There was also widespread use of these symbols for everyday Scandinavians for reasons other than warfare, such as to display their religious beliefs or hope for a good harvest. It is therefore not surprising that many of the warriors during the Viking age would have added similar engravings to their own weapons in an attempt to enhance their own performance in battle. In the Norse Sagas there was also mention of these symbols granting magical powers, such as the runic engravings on Gungnir which made it such a fearsome weapon. Life in Viking age Scandinavia was extremely harsh and brutal compared to the levels of comfort which we are accustomed to today, therefore it is only natural that the people of this time period would have found some comfort in their religious beliefs and the protection that they believed was provided by their use of the Norse symbols. It was common for them to wear Mjolnir pendants to show devotion to their gods, decorate their axes and spears with runes and carve elaborate engravings into their boats to ensure a safe voyage. The Vikings believed that many of the symbols covered in this article could bring them protection or good fortune. The importance of symbolism in Norse Culture In this article we will look at some of the symbols most commonly associated with the Vikings in the modern day so that modern viking enthusiasts can better understand the exact meaning of the symbols that are displayed on their clothing and jewelry. Since the world of Norse Mythology was so complex with many Gods and other mythical creatures having their own distinct qualities it is not surprising then that there were also a large number of different symbols to represent the different aspects of these characters.Īs was the case with many civilisations throughout history a great number of these symbols predate the culture itself and were adopted or adapted from earlier symbols that were commonly used prior to the Viking age and throughout the European continent. During the Viking age the Norsemen had a complex system of religious and cultural beliefs with different aspects of their belief system being represented in their artwork, weaponry, ships and jewelry as a number of different symbols, each of which had its own unique meaning.

Lucky double sided axe symbol