These were raised stones with runic inscriptions, often erected beside a grave. The symbol is found on several runestones on the Swedish island of Gotland. In the archaeological record, the Valknut appears exclusively in connection with the cult of the dead. So why did modern archaeologists ascribe the ‘slain warrior’ meaning to the Valknut symbol? Archaeologists and historians had to give the symbol a name, because it appears farther back than any documented name for it. The words varl meaning ‘slain warrior’, and knut, meaning ‘knot’ were combined to make Valknut. It’s a compound word from Norwegian that means ‘knot of those fallen in battle’. Valknut is a name only given to the symbol recently. Unicursal (left) and tricursal (right) variations of the Valknut symbol.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |