Study › Runes & Norse › The Vegvísir
The Vegvísir, the "wayfinder", is a round sign of eight staves meant to keep its bearer from losing the way. It is often sold as a Viking compass, but it comes from an Icelandic book of magic of 1860.
What is the Vegvísir?
The Vegvísir, or 'wayfinder', is a round device of eight ornate staves, said to keep its bearer from losing the way in rough weather and unknown country. It is often sold as a 'Viking compass' — but no Viking ever saw it.
How old is the Vegvísir?
The symbol is attested only in 19th-century Iceland. Its best-known source is the Huld Manuscript, a small book of magic compiled by Geir Vigfússon in 1860 — some eight hundred years after the Viking Age. The word vegvísir is ordinary Old Norse, but the sign itself is a product of late Icelandic folk magic. It is included here because it is now inseparable from the popular image of Norse symbolism, and it is only fair to say plainly how young it is.
It is often paired with the Helm of Awe.
Questions
Is the Vegvísir Viking?
No. It first appears in Iceland in the 19th century, about 800 years after the Viking Age.
What does Vegvísir mean?
"Wayfinder" or "signpost".