A careful guide to Mjölnir, runes, the Valknut, Yggdrasil, Gungnir, ravens, and the later Icelandic magical staves.
Browse all symbols in Symbols & Meanings.
Symbols in this guide
- Mjölnir — Thor, protection, and consecration
- Elder Futhark — an early Germanic writing system
- Valknut — a modern name for an ancient three-triangle motif
- Yggdrasil — the world tree in Old Norse textual tradition
- Gungnir — Odin’s spear
- Huginn and Muninn — Odin’s ravens
- Raven banner — a historically reported banner motif
- Vegvísir and Ægishjálmur — later Icelandic magical signs, not Viking Age logos
How to read the evidence
- Viking Age objects, medieval poems, saga prose, and nineteenth-century manuscripts are different evidence layers.
- Runes are letters before they are modern divination tokens.
- Modern extremist appropriation does not define the full historical meaning of a sign, but context should be acknowledged.
From historical object to modern meaning
Start with the dated object, image, inscription, or text. Then identify later reception and finally modern religious or personal use. This preserves both historical accuracy and living meaning.
Frequently asked questions
Do all these symbols have one fixed meaning?
No. Meaning changes with culture, period, object, and community.
Can I wear these symbols respectfully?
Usually, but learn the specific history, avoid false antiquity claims, and consider living cultural or religious context.
Where should I begin?
Open an individual symbol guide, check its evidence label, then follow the related deity, festival, and product links.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: August 1, 2026.
