it.
About the irminsul, there may have been others erected, and it is just a Saxon thing.
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