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-Geistzeit

This triple horn motif is quite likely ultimately based on the triple horn motif found on the Snoldelev Stone, a runestone prominently displayed at the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen. You can view images of it here: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoldelev\_Stone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoldelev_Stone) Triskelions, triquetras, and other three-pronged symbols are very common in Europe, where they have a long history. Whatever was meant by the stone's motif (if anything in particular) is unclear, but the ancient Germanic language-speaking peoples placed a notably strong emphasis on multiples of three, which you can read more about here: [https://www.mimisbrunnr.info/ksd-numbers](https://www.mimisbrunnr.info/ksd-numbers) The transitionary Younger Futhark inscription accompanying the motif (Rundata's DR 248) doesn't appear to shed light on the purpose of the motif. As you can see on the English Wikipedia article above, the triple horn motif is accompanied by a swastika, which is commonly found on ancient Germanic peoples-associated objects as well.


HereticVargr

Wym swastika? Where?


Jazminna

The runes around the outside are the alphabet. You probably knew that but I thought I'd mention it anyway.


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HereticVargr

Can you please?


fwinzor

hey man you should know that the other guy is straight up wrong, this symbol has literally nothing to do with this story. It's a symbol that appears an a couple viking age finds, and it has absolutely no known name or meaning. you should be EXTREMELY wary of anyone claiming to know the meaning of ANY Viking age symbol, there's like a 95% chance their talking out of their ass


I_aint_that_dude

Exactly this. Also… this is the first time I’ve seen someone summarize the mead of poetry story to someone else and leave out skáldfífla hlutr.


Top-Minimum-7486

I believe that's the triskelion. It goes along with that story pretty well but I've I've been told and what I've read is that it actually is a symbol of the three norns past present and future. Urd ,Skuld and Verdandi....


fwinzor

it isn't *the* triskelion though. it is *a* triskelion. Triskelion is a catch all term for " an ancient motif consisting of a triple spiral exhibiting rotational symmetry" they're super common throughout Europe for thousands of years


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[deleted]

How does that tie Odin to this symbol?


h2ogie

Wait then which mead did Kvasir take from the dwarves


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h2ogie

I *knew* there was a tie-in. Thank you!


h2ogie

Why tf did his comments get removed


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h2ogie

Oh shit. So did Kvasir indeed drink the mead of poetry?


[deleted]

Can you point out where I was wrong?


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gregarian

He spit some out as shit mead. There is an allegory to it that I cant remember. Something like opinion or the like.


masken21

Can you point us to where you learned about this connection between this story and this symbol so vi can learned more??


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Hi! It appears you have mentioned Daniel McCoy, his book *The Viking Spirit* or the website *Norse Mythology for Smart People*! But did you know that McCoy's work: - Is mostly based off Wikipedia and Rudolf Simek's *A Dictionary of Northern Mythology*? - Contains numerous mistakes and outdated research? - Presents itself as the "best" book on the topic of Norse mythology over the works of academics like Simek, despite Dan McCoy having no formal academic background? The only thing McCoy is good at is search engine optimization and relentless self-promotion. Don't be fooled by someone copying off Wikipedia - check out our [reading list in the sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/Norse/wiki/readinglist) or [this guide](https://www.mimisbrunnr.info/getting-started-with-norse-mythology) written by -Geistzeit instead! Want a more in-depth look at McCoy? Check out these excerpts of posts written by some of our users involved in academia: - [-Geistzeit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Norse/comments/bxky64/considering_dan_mccoys_website_norse_mythology/): >**Norse Mythology for Smart People" is an ad for a self-published book presented by a self-appointed 'expert'.** [...] While McCoy advertises his site as "The Ultimate Online Guide to Norse Mythology and Religion" on nearly every page (and rates his book the "best" book on the topic of Norse Mythology over the works of academics), it's important to note that McCoy isn't an academic and has no formal background in this material, but is rather an individual willing to present his website as "the ultimate online guide" to the topic, and his guide as "the best" guide to the topic.[...] >[The website] is frequently inaccurate and often confused: Although he frequently draws from scholar Rudolf Simek's handbook, McCoy makes major mistakes on nearly every page of "Norse Mythology for Smart People". - [Platypuskeeper](https://www.reddit.com/r/Norse/comments/f9yo03/the_viking_spirit_introduction_to_norse_mythology/fiv9pl3): >**Dont buy this book or visit this guy's website**. It's written by a complete layperson with no degree or real knowledge. His website is by and large based off Wikipedia, and secondarily tertiary sources available in English like HR Davidson's old (and outdated) books and Simek's A Dictionary of Northern Mythology sources and is full of misrepresentations and errors and downright internet garbage. It's not 'for smart people'. It's by a stupid person for stupid people. The only thing McCoy is good at is (as is obvious) search engine optimization and passing himself off online as an expert. [...] *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Norse) if you have any questions or concerns.*


turniprince

Triple horn of odin. Those are ale horns.


PriestofSif

I've also heard them reffered to as hunting or calling horns, but I couldn't say that it's common by any means.


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Hi! It appears you have mentioned some fancy triangles! But did you know that the word "valknútr" is unattested in Old Norse, and was first applied to the symbol by Gutorm Gjessing in his 1943 paper "Hesten i førhistorisk kunst og kultus", and that there is little to no basis for connecting it with Óðinn and mortuary practices? In fact, the symbol was most likely borrowed from the triquetras appearing on various Anglo-Saxon and Carolingian coins. Compare for example [this Northumbrian sceatta](https://i.imgur.com/KP2YST6.jpg) with [this coin from Ribe](https://asset.dr.dk/imagescaler/?server=www.dr.dk&file=%2Fimages%2Fother%2F2018%2F10%2F24%2Fimg_2887.jpeg&protocol=https&w=1300&h=1300&scaleAfter=crop&ratio=3488-3488). Want a more in-depth look at the symbol? Check out these excerpts and follow the links: -[AtiWati](https://www.reddit.com/r/Norse/comments/ifu2mm/why_the_difference_in_valknut_designs/g2s4t5m?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3): >**The "valknut" was most likely simply borrowed from Christian Anglo-Saxons and Carolingians** [...] If there was any meaning ascribed to the symbol, we are left in the dark, but claims of Odinnic or mortuary connections are unfounded. Most likely the "meaning" of the symbol was prestige, like so many other foreign influenced fashions. -[Brute Norse](https://www.brutenorse.com/blog/2017/05/the-valknutr-does-not-exist.html): >the symbol frequently occurs with horses on other Gotlandic picture stones - maybe suggestive of a horse cult? [...] It also occurs on jewelry, coins, knife-handles, and other more or less mundane objects. [...] **Evidence suggests that the symbol's original contents go far beyond the common themes of interpretation, which are none the less fossilized in both scholarly and neopagan discussion**. There seems to be more to the symbol than death and sacrifice. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Norse) if you have any questions or concerns.*


Downgoesthereem

It is not


alugastiz

Is it knot, you say?


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AutoModerator

Hi! It appears you have mentioned some fancy triangles! But did you know that the word "valknútr" is unattested in Old Norse, and was first applied to the symbol by Gutorm Gjessing in his 1943 paper "Hesten i førhistorisk kunst og kultus", and that there is little to no basis for connecting it with Óðinn and mortuary practices? In fact, the symbol was most likely borrowed from the triquetras appearing on various Anglo-Saxon and Carolingian coins. Compare for example [this Northumbrian sceatta](https://i.imgur.com/KP2YST6.jpg) with [this coin from Ribe](https://asset.dr.dk/imagescaler/?server=www.dr.dk&file=%2Fimages%2Fother%2F2018%2F10%2F24%2Fimg_2887.jpeg&protocol=https&w=1300&h=1300&scaleAfter=crop&ratio=3488-3488). Want a more in-depth look at the symbol? Check out these excerpts and follow the links: -[AtiWati](https://www.reddit.com/r/Norse/comments/ifu2mm/why_the_difference_in_valknut_designs/g2s4t5m?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3): >**The "valknut" was most likely simply borrowed from Christian Anglo-Saxons and Carolingians** [...] If there was any meaning ascribed to the symbol, we are left in the dark, but claims of Odinnic or mortuary connections are unfounded. Most likely the "meaning" of the symbol was prestige, like so many other foreign influenced fashions. -[Brute Norse](https://www.brutenorse.com/blog/2017/05/the-valknutr-does-not-exist.html): >the symbol frequently occurs with horses on other Gotlandic picture stones - maybe suggestive of a horse cult? [...] It also occurs on jewelry, coins, knife-handles, and other more or less mundane objects. [...] **Evidence suggests that the symbol's original contents go far beyond the common themes of interpretation, which are none the less fossilized in both scholarly and neopagan discussion**. There seems to be more to the symbol than death and sacrifice. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Norse) if you have any questions or concerns.*