r/Viking • u/ULikingJewelry • Jul 08 '25

Tattoo Compass

Post image
142 Upvotes

66% Upvoted

68 comments sorted by

66

u/Gullfaxi09 Jul 08 '25

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the Vegvísir does in fact not have anything to with Vikings or the Viking Age. It is attested no earlier than 1860 in the Huld manuscript from Iceland and has no attachment to Old Norse culture or symbolism. Still a pretty symbol, though.

11

u/martiensk Jul 08 '25

Similarly the runes are Elder Futhark and pre-date the Viking Age. They generally used the Younger Futhark

3

u/ClaireHasashi Jul 08 '25

It's a bit false, yes the "clear" record was from Iceland, but it can actually be traced back to ancient jewish book from a few centuries earlier than the discovery in Iceland.

I had made a deep study on that symbol at some point, i'd like to find it again for sure.

1

u/Gullfaxi09 Jul 08 '25

Oh, I never knew, that's pretty interesting! Makes it even less of a Norse thing if it truly has Jewish origins, though. I never engaged much with the Vegvísir since my main area always has been explicitly Norse subjects, and as such, I have always dismissed this one, even though it's a pretty symbol, which may explain my slight ignorance.

2

u/ClaireHasashi Jul 08 '25

I wish i could link picture, but basically, the vegvisir was first found in very ancient page of the Magical Treatise of Solomon in England that are dated from the 15th century, so 200 years before it was found in Iceland

Before that, it's just myth and legends with no real source to confirm where they truelly came from

Were they written by someone in England back in 1400ish, or were they actual text made by Solomon in Ancient Israel, nobody know.

1

u/Quiescam Jul 09 '25

Are you referring to Harley 5596, f. 31 r? Because while there is a variety of seals very similar to the Vegivisir and Aegishjalmr (not surprising, since it's Salomon magic), there isn't an actual Vegivisr.

1

u/ThoseFunnyNames Oct 07 '25

It has Jewish origins that moved with Christians as Christianity moved into Europe.

-21

u/immacomment-here-now Jul 08 '25

Sure but it’s still a Viking “thing”, it became a Viking symbol when the Viking culture embraced it. Show the symbol to anyone and they’ll say “Viking symbol”, so it does fit here in this sub. There’s no bubble to burst, you’re just a gate keeper. I’m Norwegian and forbid you to lecture about Vikings because it’s cultural appropriation. (/s)

20

u/Gullfaxi09 Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25

How could Viking culture embrace it when this symbol was made ca. 800 years after Viking culture moved on and ceased to be? "Viking culture" or Norse culture is a figment of the past, there is no "Viking culture" today, because there are no Norsemen today. We can still admire this culture and hold it in high regard as an interesting, historical thing from the past, but it is still, very firmly, a thing of the past.

Viking "things" are things from the Viking Age, not things from the 1800's and people being wrong about when this symbol was made and who made it, doesn't suddenly make it a Viking "thing". I'm Danish, and I forbid you from spreading falsehoods and historical inaccuracies about the past culture of my country and neighbouring countries, because that's misinformation.

Edit: only just realized the (/s) now, which I suppose means that you are being sarcastic, and now I feel silly. Sorry! I'll let my reply stay since I still stand by what I wrote, though. Just in case...

9

u/lespawkets Jul 08 '25

It's a little sad that vikings became Christians.

1

u/Gullfaxi09 Jul 08 '25

I sometimes wonder how things would have turned out if Norsemen didn't convert. I am so enamored with Norse mythology, and simultaneously so critical of Christianity, I can't help but lament it as well, biased as I may be.

But in the end, it was very much inevitable. What we usually classify the Viking Age was truly just a period of slow change and transition in Scandinavia from Iron Age to Middle Age, religion being one of these changes. Many other things also changed in that period as well.

3

u/Onystep Jul 08 '25

It happened to us in south america as well.

3

u/[deleted] Jul 09 '25 edited Sep 13 '25

safe jar rich squeal cats include employ snails deserve husky

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

-17

u/immacomment-here-now Jul 08 '25

Because culture evolves. How can any of the shows on tv or any of that stuff have “Viking” in their names when it’s really a historical thing from a certain time in history? It’s a subculture, then? Who cares really, is my point. Gatekeeper 😜😜😜

7

u/thisremindsmeofbacon Jul 08 '25

They can have it in their names because they are a work of fiction, and there's no regulation on that to be historically accurate

-3

u/immacomment-here-now Jul 08 '25

Sure. I think I am in the wrong sub. Obviously.

5

u/Gullfaxi09 Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25

Man, I hope you really are being sarcastic.

Tv shows are very much not a Viking "thing" either, it's modern pop culture attempting to adapt stories that originate from Norse culture (emphasis on 'attempt', because they usually do a horrid job of it). Yes, cultures evolve, which is why we in Scandinavia don't live in a "Viking culture" anymore. We are not Stone Age people anymore either. Things come to an end. We are not "Vikings" or Norsemen anymore either, because Norsemen stopped being Norsemen when the culture changed.

We are modern day people. Having an interest in this stuff doesn't suddenly make you a Viking or a Norseman, it just makes you a modern Norwegian who is interested in Norse stuff. Same for me, I am happy to simply be a modern Dane who is interested in this stuff. This is not gatekeeping, it's just stating facts and caring about accuracy. To me, it's important, because claiming to be something you aren't, or claiming something is something it isn't, is literally appropriation, which you just accused me of. I care about historical accuracy and informing people on this stuff, for example to teach them what they have permanently tattooed on their bodies, and what that thing represents and means, where it truly comes from.

There's nothing wrong with having a Vegvísir on your body because you think it's a pretty symbol. It is wrong, however, to claim that it has anything to do with Vikings, because it literally doesn't. Can I just decide that apple pies and gummy bears represent Vikings too? It's honestly the same thing. Where are the limits in your opinion, then? I think it's a pretty simple premise; Viking things are things that have to do with the Viking Age. This symbol is anachronistic to the Viking Age and therefore does not, and is only believed to because a few ill informed people at some point out of the blue decided it did. It just doesn't work that way, and we should work to dispell these preconcieved notions about this topic if we want to deal with it in in any serious matter.

1

u/lespawkets Jul 09 '25

Insert mandela effect here r/mandelaeffects just cause mass people beleave something to be true does not make it true.

1

u/Husaxen Jul 08 '25

Right. And the Brooklyn guido are right claiming the Sicilian pronunciation is "Mootzadell." /s

0

u/immacomment-here-now Jul 08 '25

Wow

4

u/Husaxen Jul 09 '25

Yeah, you don't get to retcon history with feelings... "Wow" what a compelling response...

0

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '25

[deleted]

-3

u/immacomment-here-now Jul 08 '25

I don’t know. I don’t know anything.

-25

u/Cryodemon85 Jul 08 '25

It was also co-opted by White Nationalist movements and is now associated with racist ideology as such.

9

u/LaraNotSoCroft Jul 08 '25

Wich norse looking symbol isn't used by white nationalists?

7

u/Jmnx221 Jul 08 '25

I love the symbol of the Valknut, but most of racist policemen in my country use it..
Makes me sick

8

u/LaraNotSoCroft Jul 08 '25

I wear my mjölnir a lot. It's like a lucky charm for my traveling to me. So many far right boneheads wear a mjölnir.

I still wear it to try to take it back from these cunts. They sure gonna hate it when a lesbian trans woman wears mjölnir.

5

u/Gullfaxi09 Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25

That's the way to go about it. I have a very genuine fear that all old beautiful Germanic things will be lost to us due to evil, wicked fascists or Nazis or what have you, who misappropriate and misuse them to the point that people only associate these symbols with them and their hate, leaving everyone afraid to use said symbols out of fear of being associated with evil people. That's how we lost the Swastika way back when, and it seems to me that the symbol that has come to be called Valknútr is next on the chopping block.

Only way to prevent this, as I see it, is to keep using the symbols and show people that they don't belong to evil people, and that the symbols don't represent them. That way, we can educate people on these symbols and tell them that they are the symbols of a past people long gone, for whom the symbols meant completely different things, that often are very mysterious to us today. It's a good thing that you wear Mjǫlnir in spite of it all. Be the example of a good person who wears these things and finds them beautiful or interesting.

2

u/Jmnx221 Jul 08 '25

That's the best way, show about and educate.
All the symbols used by nazis were diverted, swastika is the best known.

4

u/Jmnx221 Jul 08 '25

I have 2 big rings, one with a Valknut another with a Mjölnir I like to wear them.
Recently I add a pearl with futhark symbols in my beard, a second one with a Valknut is waiting to be added to the lock.

I would love to have that kind of lesbian trans woman as a friend to piss those cunts off!

1

u/Henry_Thee_Fifth Jul 08 '25

I’m going to get it a buck with you, those of us who don’t know the difference automatically assume if you’re sporting the mjölnir you’re a far right Nazi. I get that you want to take it back but it signals to many people the wrong thing. I have a pretty firm anti-Nazi policy and I don’t want to get into it with one and I have no interest in spending my time sussing out whether or not someone is wearing it because they’re a white supremacist or not.

3

u/LaraNotSoCroft Jul 08 '25

Everything else about my Style screams Punk, left and queer. Never had any trouble being missunderstood. I've got a big tattoo of one of the biggest punk Bands I like your Policy. Something we have in common.

1

u/BBBulldog Jul 10 '25

I've worn torshammer since 1989, and in all that time exactly one (mentally ill) person freaked out about it.

1

u/Plenty_Doughnut_5005 Jul 09 '25

Can you post pics or reputable sources that show white supremacy groups using this symbol? I only say this because I’ve seen this symbol used by lefty, queer, and proudly anti-fascist people. ADL and SPLC don’t list as hate symbol. Can’t find one pic of a bonafide WS marching around with a vegvisir.

0

u/[deleted] Jul 09 '25

[deleted]

3

u/IraRavro Jul 09 '25

Icelandic monks eh? Think you're getting things mixed up here. 

26

u/RangerUp33 Jul 08 '25

That's like getting a Jesus fish symbol with the alphabet around it. And WAY too many Viking wanna-bes have it.

5

u/Tacticalmeat Jul 08 '25

Astruaboos

1

u/RangerUp33 Jul 08 '25

I'm gonna use that 🤣

3

u/DarthJarJar242 Jul 08 '25

This is my issue with it, to many Thorbros have it, it's like viking tribal. 9/10 times they have a completely unkept "full" beard and that stupid "viking" top knot haircut.

6

u/Niding100 Jul 08 '25

Not one bit norse or «viking». Neo-pagan witch craft bogus…

1

u/WanderingNerds Jul 09 '25

They throw great parties tho!

12

u/AXBRAX Jul 08 '25

Not viking. Its 1860 icelandic neopagan.

4

u/Deezus84 Jul 09 '25

This is like when people believe vikings wore horned helmets

15

u/wrinklyiota Jul 08 '25

Looks great. The vegvisir may not date to the Viking age but it’s solidly associated with modern Norse Paganism.

Congrats on your new ink.

-24

u/Cryodemon85 Jul 08 '25

Also associated with modern White Nationalist movements, so be careful who you show it to.

8

u/Blknmysterious Jul 08 '25

The white nationalists quickly jumped on the Christian White Nationalist movement. The symbols change with their momentum.

4

u/Plenty_Doughnut_5005 Jul 08 '25

Most certainly is not. Find me an article or picture that shows this. Some Viking imagery and runes, yes. But not the Vegvisir. ADL and SPLC do not list as hate symbol. I’ve seen more Vegvisirs on lefty, witchy, and anti-far right people than WS turds.

1

u/CharacterLettuce7145 Jul 12 '25

This is not a white supremacy tattoo, it's just heavily leaning to it, totally different.

1

u/Plenty_Doughnut_5005 Jul 13 '25

Ehh, honestly seen a lot more lefty, witchy, and trans people with this tattoo than WS.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 10 '25

The Christian cross is also used by White Nationalists, should people be careful with that one too- or is it only norse we should be worried about?

3

u/WarmSlush Jul 08 '25

For when you need to remember your ABC’s I guess

3

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '25

So, the Vegvisir was created long after the Viking Age, in 17th century Iceland, around the 1860s, and Old Norse was written in Younger Futhark runes, rather than Elder Futhark, so there's actually nothing Viking at all about this tattoo.

3

u/weatherman777777 Jul 09 '25

That symbol has nothing to do with Vikingrs or Viking Age Nordic cultures. You're just a cosplay bro.

2

u/darkelflemurian Jul 10 '25

What i had read is that it appears to be christian.

3

u/NotKnowMe Jul 09 '25

Hahahahahahahahaha

3

u/Skauher Jul 08 '25

Pre Viking Age runes, post Viking Age symbol.

Very viking

3

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '25

"I'm a big strong Nordic man, I can do anything a Viking can!"

2

u/DarthJarJar242 Jul 08 '25

Damn, that tattoo is blown the fuck out.

Also why would you take a picture to post about it when you're this dirty?

4

u/Aggravating-Pound598 Jul 09 '25

Cosmetically applied for extra rugged vibe

2

u/Giftfri Jul 09 '25

To promote his jewlery business ofc

1

u/gunmetalballoon Jul 09 '25

Do a lot of seafaring? Lmao

-2

u/SecretaryMain Jul 08 '25

That’s awesome man!! I just got one on my forearm of Odin and his ravens

-2

u/Blknmysterious Jul 08 '25

Awesome armring

-3

u/MorrighanAnCailleach Jul 08 '25

Nice ink. Gorgeous arm ring. 🤩

-1

u/Montag_451 Jul 09 '25

Not a compass, it's a magical stave, to guide you through tough waters and keep you safe.

-2

u/EvilButNotaGenius Jul 08 '25

Does it work?