THE VALKNUT
THE KNOT OF DEATH
The Valknut is an Old Norse symbol consisting of three interlocking triangles, also known as "the knot of death" and "knot of the slain." The name Valknut is an unattested modern invention used to describe the symbol, and was not used originally. The Valknut has been compared to the three-horned symbol found on the Snoldelev Stone from the 19th century. It is found on stone carvings and funerary steles where it may signify the afterlife, and can also be found in use as a protective charm, as on the Oseburg Viking Ship. There are two kinds of Valknut, the unicursal, which is one continuous ribbon knotted upon itself as seen on the 7th century Tangelgarda stone and the triple version, which is made by three separate triangles that appear in "brunnian linked" form as on the Larbro stone as well as upon a ring found in the River Nene in England.
The nine points and three interlocking shapes are known to represent life, death and rebirth in the cycle of reincarnation. They are also may be for the nine worlds of Norse mythology.