What Is The Helm Of Awe & Its History

The Helm of Awe (Ægishjálmr, 'helm of terror') is a Norse protective stave of eight tridents radiating from a central point. Its name already appears in the Poetic Edda, but as a drawn sign it turns up only in Icelandic grimoires from about 1600 onward. According to that later tradition it was pressed onto the forehead between the eyebrows to instil courage in the bearer and strike fear into enemies. It is widely regarded as the most powerful protection symbol in Norse tradition.

Norse mythology is known for its many symbols. After all, runes themselves were a sort of symbol, but above all they were the script in which the Vikings recorded their messages. That being said, whenever most of us think about the runes we know, the first shape that comes to mind is a shape of a snowflake with endings resembling tridents. Curiously enough, this symbol is not a rune. In Norse mythology, that is a symbol known as the Helm of Awe symbol.

What does the Helm of Awe Mean?

The Helm of Awe (Ægishjálmr in Old Norse) matters less as a word than for what it represents. It is probably the most powerful symbol in the entire Norse mythology. Its name is first recorded in the Poetic Edda. In stanza 16 of Fáfnismál, the furious and destructive dragon Fafnir, who was previously cursed by Andvari's gold, claims the Helm of Awe to be the source of his might in these verses:

The Helm of Awe

I wore before the sons of men

In defense of my treasure;

Amongst all, I alone was strong,

I thought to myself,

For I found no power a match for my own.

In these verses the Helm of Awe is not yet a drawn sign but the source of Fafnir's terrifying might. In the next stanza Sigurd answers that the helm of terror shields no one when angry men must fight.

RELATED: Wolf Head with Helm of Awe Fleece Blanket

Outside the Poetic Edda, we find the Helm of Awe in a much later source, the Icelandic grimoire called Galdrabók from around 1600, long after the Viking Age. The two staves it explicitly calls ægishjálmar have only four arms, instead of the eight of the form known today, and a slightly simpler design.

For the primary sources set side by side (the Fáfnismál stanza and the later grimoire staves), see the sourced Ægishjálmr entry in our symbol library.

Later Icelandic spells have the stave pressed onto the forehead between the eyebrows as a sign of strength over enemies. It is also often said that warriors put it on their shields or inside their helmets for protection, but there is no Viking-Age evidence for either.

When it comes to runes, we have already mentioned that the Helm of Awe is not a rune itself, but it has many connections to the runes because some Germanic runes have a similar shape to parts of the Helm of Awe. So, even though the Helm of Awe comes from the Icelandic magical tradition, its shapes build a visual bridge to the runic script used across much of the Germanic world.

Does Helm of Awe Represent Evil?

This question is a difficult one because the modern concept of religion, culture and morality and the idea of good and evil is not the same as it was in the times of the Vikings. For us, modern people, something that causes terror among others is something to be frowned upon in the least. Norse religion and culture didn't think like that at all. The basic idea for them was to show courage, fight well and reach Valhalla. Now, if there was a certain magical object that could help them on that road, either to provide protection or to chase away the fear, well, there was nothing wrong about it.

There is actually a lot of dispute regarding the form of the Helm of Awe. Some modern authors, foremost Stephen Flowers, think that the form of the Helm of Awe has changed over time. In their reading, in the Poetic Edda it at first had a physical form, and its shape was spherical. It was associated with snakes - hence its connection to dragon Fafnir. After that, in Icelandic grimoire, it lost all connection to the physical world. Its origin was magical, and its source of power was the pineal gland (that is why it was drawn between the eyes since that point was considered the central point of energy in a lot of ancient cultures), and it was connected with the life energy. Through that, it would use magic to help a warrior defeat his opponents, instil courage in him and strike fear from his heart.

So, to answer the question, is the Helm of Awe evil? Well, in its original form, as the thing that ancient Fafnir used for the protection you could probably consider it evil in the modern use of that word. On the other hand, in its Icelandic form, as a sign meant to help a fighter defeat his enemies and protect his life using magic, no one could call it evil so quickly. The best way to look at it is as an object of power which used to assist men in battles in times before ours. It is similar to weapons. Though they may have intimidating power without someone wielding them, they can't cause much harm. Also, like weapons, it could be used for protection.

Besides that, if you are not a religious person, you can find this object fascinating as a symbol that left a strong mark on the Icelandic magical tradition, and many people recognise individual rune shapes in its arms.

How do I get the Helm of Awe?

New age popularity of Norse mythology has brought this symbol (along with other Norse symbols) back in use. It is usually seen as a tattoo on the arm. If you fear how the tattoo would look like and would like something less permanent, there is great stuff to be found which have this symbol carved on them. If you are for something that combines the spirit of new times with the great times of Vikings, there are watches with arms of the Helm instead of the watch's hands. If you are for something little more classical, there are rings that have the Helm symbol on them. Of course, there are blankets, helm of awe hoodies, t-shirts and a lot of other options.

Conclusion

As you now know, there are a lot of different explanations regarding the Helm of Awe. It may be a good sign; it may be a bad sign. It may be a symbol of might, or it may be a symbol of protection. It's up to you to choose what kind of meaning would you like it to have.

Until our next meeting,

Skål!

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Helm of Awe mean?

The Helm of Awe (Ægishjálmr, 'helm of terror') is a Norse symbol of protection and power. Eight tridents radiate from a central point; according to later Icelandic tradition, it was worn to instil courage in oneself and to strike fear into enemies.

Is the Helm of Awe a rune?

No. Although its arms resemble runic shapes and it is closely tied to rune magic, the Helm of Awe is a stave (a magical sigil), not a letter of any futhark.

What is the difference between the Helm of Awe and the Vegvísir?

Both are Icelandic magical staves, but the Helm of Awe (Ægishjálmr) is a symbol of protection and dominance in confrontation, while the Vegvísir is a guiding symbol meant to help you find your way and not get lost.

Is the Helm of Awe evil?

Not in Norse terms. It was a tool of courage and protection, closer to armour than to a curse. Judging it 'evil' applies a modern moral frame the Norse did not share.

How did Vikings use the Helm of Awe?

There is no evidence from the Viking Age itself. According to later Icelandic tradition, the stave was pressed onto the forehead between the eyebrows before a confrontation to gain protection, courage and power over opponents. That warriors painted it on shields or helmets is not attested.

To go further, read the full guide to Norse symbols, the article on its sister stave, the Vegvísir, and the one on the Elder Futhark runes its arms echo, or browse our Helm of Awe designs in the shop.