One symbol that appears a lot in Viking-inspired jewellery and accessories is the raven, a central figure in Norse mythology that serves as the eyes and ears of Odin himself, the god of war, wisdom and death.
Odin actually had two ravens - Huginn (representing thought) and Muninn (representing memory). Huginn is embodiment of Odin’s intellectual interests, flying across the Nine Realms to share everything he learns with Odin.
Muninn, meanwhile, collates knowledge to impart as well but also to help Odin preserve it, remembering insights and experiences to ensure that the Allfather’s wisdom grows.
In Norse mythology, ravens are symbolically significant, representing the quest for wisdom, knowledge and intellect, but they also have strong links to the Valkyries, female warriors who chose the souls of those struck down in battle to be taken to Valhalla, Odin’s hall in Asgard.
These warriors wore beautiful black raven feather cloaks and were often accompanied by ravens themselves while fulfilling their eternal obligations.
Because of this, the raven is now regarded by many as a sacred creature, with the Vikings believing that if they saw the bird flying high above them it was a divine sign from Odin that they had his support.
And, of course, the presence of ravens actually served a very practical function beyond symbolism and belief. The birds themselves are scavengers and are known for circling the spot where potential tasty leftovers can be found… a signal to the Vikings on a hunt that there might be prey in the area.
As such, if you’re on the hunt for stainless steel jewellery at the moment and can’t quite decide what insignia to go for, a raven would be a fantastic choice. We’ve got various raven iterations to be found in our online shop - so have a browse to see what floats your proverbial longboat today.
