Gungnir Symbol – History And Meaning
Gungnir means ‘swaying’ in Old Norse and is pronounced as ‘GUNG-neer.’ It is the name of the mighty spear of the god Odin and it’s not an ordinary spear.
According to the story, Odin led a war against the Vanir which he started the battle by hurling his spear while saying “Odin owns all of you.” This had become Odin’s signature move and it was associated with his spear Gungnir.
If you want to learn more about the Gungnir symbol, read on to find out the meaning, history, and significance of this Viking symbol.
Gungnir Symbol – History And Meaning
History of Gungnir Symbol
From as early as the 9th century, poetry and visual art depicting Norse myths often show the profound connection between Odin and this weapon.
From pre-Christian Scandinavian visual art to poet Bragi Boddason references to Odin as Gungnis váfaðr (“Gungnir’s shaker”), Odin always has a spear with him. Viking runestones that date back to the Stone Age also had carvings of a spear god, believed to be Odin.
According to Norse mythology, Gungnir is made by the dwarves, who are considered to be great craftsmen. It is one of the gifts to the gods that the trickster Loki has challenged them to do. It happens when Loki cut off the golden hair of Thor’s wife, Sif.
Loki is sent to the realm of the dwarves by his brother to find a replacement for his wife’s golden locks. He meets the dwarves called the Ivaldi brothers, who agree to make a fine golden headpiece for Sif.
Being the cunning trickster that he is, Loki also makes the dwarves work on some treasures for the gods. These treasures include Thor’s Mjölnir and a spear that’s said to be forged from sunlight.
This weapon is widely believed to have been made specifically for Odin.
The Gungnir Symbol
In Norse mythology, Gungnir is the spear used by Odin, the ruler of the gods. It is said to be made from the branches of Yggdrasil, the world tree. The dwarves, through the order of the trickster Loki, make the spear and Loki presents it to Odin as a gift.
In Norse mythology, the name of this magical weapon means ‘swaying one.’ Gungnir resembles a javelin and is used quite like it.
According to legends, this weapon, when thrown, always flies straight ahead and has never missed its target.
Often seen being gripped by his right hand, Gungnir is a symbol that’s considered to be Odin’s trademark as a war god.
According to the Ynglinga Saga, Odin would throw Gungnir to frighten his enemies. Meanwhile, for the Norse and Viking armies, the spear was always the first weapon thrown in a conflict, which encouraged them into victory. The image of Gungnir has also been on 9th-century ceramics and cremation urns until the triumph of Christianity in Scandinavia.
Gungnir Symbol Meaning
In Norse mythology, Gungnir is the weapon of the ruler god, Odin. This mighty spear is also considered to be a holy weapon. A legend has it that if you make an oath in front of it, your oath is bound to come true.
Many names have been attached to Gungnir, all of them refer to its power and importance. It looks like a javelin and when thrown resembles a meteor blazing in the sky, so it was called ‘the Spear of Meteor.’
Signifying power, protection, and authority, Gungnir is also called ‘the Eternal Spear’ or ‘the Declaration of Lord God.’ Its name also means ‘penetrating,’ because it is said to be so powerful that it always hits the target once it’s thrown out. Gungnir, in the Norse legends, is a weapon that never misses and can penetrate anything.
