Symbol Type

General Racist Symbol
Neo-Nazi Symbol

Also Known As

Norse Rune

Traditional Use/Origins

The Rune expresses faith in the pagan religion of Odinism and was originally a symbol of the Vikings

Hate Group/Extremist Organization

Neo-Nazis, White Supremacists

Extremist Meaning or Representation

Aryan heritage and cultural pride

Background/History

While not by nature a racist religion, Odinism is popular among white supremacists because its Old Norse origins are seen as representative of Aryan heritage and cultural pride. The symbol was common within Celtic and ancient Germanic cultures and was later adopted by the Nazis for this reason. There are many variations of this symbol.