Viking Symbols, Norse Symbols, Asatru Symbols
Symbols of Viking and Norse, Baltic/Slavic, and modern pagan religions, plus some traditional folk symbols for good measure.
Select a picture below to view a detailed entry.
Norse and Viking symbols (Asatru symbols):
Symbols of Baltic/Slavic religion & ethnicity
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| Romuva | Ormgudinna | Auseklis | Thunder Cross | Gediminas | Lithuania |
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| Tryzub | Borjgali | Rece boga | kolovrat | khachkar | Jumis |
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Wow, I have so many questions!!! I’ve always been drawn like a magnet to all things norse. I’m gettin my 1st tattoo very soon. I can’t find a definitive answer if there is a symbol for love, so if anybody have any information that be fantastic. I’ve read almost all of this thread and one big question that I have is how are all of you wonderful people tracing your lineage back that far. My mother is a hardcore Christian and refuses to ever talk about anything, so pretty much the only thing I know is I am of German descent. I had a teacher once in school tell me there’s a good possibility that I have some sort of Norse heritage. So to hear everybody talk about that has me extremely excited but also scared LOL
I was raised around the Christian faith but could really never understand it. But i was always truly into greek mythology, Old norse mythology, egytain mythology. But i love old norse. Odin thor amd so on. The religion of the vikings the europeans before Christianity was ever a thing. I was actuelly wonder can anybody tell me of an old norse bible book so i can go and buy and rean. And can anybody tell me if their is an oldnorse church place in Arizona and Tennessee
I have a book from The Norroena Society call The Odinist Edda. It’s been put together somewhat like a bible. Might be what you are looking for. Keep in mind that we have no dogma in our religion. We follow a religion of continual learning. You will want to look at other forms of evidence than just books and you will want to read more than one book. We really need to think for ourselves. Some people have put together some guidelines based on the virtues in Norse paganism which are known as the Nine Noble Virtues. We have rituals such as blót and sumbel, which can be done wherever you see fit. My family and friends who celebrate together usually celebrate outdoors. We venerate our gods and goddesses, but we do not grovel to them. We strive to make our gods proud of us by the way we live our lives.
This belief base is quite close to Buddhism. No dogmas attached. You decide what is just and what isn’t. It’s more of a guideline on how to act and be but you are always asking questions, they Lost never seem answered.
There are many books with many different interpretations, unlike the Bible you find in church. There is a book called the Havamal, or The Sayings of the High One. There is also the Poetic Edda. Most of what I have found can be extremely educational in the beliefs of the Norse Vikings. There are also books on practicing the modern Asatru faith. I am unaware of any places of worship for the asatru faith, though. 8 hope this was helpful
Can you talk on the phone? I have info for you.
The reason I ask is because I have books for you. But really you have to know that the olld “Ásatru” was not a religion. It was just how life was. They didnt have religious books. The Eddas is a mythical poem written by snorri sturlsson with stories such as the Havamal within it. But I do not mind teach and talking to someone who is like I was when I was younger.
I would like to learn more I can only find so much online and me and my wife are very interested in this subject especially since we have a young one on the way and would like to teach them a new but old way to see life and give him or her a out of world pressured look and beliefs
To be honest there’s no authentic ‘bible’ for the old ways, alot of what we follow comes from the sagas and the Havamal in particular is a good place to start! Try to steer clear from church like groups because it’s not a very natural way to get to know the higher ones! If your in need of guidance try to find a knowledgeable Gothi or vulva in your area failing that I would be more than happy to have an email exchange if you want reasources/magikal guidance
the thunder cross looks like hitlers symbol
Looks absolutely nothing like a swastica, and that itself was taken from am Indian symbol for life. Symbols look alike there’s only so many things you can do with them.
Another name for the thunder cross is the swastika….it was just perverted and deranged to stand for something alot different.
Actually the swastika has been around for ages, well before Hitler thought about using try represent team kill em all. The swastika has been used by many different cultures to represent different meanings.
it is
click on the pic to read up on it
Hi everyone, I might looking for information I’m currently in the process of developing a tattoo based on my family tree, according to the records my father has amassed thus far I have norseman (viking) heritage aswell as celtic. A true mongrel Briton. I would like to incorporate symbols for family (or relevant). I’ve tried searching the Internet and found conflicting information so I’ve come to ask if anyone can help me with their expertise.
Hi Del. You can find a list of symbols at this link: http://symboldictionary.net/?page_id=3559#celtic The short answer, however, is there are no Celtic or Viking symbols for family. I get asked this at least weekly, and there is clearly a demand, so some have taken on themselves to invent a few.
This may be somewhat late but I’d figure I’d let you know. I’ve been practicing Norse paganism for some time now and I think you should look up “bind runes”. They make good tattoos. You can make your own bind rune and use it as a tattoo
ive traced my heritage back to olaf the black ive also grown up being taught the Asatru ways my entire life some good info on here nice to see other people tracing there blood line back
I have traced my mother’s side back to frosti karason and completely agree there is lots of useful information on this site and will use this site for future reference on some topics
Can anyone please tell me the origin of the “prosperity” and “spiritual strength” symbols? https://www.pinterest.com/pin/188869778097647296/
They’re meant to be norse runes or pseudo-runes.
the thunder cross looks like nazi symbols joined together
I have read multiple comments about the thunder cross looking like a swastica. I would like to say that the swastica has been around for much longer than the memory of the nazis and their tragedies. In reality, saying that the swastica looking like the thunder cross would be more politically correct, seeing as though this symbol was around longer than the swastica, as well
There are about 100 more additional symbols you could post from the Folklore tradition of how symbols were handed down from generation to generation and that is by Textiles, which saved the symbols from pre-pagan era into christian era, look up slavic and balkan embroidery and you will see all the ancient pre-pagan symbols, especially in the Latvian and Lithuanian sybolism
many years ago I came across a popular Mechanics Book that had thr chinese ideoism of loyalty that they had the pattern to be cut out of ideoiwas to be cut out of wood and made into a lamp I have tried to since find that symbol but have had no luck anywhere can somebody please help me it was from the sixties
Do you have any recollection what it looked like?
Was that book zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Hi I’m interested in getting a valkyrie tattoo I know the wing tattoo is dun as protection in battle and the location is important but can’t find were on the body it is supposed to be located can anyone help?
This is wonderful so informative. I am of German and Norwegian decent. I have always been fascinated by Norse religion and the Vikings. I would love to know more. Would anyone be able to suggest informative books on he subjects?
The Prose Edda, The Poetic Edda, and the Havamal
Snorri Sturluson all the way.
Hey, I am thinking about a new tattoo, some rune symbol I have seen in a Viking museum in Oslo, but the truth is that i don’t know if I should trust the meaning at all. Can anyone help me? Send me an e-mail and I will send you the photo I took.
Thank you!
I love that a collection of symbol to this degree exists. I am looking for reference to symbols representing the gods of Norse history for a report I’m compiling. Would anyone have a good reference or source for this?
This is great! I came across paperwork and DNA results that shows my direct bloodline back to Rollo the Wanderer
Very cool stuff. I call my 6 month old son my little Viking Prince. Now I’m looking to create a tattoo in honor of my heritage.
This is great. I’m a direct descendent of Erik the Red on my dad’s side. Basically, as one would say he’s my grandpa way back!! Proud to be Viking!! Of course, I have the red hair too. My son as well who will be seven in February. I’m eclectic Pagan/ Wicca/Witch. Of course in a bit of Celtic too. We are the Vikings so hear me roar!! )0(
<3
I am kin to Erik the Red as well! My family moved to Riverton, MB, Canada back in the day.. I am lucky enough that we have a huge book of our family history called the Icelandic Sage.. Goes all the way back.. Currently designing my tattoo for my grandmother… Loving the info on this page..
Hi I am really curious on how to track someone in your bloodline. I know that thier is viking blood in me, I just do not know who he/she was. Any information on how to track it would be extremely helpful.
I would suggest gathering as much info from your family as possible before you begin. Then check free resources such as findagrave, etc. Many genealogy forums are very helpful and you will find the further back you go, the easier it often gets, as you will meet many distant cousins doing the same research!
Cant be… He’s off (according to History) Danish enharitage and besides that he is only descriped in Saga’s (Mainly from the Danish and Islandic).But if you claim to be a direct descendent i would like to know where they found his grave?
Please, before you get any of these as a tattoo or jewelry, be aware of what they mean. The Nidhstong is NOT a symbol of Asatru. It is a curse. A vile curse based on the idea of shaming a man by calling him a submissive homosexual, which was “fighting words” in the Viking era. One could legally kill someone in a duel over such words. The idea behind the curse is to call the man a “mare” which was in the class of ergi-insults. This is not a symbol you want to wear!
I’m glad to find other Vikings and to know that the religion survives and thrives today
these symbols are very like our vaidik symbols of sanatan dharma.
As my ancestry is deeply rooted into the Viking world, as my ancestors are Erik the Red and Leif Ericsson, I’m always happy to find out more about my proud Viking heritage
my family is from iceland and iv been trying to find out more about their origin but have hit a dead end. how did you find out your ancestors and would you be able to help me? my grandfathers name was Ari Sigifeur Svarrisson, and his fathers name was Sverrir Magnússon, but thats as far back as i have been able to go.
Ancestry.com believe it or not is an excellent reference. The LDS Church as well has excellent genealogists. They did my husband’s family beyond the year 1100 on the Viking side. Keep in mind that spellings of surnames vary wildly even for the same person- dates and locations are usually more helpful.
My family is Swedish in origin and I can tell you that, that is probably as far as you are going to get with your heritage. Because at that point is when Modern governments started to form and tax the people. to do this they started tracking people by hereditary surnames, which allows us to trace our heritage through our surname, but before that time in the Scandinavian culture you where known as your fathers son or daughter, meaning if your name was leaf, and your fathers name was eric, you would have been known as leaf ericson, or if you were a girl, ericdotter. so its almost impossible to trace heritage past that point unless your ancestors had some fame or position that would warrant recording their family.
Yes, that’s true
In reply to the post below. I found a lot of good information at http://thetroth.org.
Hi i have been practicing nordic paganism for as long as i can remember i am 15 and felt all alone until i found this
Can you tell me about your religion? I’ve always been so interested in vikings and my heritage and would like to learn.
There is a book written called the rainbow bridge which is about the Viking heritage
i too felt lost until i found my heritage, but since then all is clea and like.. i feel new and whole i guess, im happy i discovered myself.
-Odin be with you
Hello-
I am working on a drawing for someone that wants symbols to represent birth, growth, love, honor, death and afterlife. Basically someone’s life from that time.
What symbols would represent those stages of life?
Thanks! – jOsh
Hej Josh i Kentucky,
Jag föreslår att du använder det anglosaxiska alfabetet för att ta fram meningen du eftersträvar snarare än att stjäla från kulturer du inte har någon kännedom om.
A boat is a good symbol for a journey from birth to grave. And for the Vikings boats were an important part of life, as well as distinctive in design. By the way, make sure never to mix Celtic and Norse designs. If you do not catch my drift, stay off. If you do, keep it clean. Have a look at www. vikingskip.com for inspiration. By the way, in all of Norway, I would trust one tattoo artist for giving me a Norse tattoo only. She gave me mine.
I was brought into this world as a Christian, although I was never into the almighty one god whom controls almost everything. I’ve heared of other multi god religions but only the Norse Paganism actually moves me, partially because my heritage can be traced back to Viking Norway and Iceland.
I have a pendant in the shape of a shield with a spiral inlaid in the center and I woul verry mutch like to know what it means. I have been searching for hours now and have nothing to show for it other than a theory that it is a representation ofa whirlpool and means community. Please help.
Hi Nick- I’ve addressed this at some length here: http://symboldictionary.net/?page_id=3#comment-51225 The same ideas also apply to Norse symbols. The Vikings, like the Celts, really did not have a concept of nuclear families as we do today. The closest to a mother/father dynamic would be Odin and Frig. Neither Vikings nor Celts would have had symbols explicit about love (at least not generically), but emblems of gods or goddesses might suffice.
You may be looking for this: http://symboldictionary.net/?p=719
I finally found my family. I am Titan born, “the world worm”, it is a strange thing to find…
Hi Jennifer, you seem to be very knowledgeable. Can you help me with Dievturiba. American born but truly Latvian at heart. One of the very,very few religions that seems to make sense to me.
I was a Catholic for most of my life, but have converted to Norse Paganism. I have a sense of belonging and have truly found myself in this religion. I have been practicing for 7 months and am dedicated to it. I wear the Hammer of Thor, Odins Knot and a Pentacle around my neck and never take it off.
The man I married and had two children with is very into it. So much so we named our babies Freya and Odin.
I cannot find the meaning to this symbol I found in my Norse myths book. Any ideas??
Email me a randaline007@yahoo.com
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i36/randi005/20130310_132641_zpsb5a409dc.jpg
Odin, chief of the Norse gods, learned the secrets of goddess magick (not easily – he gave up an eye and hung from the World Tree for a really long time), but in so doing, he brought about the twilight of the male gods (Gotterdamerung), because they became divorced from their female roots. This symbol, a male version (four spiral spokes instead of three) of the triskelion, represents masculine magickal power. It is a symbol for Norse magick.
Well as u can see its a symbol, of the sun, and the cyclus, but it can have alot og meanings in between!
Yes- but we must appease the gods of SEO, in order for people to find what they need. And everyone searches for “Norse.”
Well i’ll be honest, History points out that Norse Mythology had quite an influence on other nations such as germany and sweden, after all, my people (Germans) were mostly barbarians and vikings at the time.
Hmm. Nice to know i share a little blood with vikings. Now I’m even prouder of my German blood.
hail brother
I have a symbol that i need identfied. it is a circle with a fork going thru the center of it the fork is pointing down if that means anything. it was given to me and cant find the symbol anywhere yet.
Hi Carlos, do you have a picture?
I was born and forced to be a Lutheran untill 4years ago when I was 13 I finally told people that I fallowed a different god than my family, I was drawn to Thor scense I could talk even tho I didn’t know who I was fallowing yet but then my dad told me he was interested in Asatrü and so I got books from him on it and Asatrü has fit me like my own skin. The only problem I have is I don’t know anyone around me that is Asatrü I live in a suburb of Minneapolis, MN anyone live near me? The only person I know besides me is my friend joe that I “enlightened” to Asatrü.
(:
HAIL THE ASAR GODS!!!
Thanks SymbolicDictionary.Net ! You helped with the research I’m doing for my tattoo. A full back peace of Mjolnir with my last name in Norse runes! Will send a pic when it’s done. And remember the old Norse saying HURRY TO MEET DEATH BEFORE YOUR PLACE IS TAKEN!
Simon, you’re a disgrace to true scandinavians and people who not only represent the culture/religion, but people who actually tattoo these things on their bodies not only because they want to “follow” a religion. I personally think religion itself is a joke and I would never tattoo something on my body if it wasn’t suppose to be. I suggest you get a valknot next and understand the true meaning of what it is to be a norseman.
Can you enlighten me about this? I am truly interested in what you
it’s something I’ve always been interested in and now my son as well. He’s 17. We haven’t been in the us long. Maybe two
Have to say. If you wouldn’t mind talking with me. If you’d like my
Email just let me know. I have been interested and drAwn my whole life.
I am mostly Norwegian and can trace back to Vikings (blush)
But it does fill me with pride
Three generations. Anyway, I would just love to speak with someone
Who truly knows what it is to be.. What is in our blood and hearts. And to know where you came from is to know something of who you are. I’m amber by the way. And if you have time and don’t mind please find my on Facebook amber eaves early tx Little blonde girl in photo with a black tshirt. So you can find me. If you hate fb as many do lmk and I would be happy to send you my email. Amber
It’s funny how some of these guys act as if they really know their family heritage is but some of it ain’t true I’m an Olsen and I can date my family back to the 1800′s I’m joining the marines and tattooing the valknot to my back. And religion is bullcrap, our people were seamen and explorers and warriors not religious fanatics. Hey Simon give me some pointers on my next tat
I have been looking for a religion that i would want to be apart of so i am i Norse i wear a Mjolnir and i know almost all the prayers. I love this religion and stand strong for it and always will.
-All hail Odin
Det er veldig irriterende når folk tror de bare kan Åsatru uten skikkelig anstendig. Jeg selv er minst 50%, men jeg har ennå ikke deltatt i noen møter, men da fordi jeg bor i en veldig kristen by. Men deltar på samlinger ikke er nødvendig. Være av Norse anstendig er nødvendig.
let the world hear the words once more……
“save us lord from the wrath of the norsemen”
HAIL ODIN.
“Our spirits were forged in snow and ice, to bend like steel forged over fire. We were not made to bend like reed, or to turn the other cheek. He grasped the runes. They’re our’s to use.”
I have just discovered the religion and instantly liked it so I now wear a Mjolnir pendant, out of all religions I have encountered and read about this one “Nordic paganism” is the one for me
I found a symbol on-line but lost it. It’s the Norse symbol representing “Strength, Courage and Loyalty”. Is anyone familiar with this symbol or how I can find it? Thanks.
Was it a symbol, or a Rune? The Runes each have meaning, and I’m thinking that what you are talking about is Thor’s rune, Raido, since we all know Thor is all of those things. Could also be Tyr’s rune, Teiwaz. Raido looks like the letter R, and goes with Journey according to some sources, where as Teiwaz looks like an arrow pointing up and goes with Warrior. Strength is Uruz, which is the rune of the Ox; looks like a lower case “n”. This information is taken from this image I googled for quick reference: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/77/ae/80/77ae804cd46b2b43d8971f18ec7015b7.jpg
I wouldn’t take that as the sole meanings to any of those runes, but I would try to help the best I could with a quick reference.
HAIL ODIN!!!!
I’m looking for a multi-body snake or serpent the has the meaning of eternal youth or Divine Eternal Youth. I believe it’s Norse but I could be wrong. I came accross it years ago in a book and can’t find it now. Any help would be great..Thank you
This is great Norse Mythology has been a big part of my life since age 6. I love the symbols and i’ve got tattoos of Odin’s Horn, Thunder Cross, Mjolnir, and the Wolf’s cross it was painful but worth it on my back is a tattoo of Fenrir the Wolf and I look forward to a tattoo of Thor
My back is reserved for Thor fighting Jormungandr. Something like this:
http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2014/010/9/6/thor_and_jormungandr_facebook_timeline_by_dremoravalkynaz-d71p57v.jpg
or maybe this:
http://mysticalgenie.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/jormungandr_thor33.jpg