Gjallarhorn, meaning “hollering horn,” is in some way one of the best-known mystical objects from Norse mythology. We are told in the story of Ragnarok that Heimdall, the guardian of the Rainbow Bifrost Bridge and the gates of Asgard, will sound Gjallarhorn when he sees the giant hoard approaching Asgard, and it will be heard throughout the Norse cosmos.
Despite the close association between Heimdall and Gjallarhorn, this is not, in fact, the most interesting story about the horn.
The Head of Mimir
According to Norse mythology, following the war between the Aesir and Vanir gods, peace was made and hostages were exchanged. While Njord and his twin children Freyr and Freyja were sent to live among the Aesir gods in Asgard, Hoenir and Mimir were sent to live among the Vanir gods in Vanaheim.
Hoenir was extremely charismatic, and the Vanir quickly made him their leader. Meanwhile, Mimir, who was also Odin’s uncle and therefore possible a giant as the brother of his giantess mother Bestla, was consider the wisest of the Asgardians. Therefore, he acted as Hoenir’s advisor.
The Vanir soon realized that Hoenir only gave good advice when Mimir was whispering in his ear. When Mimir was not around, Hoenir would give non-committal answers. Feeling cheated, the Vanir took revenge by beheading Mimir and sending his severed head to the Aesir.
Odin did not want to lose the counsel of his most trusted advisor, so he took Mimir’s head to the Well of Wisdom and installed his head there. The myth says that Odin magically reanimated the head so that he could consult.
The Heimskingla specifically says that din embalmed Mimir’s head with herbs so that it wud not rite and then spoke charms over it to give it the power to reveal its secrets.
Mimir and Gjallahorn
According to the Prose Edda, when Ragnarok comes, Odin will take Gjallarhorn to the Well of Wisdom and that he will use the horn to feed Mimir the water of the well to reanimate it and take its counsel. This suggests that drinking the water of the well from Gjallarhorn may also be part of the magical ritual of reanimation.
The Gylfaginning in the Prose Edda also says that Mimir, at the well, drinks mead every morning. This again suggests a connection between drinking and the reanimation of Mimir.
Images of Gjallahorn
Despite the connection with Mimir, in imagery from the Viking Age, Gjallahorn is clearly associated with Heimdall. A figure holding a large horn to his lips and clasping a sword appears on a stone cross on the Isle of Man, and almost certainly represents Heimdall.
Similarly, the Gosford Cross, from Cumbria in England from the 9th or 10th century, shows a figure showing a sword and horn, which again must be Heimdall. He stands before two beasts with open mouths, surely showing him as the first defence of Asgard at Ragnarok.
There are questions about whether this enchanted horn inspired the Golden Horns of Gallehus, two horns made of sheet gold, discovered in Denmark and dating to the 5th century. Discovered in 1639 and 1734 respectively, they were stolen and melted down in 1802, but fortunately casts were made in the late 18th century.
The longer horn measures 75.8 centimetres, and the smaller horn is 50 centimetres. The second had a runic inscription in Elder Futhark identifying the maker of the horn. However, the two rows of images on the top segment of the longer horn may also be a pictographic cipher for the Elder Runic alphabet. If so, it is believed to read “May I, the potion of this horn, bring help to the clan.” This would seem to offer a connection back to Gjallarhorn.
In general, the horns are decorated with anthropomorphic, zoomorphic, and hybrid motifs. Various interpretations have been suggested, but the figure holding a horn may be a Valkyrie, serving the dead in Valhalla.
Horned Triskelion
There is also a question of how Gjallarhorn might relate to the Horned Triskelion, a symbol of three interlocking horns common from the Viking Age. This is usually linked with Odin and the Mead of Poetry. When Odin stole the mead, he flew back to Asgard in the form of an eagle holding the mead in his stomach, where he spat the mead into three drinking horns prepared for that purpose.
This is reinforced by the appearance of the symbol on the Snoldelev Runestone, which was set up to celebrate the bard of a place called Salhaugar.
However, with no written commentary surviving. it may be just as likely that the symbol relates to Gjallarhorn. Perhaps it refers to the multiple uses of the enchanted horn: a receptacle of knowledge, a harbinger of doom, and an unknown purpose that has not survived to this day.
Handcrafted Gjallarhorn Necklace
Inspired by Gjallarhorn, we have added a handcrafted silver horn pendant to our Heirloom Collection.
The delicate horn sits across the collarbone. The horn is decorated with patterns inspired by carvings on the Oseberg ship burial. It is a symbol of the wisdom of Odin and the strength of Heimdall. It also represents facing fate head on, as Heimdall will at Ragnarok.
You can also find pieces inspired by the Horned Triskelion in the collection. These are often favored by writer, actors, and intellectuals looking for a symbol of their talent.
