Vegvisir: Was the ‘Viking Compass’ Originally a Christian Symbol?

Although the name Vegvisir may not be familiar to you, you may have seen its symbolic representation before. This emblem has gained iconic status largely due to its frequent use in the media. Additionally, it has become popular among neo-pagans, who often wear it as a pendant or get it tattooed on their bodies. Nowadays, Vegvisir is widely acknowledged as an ancient Germanic and Viking runic symbol that functioned as a compass for Viking warriors during their seafaring journeys, offering them divine guidance and protection.

Vegvisir in Christian Mysticism

According to researcher Tomáš Vlasatý, in his article ‘Origins of the “vegvísir” symbol,’ Vegvisir, as well as many other symbols found in Icelandic grimoires, were probably imported to Iceland from England. The origins of many star-shaped symbols can be traced back to England as early as the 15th century, with examples found in texts like the Testament of Solomon. So although Vegvisir is generally viewed as a Viking symbol, it has its earliest roots in Christian mysticism, rather than Norse paganism.

The Huld Manuscript

the 19 ^th century, the Vegvisir symbol was appearing in Icelandic grimoires, which are textbooks that provide instruction on magical spells, rituals, and tools, as well as guidance on how to create and use them. The symbol is known to be present in three grimoires, the first and most important of which is the  Huld manuscript. It was composed in 1860 by Geir Vigfússon in Akureyri, Iceland. This manuscript is made up of 27 paper lists and features a collection of 30 symbols believed to have magical properties. Vegvisir is one of the symbols depicted in the manuscript, appearing on page 60 alongside another unidentified symbol. The accompanying note suggests that carrying the Vegvisir symbol provides protection against getting lost in unfamiliar surroundings, even in the midst of storms or bad weather.

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The 1860 Huld manuscript is the earliest mention of the Vegvisir in Icelandic literature (Jara Lisa / CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Book of Spells Manuscripts

The second grimoire, referred to as the Book of Spells or Galdrakver in Icelandic, was authored by Olgeir Geirsson in Akureyri between 1868 and 1869. This manuscript contains 58 pages and displays Vegvisir as symbol 27 on page 27. It comes with a note written partially in Latin and partially in runes which carries the same message as the Huld manuscript, suggesting that carrying the Vegvisir symbol provides protection against getting lost in storms or bad weather.

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The Vegvisir is shown on page 27 of Olgeir Geirsson's Galdrakver manuscript (Jara Lisa / CC BY SA 4.0)

The third grimoire, also named the Book of Spells, was created in the Eyjafjord area near Akureyri in the 19th century. Although the author, date, and location of its origin remain unknown, it is a 32-page manuscript that includes many of the same symbols found in the previous two grimoires, such as "Solomon's Sigil" and "Mark against a Thief." Notably, the text accompanying the Vegvisir symbol in this grimoire is overtly Christian in nature. The meaning is somewhat challenging to translate, but it suggests that to avoid getting lost, one should keep the Vegvísir sign under their left arm and believe in it and in God. The text further implies that the meaning of the sign is hidden in these words so that one may not perish and ends with a prayer for luck and blessings from God in the name of Jesus.

The Popularization of Vegvisir

The Vegvisir symbol gained popularity over time, particularly in the 20th century, thanks to several Icelandic works. The first of these was an article by Ólaf Davíðsson in 1903 on Icelandic magical marks and books. The Vegvisir symbol appeared again in a book by Jochum Eggertsson in 1940, entitled The Sorcerer's Screed: The Icelandic Book of Magic Spells, which focused on the same topic. Lastly, in the late 1980s, the author Stephen Flowers mentioned the Vegvisir as a side note on Icelandic grimoires in his paper titled The Galdrabók: An Icelandic Grimoire. However, this paper is likely the main reason for the current popularity of the Vegvisir symbol.

Vegvisir from The Galdrabók by Steven Flowers (Jara Lisa / CC BY SA 4.0)

How Vegvisir became a ‘Viking’ symbol

During the early days of the internet, when there was a growing interest in Norse culture and a new reenactment community was emerging, Flowers' paper was heavily promoted. As one of the few resources on the topic available online, people who were researching the subject inevitably stumbled upon it. Eventually, as the paper gained popularity, online shops that catered to this specific market started using the Vegvisir symbol on their products. Even Icelandic tourist shops started featuring the Vegvisir symbol, promoting it as an authentic Viking symbol. 

In 1982, Björk, an Icelandic singer, had the Vegvisir symbol tattooed on her arm, describing it as an ancient Viking emblem that seafarers used to mark their foreheads with coal to navigate. As a result, the Vegvisir symbol became a prevalent tattoo design and a popular addition to the portfolios of tattoo artists. By that time, the symbol had already achieved mainstream popularity.

Icelandic singer Björk, performing at Coachella in 2007. Her arm tattoo of Vegvisir in 1982 helped boost its popularity as a supposed Viking symbol. (thetripwirenyc / CC BY 2.0)

Ultimately, Vegvisir cannot reasonably be considered a Viking symbol, given that its earliest appearance in Nordic sources is some 800 years after the end of the Viking Age. Even the Vegvisir symbols found in the 19th-century Icelandic grimoires are not identical to the symbol we know today. The original symbol was square in shape. It was not until the 20th-century texts from Davíðsson, Eggertson, and Flowers were published that the symbol evolved into the circular one we know today.

Modern tattoos of Vegvisir are generally a circular design (Eddie Black / CC BY 2.0)

Top image: Is thinking of the Vegvisir as a ‘Viking compass’ completely off course? Source: Tartila / Adobe Stock

By Mark Brophy