Indeed, this tattoo may be more ambiguous than others on the list. These are far-right extremist groups who believe in the Aryan master race and that all other people are inferior. Perhaps unsurprisingly at this point, the ravens also represent the Soldiers of Odin or Ravens of Odin. After all, having a raven tattooed on one’s arm could mean anything! Maybe the wearer simply likes birds or is an Edgar Allan Poe fan. It seems like something so innocuous shouldn’t present much of a problem today. In Norse mythology, Odin’s ravens Huginn and Muninn represent thought and memory. Today, anyone seen sporting the Sig rune, especially if they have two of them side by side, is instantly recognizable as a neo-Nazi supporter. It represented victory in battle, which is likely what made it such a popular choice for the Nazi regime. Originally, though, the lightning bolt or ‘S’-shaped rune was simply the Sig rune. However, most everyone is familiar with the double lightning bolts or ‘SS’ symbol of the Nazis. Perhaps the only symbol people more readily recognize is the swastika.
Today, the Schutzstaffel is probably one of the most well-known symbols representing Nazi Germany during WWII. Unfortunately, today, this simple design is one “of the most common white supremacist appropriations of ancient runic symbols.” 5.
Like most of the other symbols on this list, though, the Nazis stole the Tyr rune and turned it into something ugly. They could fight well, but fighting wasn’t usually their first course of action. Those who were like Tyr were fair and even-tempered. He was a great warrior and a symbol of justice and law. The Tyr rune, sometimes called the Tiwaz rune, was the runic representation of the one-armed Norse god Tyr. It represents the Aryan nation and those who believe that white people are some sort of master race. Today, people often find the rune in logos, flags, or banners for hate groups. Originally part of the Nordic runic alphabet, the Othala or Odal rune was representative of the letter ‘O.’ It had a relatively benign meaning (heritage, inheritance, or inherited estate) until the Nazis incorporated it into their propaganda during WWII. The symbol still means that people are willing to sacrifice their lives for a cause unfortunately, the cause is rarely noble. Today, white supremacists and neo-Nazi groups still use it to show their dedication to white power and their various organizations. It is another symbol that the Nazis and the Third Reich co-opted. The word Valknut literally means “knot of the slain warrior.” It was the sign of a good death, a death that was pleasing to Odin. When historians unearthed tombs with Valknuts engraved on them, they reasoned that the tombs held great warriors, those slain in battle. Initially, the symbol was used as a powerful mark representing Odin. Instead of horns, though, it uses triangles. The Valknut is another figure that incorporates three interlocking symbols.
Still, today, most versions of the Triskelion relate to Nazi culture.Īlso see What Is the Meaning of Odin’s Horn? to learn more. Instead of three interlocking horns, it was three strategically arranged 7’s.
However, today, people avoid this beautiful tattoo because far-right extremist groups frequently use it to identify themselves as white supremacists. The number three has always been an important number in Norse beliefs, and the Triskelion isn’t the only symbol that showcases a triple representation. They also represent the power of three and the beauty of symmetry. Triskelions are the marks of storytellers, poets, musicians, historians, and skalds. Specifically, it represents the horns of Óðrœrir, Boðn, and Són. The Norse version is straighter and represents three interlocking drinking (mead) horns. There are numerous variations of it some feature straight lines, while others incorporate curves. The Norse Triskelion (also called the Celtic Triskele) is a simple figure comprising three interlocking horns.
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