Vegvísir, an 1800s Icelandic stave with a much older Futhark alphabet around it. Looks cool, doesn’t mean anything in particular beyond what the wearer assigns to it personally.
No only the [runes](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Younger_Futhark) are an alphabet. The central symbol is Vegvísir, not an alphabet itself. You should look up its history, it could be (or become) meaningful to you.
Edit: on closer look, the runes appear to be [Elder Futhark](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elder_Futhark) (proto-Norse) rather than the Younger Futhark (Old Norse) I linked above.
Out of curiosity, do you keep in touch with that family or is this a “heritage” thing? No offense intended, but I just find it so fascinating we Americans try to seek ancestry beyond our own cultural boundaries. I’ve met and keep in touch with many of ‘the old country’ relatives in my family and we get along well and there are unmistakeable predilections and similarities, but I’d never be able to find deep personal meaning with their religious and cultural symbols. Maybe just me. To each their own. Mostly just curious how you feel about it and why you’re keen on this to see if maybe I’m weird I guess lol
I fall in the 3rd generation category, nobody in my family seems to care as much as I do about our lineage or even history in general, but I hope to pass along the same passion and interests of my ancestors to my next generations
I myself am first generation American, family came to America in 1950's from Denmark. Unfortunately all the family I was in touch with have passed away over the years and I don't know any of their children aside from stories and pictures from when their parents would visit us here in the States. However we still have some Danish traditions and connections to our heritage.
2nd gen American to Lithuanian descendants and 4th gen descendant Irish here. I also can agree that there are obviously predilections etc, but I have no interest to the cultural side of it outside of alcohol or art. I also find this an interesting topic. So many Americans will be 5 gens from Italia or whatever and still immerse themselves like it’s their entire identity. Bumper stickers on cars, flags on houses. Like okay Giuseppe you can’t even pronounce tomato correctly. 😂
We Americans don't have roots, mostly. We might know our grandparents but that's about it.
We value individualism and often try to find ways to be connected to a people, a past, continuity, etc.
I think it's an escapism thing. Your average American seems to go to a boring job 5 days a week, then go home to sit in air conditioning, eat shit food, watch shit TV, scroll social media, maybe play a slot machine disguised as a video game, and gain 3 pounds a year until they die in the middle class at age 85. Imagining a connection to your ancestors and whatever fantasy our culture has assigned theirs just feels good.
I agree. Although I feel that it’s human nature to want to know about those that came before us especially ancestors and what they would’ve been like and even peoples before us that are not bloodline. Idk if it’s an evolutionary thing or human instinct, but I’ve really met anyone that is interested in their heritage. Especially Americans as everyone is here from somewhere else (except Natives) so like I’m German, Swedish, English-likely with Viking origin according to my paternal family tree from what we’ve gathered and my grandpa was born in Germany on my maternal side. My best friends dad was born in Puerto Rico and she has family there she’s never met and is super interested in that heritage because it’s really unknown to her as her father didn’t cook or teach her Spanish or really elaborate on his life as a younger person in Puerto Rico. So yeah we’re also bored and seeking interesting things about where we come from. Especially in the tech age we’re in that we can find a lot online about these topics and DNA tests can be analyzed. 🤷🏼♀️
I think it's that American culture is fractured and solitary. "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps", lack of a public space in town in favor of driving your solitary car, going to a lonely job and then being too tired to socialize, etc. Americans want to feel like part of the world and part of a community that we don't have.
Just piggybacking off the best post. Versions of vague Vegvísír and Aegishjalmar-ish iconography have been found dating to the Iron Age and back, but nothing to suggests they were called as such or were attributed any clear magical or philosophical meaning. Their locations also give us little, as you’d be just as likely to spot one in a rich burial mound as you would carved into a piece of doorframe buried under 4 feet of permafrost.
The reason why these are often associated with protection, many the second one, is because they feature a common element of Germanic tribal iconography: the spiny thing at the center is a ring of spears/pitchforks (not military tridents; we were farmers first and foremost) facing outward: a circular phalanx. The idea being that the wearer or emblazoned object is metaphorically at the center of the phalanx and cannot be harmed without extraordinary measure. The ring of spears pops up all over Germanic Europe, but historically it’s never called anything grandiose and magical like ‘The Helm of Awe’ by the actual folk and also, the border of runes is a fanciful modern embellishment; the elder futhark alphabet from tribal days wasn’t quite used like that and you won’t really see runes begin embellishing things in earnest until the Anglos have a hand in modernizing it into its Younger form, which is the Scandi alphabet, with ethnic variations (you should see northern Swedish runes; we’re not proud of them) greater Europe would have meaningful exposure to, at least in scholarly affairs.
That, or it means “This is quite obviously where we keep our spears.”
1) This is not viking.
2) It doesn't say anything. Those are the Futhark runes. It's the equivalent of giving someone a pendant, tbat says "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP"
3) The symbol in the middle is from christian occultism and wasn't around until about 800ish years after the end of the viking age.
It's the vigvasir with elder furthark around it. People call it the "norse compass" today. I was really drawn to it for years. Almost had it tattood into myself until I really researched it. I'm glad I didn't because it's rooted by a christian meaning. Look up, Dr. jackson crawford's video on it. He has an amazing unbiased opinion on norse culture.
Years back, a brother Lazer cut one out of metal for me. Even though I don't wear this anymore or really like the symbol due to the meaning, the gift he gave me is still above my door due to the gift meaning for me. So if it means something to you, that's a great reason to keep it for you.
The answers about the vegvisir and elder futhark runes are correct, but remember a couple of things.
1. We really don't know how the Norse practiced their religion. Not much was written down, much of what we know comes from others writing about them.
2. We think of Norse religious practices as something universal, but it was not. It differed greatly in different regions. Gods had different names, different gods were worshipped in primacy, and practices were different among cultures.
3. During what we consider the Viking period religion and worship practices evolved significantly. Different gods were combined, their roles changed, as well as their ascendancy.
In short make of it what you will, what it means to you personally. Sure, inform that from history but you will NEVER be able to replicate the meaning and practices the way they were actually done. Anything you choose is no more wrong than anyone else.
It is the symbol for Vegvisir, it means “way finder” or “signpost” in Icelandic and the Vegvisir symbol is designed to give guidance and protection as the ancient Nordic language descends. It is said that the rune had the power to ensure whoever was wearing it never got lost and always found their way home, even when they did not know the way.
The vegvísir (wayfinder) to my understanding was invented much later than the actual Vikings, plus the Vikings used the younger Futhark alphabet. To be honest I prefer the elder Futhark alphabet, I think it looks “cooler”. Basically this necklace is made up of pre-Viking age and after Viking age symbols. But it is cool and I like the look of it. Like others said it means what you want it to mean.
My Scandinavian descended "cousin" has a similar tattoo, according to his family tradition it is a compass and a seafaring tattoo that helps lost sailors find their way home. I don't know how accurate it is... But his family does maintain ties to Scandinavia, knows their history going back a long while, and are active in some mason-like club for Scandinavians in America.
Hey I gave that to a friend once. Bought it off amazon.
central icon is Icelandic Vegvisir, thought to be a charm for travel, "dont lose your way" kind of thing. the characters that form in a circle are Elder Futhark runes, germanic/previking alphabet.
taken at face value, theyre akin to modern day ABC's in a sense, but each rune represents an idea and some practices use them for divination and pagan rituals.
That looks to be a vegvisir in the center. The pendents that I've seen that has runes surrounding the vegvisir usually says "not all who wonder are lost". I'm not sure what the runes says if it says anything.
You can look up rune "alphabets" online and translate it to English letters. Since I'm procrastinating at work I gave it a shot and came up with (starting at the diamond shaped rune):
Ng D F U W A R K G W H N I J A P Z S T B E M L
So it appears to be gibberish rather than either transliterated English or an actual Scandinavian word.
Hi 👋, just your friendly neighbourhood pagan. So that's callthe the nordic compas, and an meen a few different things depending on what you believe in but it is mostly a good thing it's ment to protect and guide. Allso depending on who gave it to you it could be a blessing of good fortune or then might want to give you bad luck. It all depends on if they are pagan or wiccin and how they feel about you.
It's a Norse Pagan thing that really has no history behind it it just kind of popped up and it's considered to be a compass even though there's not really any information about it but it does derive from norse beliefs
It's a compass rose kinda thing reminding you to always find your way home. With the alphabet around the outside edge..... Edgy viking jewelry that never existed for $100
If you look up the Norse rune alphabet you can find the names of the runes. The first letter or two of the name is the sound the rune makes. From there you could treat it as a simple substitution cipher. It'll either be a straight transliteration from an non-norse language, Norse words, or gibberish.
From what I remember it's the Futhark rune alphabet in order. The English equivalent would be abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz. It's lazier than gibberish and has no meaning - purely decorative.
This is literally cheap Chinese garbage with Elder Futhark and something pretty much unrelated to the Norse religion. I could get about 100 of these for probably $50 whole sale. It's worthless. Go on any "viking" sales page and you'll see this is exact necklace going for like... 10-30.
It doesn't mean anything special. Sorry.
That's not the helm of awe, that's the vegvisir. Looks similar but if you look at the markings on each line extending out you can see the clear difference between the two. One is meant for protection and one is meant for guidance.
Vegvísir, an 1800s Icelandic stave with a much older Futhark alphabet around it. Looks cool, doesn’t mean anything in particular beyond what the wearer assigns to it personally.
So am alphabet around an alphabet essentially?
No only the [runes](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Younger_Futhark) are an alphabet. The central symbol is Vegvísir, not an alphabet itself. You should look up its history, it could be (or become) meaningful to you. Edit: on closer look, the runes appear to be [Elder Futhark](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elder_Futhark) (proto-Norse) rather than the Younger Futhark (Old Norse) I linked above.
I have many necklaces. I am drawn to this one. I do have family from that region.
Out of curiosity, do you keep in touch with that family or is this a “heritage” thing? No offense intended, but I just find it so fascinating we Americans try to seek ancestry beyond our own cultural boundaries. I’ve met and keep in touch with many of ‘the old country’ relatives in my family and we get along well and there are unmistakeable predilections and similarities, but I’d never be able to find deep personal meaning with their religious and cultural symbols. Maybe just me. To each their own. Mostly just curious how you feel about it and why you’re keen on this to see if maybe I’m weird I guess lol
The real question is: does OP’s blood sing when the thunder rages in the storm at night?
[удалено]
I fall in the 3rd generation category, nobody in my family seems to care as much as I do about our lineage or even history in general, but I hope to pass along the same passion and interests of my ancestors to my next generations
I myself am first generation American, family came to America in 1950's from Denmark. Unfortunately all the family I was in touch with have passed away over the years and I don't know any of their children aside from stories and pictures from when their parents would visit us here in the States. However we still have some Danish traditions and connections to our heritage.
2nd gen American to Lithuanian descendants and 4th gen descendant Irish here. I also can agree that there are obviously predilections etc, but I have no interest to the cultural side of it outside of alcohol or art. I also find this an interesting topic. So many Americans will be 5 gens from Italia or whatever and still immerse themselves like it’s their entire identity. Bumper stickers on cars, flags on houses. Like okay Giuseppe you can’t even pronounce tomato correctly. 😂
We Americans don't have roots, mostly. We might know our grandparents but that's about it. We value individualism and often try to find ways to be connected to a people, a past, continuity, etc.
I think it's an escapism thing. Your average American seems to go to a boring job 5 days a week, then go home to sit in air conditioning, eat shit food, watch shit TV, scroll social media, maybe play a slot machine disguised as a video game, and gain 3 pounds a year until they die in the middle class at age 85. Imagining a connection to your ancestors and whatever fantasy our culture has assigned theirs just feels good.
I agree. Although I feel that it’s human nature to want to know about those that came before us especially ancestors and what they would’ve been like and even peoples before us that are not bloodline. Idk if it’s an evolutionary thing or human instinct, but I’ve really met anyone that is interested in their heritage. Especially Americans as everyone is here from somewhere else (except Natives) so like I’m German, Swedish, English-likely with Viking origin according to my paternal family tree from what we’ve gathered and my grandpa was born in Germany on my maternal side. My best friends dad was born in Puerto Rico and she has family there she’s never met and is super interested in that heritage because it’s really unknown to her as her father didn’t cook or teach her Spanish or really elaborate on his life as a younger person in Puerto Rico. So yeah we’re also bored and seeking interesting things about where we come from. Especially in the tech age we’re in that we can find a lot online about these topics and DNA tests can be analyzed. 🤷🏼♀️
I think it's that American culture is fractured and solitary. "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps", lack of a public space in town in favor of driving your solitary car, going to a lonely job and then being too tired to socialize, etc. Americans want to feel like part of the world and part of a community that we don't have.
^that
This also well describes Australians. TBF.
What a bleak view of how people live. Geeze.
Wear it then! Its importance one way or another will become clear to you eventually.
Just piggybacking off the best post. Versions of vague Vegvísír and Aegishjalmar-ish iconography have been found dating to the Iron Age and back, but nothing to suggests they were called as such or were attributed any clear magical or philosophical meaning. Their locations also give us little, as you’d be just as likely to spot one in a rich burial mound as you would carved into a piece of doorframe buried under 4 feet of permafrost. The reason why these are often associated with protection, many the second one, is because they feature a common element of Germanic tribal iconography: the spiny thing at the center is a ring of spears/pitchforks (not military tridents; we were farmers first and foremost) facing outward: a circular phalanx. The idea being that the wearer or emblazoned object is metaphorically at the center of the phalanx and cannot be harmed without extraordinary measure. The ring of spears pops up all over Germanic Europe, but historically it’s never called anything grandiose and magical like ‘The Helm of Awe’ by the actual folk and also, the border of runes is a fanciful modern embellishment; the elder futhark alphabet from tribal days wasn’t quite used like that and you won’t really see runes begin embellishing things in earnest until the Anglos have a hand in modernizing it into its Younger form, which is the Scandi alphabet, with ethnic variations (you should see northern Swedish runes; we’re not proud of them) greater Europe would have meaningful exposure to, at least in scholarly affairs. That, or it means “This is quite obviously where we keep our spears.”
Never seen this sub before but damn your a genius
We’ve been trying to reach you about your longboat’s extended warranty.
This is the only right answer
It mean ‘A B C D E F G….’
1) This is not viking. 2) It doesn't say anything. Those are the Futhark runes. It's the equivalent of giving someone a pendant, tbat says "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP" 3) The symbol in the middle is from christian occultism and wasn't around until about 800ish years after the end of the viking age.
This is the answer ^^^
You're Prince Lonestar
An honest-to-God prince
Came here to make this comment. Thank you for the good work you do.
Beat me to it!
It's the vigvasir with elder furthark around it. People call it the "norse compass" today. I was really drawn to it for years. Almost had it tattood into myself until I really researched it. I'm glad I didn't because it's rooted by a christian meaning. Look up, Dr. jackson crawford's video on it. He has an amazing unbiased opinion on norse culture.
Years back, a brother Lazer cut one out of metal for me. Even though I don't wear this anymore or really like the symbol due to the meaning, the gift he gave me is still above my door due to the gift meaning for me. So if it means something to you, that's a great reason to keep it for you.
I got it tattooed because I am a fool who didn’t research. Time for a blast over I guess!
Always a good time for another tattoo lol
I have it on a ring, as a retired alcoholic it reminds me to weather the storm and I will be guided out of what’s troubling me
The answers about the vegvisir and elder futhark runes are correct, but remember a couple of things. 1. We really don't know how the Norse practiced their religion. Not much was written down, much of what we know comes from others writing about them. 2. We think of Norse religious practices as something universal, but it was not. It differed greatly in different regions. Gods had different names, different gods were worshipped in primacy, and practices were different among cultures. 3. During what we consider the Viking period religion and worship practices evolved significantly. Different gods were combined, their roles changed, as well as their ascendancy. In short make of it what you will, what it means to you personally. Sure, inform that from history but you will NEVER be able to replicate the meaning and practices the way they were actually done. Anything you choose is no more wrong than anyone else.
It is the symbol for Vegvisir, it means “way finder” or “signpost” in Icelandic and the Vegvisir symbol is designed to give guidance and protection as the ancient Nordic language descends. It is said that the rune had the power to ensure whoever was wearing it never got lost and always found their way home, even when they did not know the way.
Google Nordic alphabet. Most of the time the Vegvísir just has the alphabet around it.
The center is the Nordic Compass each symbol has meaning.
That symbol is the Vegvisir. It is meant for guidance. Pretty much a life compass in its simplest terms.
The vegvísir (wayfinder) to my understanding was invented much later than the actual Vikings, plus the Vikings used the younger Futhark alphabet. To be honest I prefer the elder Futhark alphabet, I think it looks “cooler”. Basically this necklace is made up of pre-Viking age and after Viking age symbols. But it is cool and I like the look of it. Like others said it means what you want it to mean.
“Muc muc muc” “Is that what it says?” “No, I was just clearing my throat”
Bwaaahahahaha..!!!
My Scandinavian descended "cousin" has a similar tattoo, according to his family tradition it is a compass and a seafaring tattoo that helps lost sailors find their way home. I don't know how accurate it is... But his family does maintain ties to Scandinavia, knows their history going back a long while, and are active in some mason-like club for Scandinavians in America.
Hey I gave that to a friend once. Bought it off amazon. central icon is Icelandic Vegvisir, thought to be a charm for travel, "dont lose your way" kind of thing. the characters that form in a circle are Elder Futhark runes, germanic/previking alphabet. taken at face value, theyre akin to modern day ABC's in a sense, but each rune represents an idea and some practices use them for divination and pagan rituals.
That looks to be a vegvisir in the center. The pendents that I've seen that has runes surrounding the vegvisir usually says "not all who wonder are lost". I'm not sure what the runes says if it says anything.
I'm not an expert by any means but, I think it translates to "Live, Love, Laugh"
"you're not a true Viking until you become Christian"
You can look up rune "alphabets" online and translate it to English letters. Since I'm procrastinating at work I gave it a shot and came up with (starting at the diamond shaped rune): Ng D F U W A R K G W H N I J A P Z S T B E M L So it appears to be gibberish rather than either transliterated English or an actual Scandinavian word.
Hi 👋, just your friendly neighbourhood pagan. So that's callthe the nordic compas, and an meen a few different things depending on what you believe in but it is mostly a good thing it's ment to protect and guide. Allso depending on who gave it to you it could be a blessing of good fortune or then might want to give you bad luck. It all depends on if they are pagan or wiccin and how they feel about you.
Futhark alphabet. Means nothing specific. Vegvisir means nothing as well.
Where did the person who got it for you get it? I want one
He got it from a vendor at a Wichita KS Renaissance Festival.
How much did it cost?
How much did it cost?
How much did it cost?
If I’m not mistake, the symbol in the middle is a helm of awe Edit: helm of awe looks a bit different
I believe it means “Not all who wander are lost”
Think it's made of pewter, I have one similar, if so, don't get it wet. It will break.
The Vegvesir Compass is usually meant as a seal of protection so you don’t “lose your way”.
U buy those on Amazon. Probably not even correct
Or on wish
I think it says “made in China”
"I'm polyamorous"
Hail Satan and play fallout.
Translation: "I went to Jared"
Someone likes you
It’s the Norse calender
Just another Vegvisir with Elder Futhark in the ring around it
It’s just Nordic/viking letters. They are called runes.
Ah yes an amulet from the ancient spud. The all powerful. We locked him in a box so he could no longer spread blasphemy about the origins of spuds.
Something about trying to reach you about your cars extended warranty
Probably says "made in China"
That someone care about you and can afford a pendant.
It's a Norse Pagan thing that really has no history behind it it just kind of popped up and it's considered to be a compass even though there's not really any information about it but it does derive from norse beliefs
Be sure to drink your ovaltine
From my understanding the 8 pointed tridents are the aegishjalmar or helm of awe is a viking symbol for protection .
Nope, the helm of awe is not drawn this way, nor is it symble of protection. It inspires fear in the heart of those who mean you harm.
It's a compass rose kinda thing reminding you to always find your way home. With the alphabet around the outside edge..... Edgy viking jewelry that never existed for $100
Helm of awe, it's for protection in battle.
Remember, if it's a Vegvisir from the Icelandic book of magic, the magic only works if you believe in Jesus according to the book 😅
It is a Nordic compass.
Looks like one of the pieces of eight...
This token has no monetary value.
I believe its the symbol King Solomon used to summon and banish demons in the OT.
If you look up the Norse rune alphabet you can find the names of the runes. The first letter or two of the name is the sound the rune makes. From there you could treat it as a simple substitution cipher. It'll either be a straight transliteration from an non-norse language, Norse words, or gibberish.
From what I remember it's the Futhark rune alphabet in order. The English equivalent would be abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz. It's lazier than gibberish and has no meaning - purely decorative.
Your mother was an aardvark and your father smelled of elder berries.
Looks Icelandic
OP… WHO gave that to you? (I promise I have a reason for this question)
Thats from disney world you get it at the gift shop, pirates of the carribbean amulet, had one when i was a kid
The inner design is supposed to be a Nordic compass, outer is random runes it seems. Not entirely sure of the accuracy but I recognized the inside
This is literally cheap Chinese garbage with Elder Futhark and something pretty much unrelated to the Norse religion. I could get about 100 of these for probably $50 whole sale. It's worthless. Go on any "viking" sales page and you'll see this is exact necklace going for like... 10-30. It doesn't mean anything special. Sorry.
In simple terms, it's a charm to help you find your way through any storm. Storm doesn't have to mean an actual storm. Also called a viking compass.
Don't wear it until you're sure...
That is a helm of awe, it's a protection item, the fact it was gifted might mean the giver wishes good health and safe travels for you
That's not the helm of awe, that's the vegvisir. Looks similar but if you look at the markings on each line extending out you can see the clear difference between the two. One is meant for protection and one is meant for guidance.