The Norse myths behind the tattoos worn by the Capitol riot’s ‘QAnon Shaman’

The tattoos on the chest of a distinguished participant in final week’s Capitol invasion and riot are Norse symbols now used to point adherence to far-right politics, writes an professional in Previous Norse mythology.

The defining picture of the storming of the US Capitol on January 6 was undoubtedly that of a bare-chested man posing resplendent in a horned fur hat and face paint. Photographs of him in his bizarre costume have been shared throughout the globe – he appears to completely encapsulate the absurdity of the mob takeover of America’s sacred seat of energy.

The person in query has since been identified within the media as a far-right activist from Arizona by the title of Jacob Chansley (often known as Jake Angeli). He was rapidly alleged to be an adherent of the QAnon conspiracy idea – although not earlier than fake rumours spread that he was truly an antifa “plant”.

One factor that ought to make it very clear the place Angeli’s politics lie are his tattoos. On his torso he has a big Thor’s hammer, often called Mjölnir, and what seems to be a picture of the Norse world tree, Yggdrasill.

The ‘Mjölnir’: a hammer wielded by Thor, the Norse god of thunder. (Inventive Commons)

Mjölnir is one image we will be fairly certain was utilized by the unique adherents of the Norse perception system, maybe to summon the safety of the god Thor. Yggdrasill is the large ash tree that helps the Norse cosmos, its branches reaching into sky realms inaccessible to people, and its roots to the subterranean realm of the useless. In contrast to Thor’s hammer, it was solely not often depicted by the Vikings, and representations such because the one under are trendy interpretations.

The ‘Yggdrasil’ or Tree of Life, from Norse mythology has been co-opted by some far-right teams. (Getty Photographs)

Above these tattoos with a central place in Norse mythology is one that’s extra contentious. It depicts a valknut – a picture that seems on two Viking-Age stones from Sweden carved with scenes from Norse mythology, together with the Stora Hammars I stone on the island of Gotland.

The image’s authentic that means is unclear, but it surely seems in shut proximity to the daddy of the gods, Odin, on the stones. As Odin is carefully linked with the gathering of fallen warriors to Valhalla, the valknut could also be an emblem of demise in battle.

The Norse ‘Valknut’ image is normally linked to the god Odin and will consult with the glory of demise in battle. (Getty Photographs)

Snorri Sturluson, a medieval Icelandic collector of myths, tells us in his “Language of Poetry” {that a} well-known big referred to as Hrungnir had a stone coronary heart “pointed with three corners”, and so the valknut is usually additionally referred to as “Hrungnir’s Coronary heart”. No matter its authentic that means, it has been utilized in more moderen instances by varied neo-pagan teams – and more and more by some white supremacists as a coded message of their perception in violent battle.

Borrowed symbols

Angeli claims that he wears his weird costume to attract consideration to himself – however there’s certainly another excuse for the naked chest and precariously low-slung pants. He’s displaying these tattoos to full impact, and needs them to be seen.

Many individuals have related tattoos which categorical their neo-pagan perception, Scandinavian heritage, or curiosity within the myths. However there is no such thing as a doubt that these symbols have additionally been co-opted by a rising far-right motion. A touch at the place Angeli lies on this continuum is in a tattoo that’s much less seen on his left shoulder, however which a number of teachers together with archaeologist Kevin Philbrook Smith have identified appears to be a model of the Sonnenrad, or sun-wheel.

This can be a image listed by the Anti-Defamation League as “one among numerous historical European symbols appropriated by the Nazis of their try to invent an idealised Aryan or Norse heritage”. Typically it accommodates a swastika or different hate image – however worn with nothing inside, it is extremely simple for different white supremacists to fill within the clean.

The Norse ‘Sonnenrad’ or sun-wheel, extensively co-opted by far-right teams. (Inventive Commons)

Canine whistles

There’s, after all, an extended historical past of the co-opting of Norse imagery by the far proper. Beloved of Himmler, the runic script inspired the insignia of the SS, whereas the swastika is one other of these “historical European symbols” that options in varied kinds on image stones and runic inscriptions.

This misappropriation continued after the autumn of the Third Reich, although in a extra muted type. Neo-Nazis – at the very least these not brazen sufficient to put on a swastika – are inclined to go for much less recognisable symbols. These embrace numbers representing “Heil Hitler” (88 – H is the eighth letter of the alphabet) or “Aryan Brotherhood” (12 – letters one and two). Far-right adherents additionally favour different characters from the Germanic runic writing system which talk related messages.

Certainly one of these is the Othala runic letter – its title means “inherited land”, and so it ceaselessly seems within the emblems of white nationalist teams from Ukraine to the US.

Othala: an Previous Scandinavian runic image referring to ‘inherited land’ that’s typically utilized by far-right teams. (Getty Photographs)

These “coded” symbols, and others newly borrowed from Norse fantasy, are even tougher to identify and condemn. Within the UK, Sky TV recently cancelled a reality TV show after viewers complained one contestant was lined in tattoos – together with on his face – that may very well be seen as having far-right connotations. But when sure symbols are onerous for most of the people to identify, they’re actually canine whistles to members of an more and more international white supremacist motion who know precisely what they imply.

Sky caught up in row as contestant on Lee Mack’s new present has to disclaim he is bought ‘Nazi tattoos’ on his face https://t.co/PFhidGAAgb

— Crimson Tory (@78SoylentGreen) October 20, 2020

Many students argue that one of the best ways to counter far-right misuse is to drown it out with optimistic and correct representations of Norse fantasy – the place I took in my recent retelling. However within the wake of the mass taking pictures in Norway in 2011 by Anders Breivik, who named his weapons after weapons of the Norse gods, in addition to the 2019 Christchurch mass shooter Brenton Tarrant, together with his allusions to Valhalla, and of this newest poster-boy of far-right rebellion, now we have to assume very onerous about whether or not that is the appropriate method to counter a really international extremist motion. On the very least, teachers – and anybody else with a real curiosity in Norse mythology – should be way more concerned in countering these abuses of our topic on the bottom.

In any other case, we run the danger of ceding the sphere to those that see the obscure idea of “Norse heritage” as a solution to additional unite a world fraternity of violent white supremacists.

Tom Birkett, Lecturer in Previous English, University College Cork

This text is republished from The Conversation underneath a Inventive Commons license. Learn the original article.