Today, the Vegvisir is used as symbol of Icelandic culture while people of Asatru faith also use it to identify themselves and as a symbol of spiritual guidance. On a side note, in some legends, it is mentioned that the Vegvisir/the Nordic compass would be drawn on Viking ships to help them find their way back and come back home safely. Some people believe that a nail placed right in the middle of the Vegvisir would tell of directions (through its shadow’s position at certain times of day) and help the Vikings navigate the seas. It is believed that the eight Viking rune staves comprising the Vegvisir could be representing the cardinal (North, South, West, East) and intercardinal directions (Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, Southeast). While the said sun compass does not look anything like the Vegvisir and/or have such markings on it, it might be the inspiration behind the symbol according to some experts. The Vegvisir as The Nordic Viking Compass/Runic CompassĪlthough there is no certain knowledge of the Vegvisir’s origins and when it was used the first time, some people believe the symbol was used for navigational purposes by the Vikings.Īrcheological findings revealed that the Vikings used a ‘sunstone’, a sun compass of sorts while they sailed around the world from North America to Far East. If you would like to read more about Aegishjalmr, check out our post below: Many people confuse the Vegvisir with Aegishjalmr, the helm of awe and terror although the two symbols are quite different from each other. According to the Galdrabok, to provide guidance and protection, the Vegvisir should be drawn in blood on a person’s forehead – just like the Viking symbol of protection, the Aegishjalmur, the Helm of Awe would sometimes be. In the Galdrabok, it is written that this symbol would help its wearer to not get lost and find their way back. The second source mentioning Vegvisir, the Galdrabok, is a grimoire, a book of spells which details randomly-compiled spells and provides knowledge about magic, the Germanic gods of the time and cosmology. Some parts of the knowledge in the manuscript in question is inspired by folk traditions and the one regarding the Vegvisir might be one of those parts according to the experts. Learn more.The Huld Manuscript is a document brought together almost ten centuries after the Viking Age and, although some parts of the manuscript might be based on real knowledge of Norse people and their beliefs, it is better to be cautious and not take anything in it literally without doing any other research. Spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and One interesting thing about graffiti is that it is an ever evolving and changing form of artwork, with pieces constantly transforming, rather than remaining static.Įver since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced theĮxciting challenge of being a MusicalExpert researcher and writer. In other regions, the art is actively promoted as a way of encouraging people to express themselves in nonviolent ways, and to add to the collective public dialog with their work. Some people view graffiti as vandalism and a nuisance, and in many cities, graffiti is punishable with a fine. Graffiti artists write and draw in public spaces, demanding the attention of passerby with their work. Graffiti or “ tagging” is a controversial form of personal expression.
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