Wolves are depicted throughout Germanic and Viking art—sometimes as animals and sometimes woven or hidden within intricate knot motifs. In this blog, we explore the symbolism behind this mythical creature.
Wolves played a prominent role in Germanic and Old Norse mythology, representing both heroes and threats. Fenrir, the malevolent wolf of Ragnarök, is the most famous, but Odin’s loyal wolves, Geri and Freki, are also significant figures. The presence of both the destructive Fenrir and the faithful Geri and Freki highlights the duality of the wolf in these cultures.
This symbolism originates from Proto-Indo-European traditions, where wolves embodied both chaos and destruction as well as loyalty and strength. It is this ambiguity that made the wolf a symbol of loyalty, warrior spirit, and tactical intelligence, seen throughout Indo-European culture.
Wolves and Proto-Indo-European Steppe Herders
Around 3000 BCE, the Proto-Indo-Europeans migrated from the Pontic-Caspian steppe into Europe, laying the foundations for cultures such as the Vikings, Romans, Greeks, and Celts. Many of their cultural expressions are still visible in Germanic and Scandinavian traditions.
For Proto-Indo-European speakers, wolves were both feared enemies and admired creatures. These predators not only threatened livestock but also the survival of entire families. Wolf attacks could devastate communities, leading to famine and death. With their cunning intelligence and formidable strength, wolves posed a constant threat to daily life.
On the other hand, dogs—domesticated descendants of wolves—were loyal companions and protectors of families long before humans kept chickens or rode horses.
Fenrir: The Wolf of Ragnarök
Fenrir, the giant wolf from Norse mythology, embodies the cunning and destructive force of chaos. As the son of Loki and Angrboða and the brother of Jörmungandr and Hel, Fenrir plays a crucial role in Ragnarök, the end of the world.
According to the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, Fenrir grows into a threat the gods cannot ignore. They bind him with the magical ribbon Gleipnir, but not without sacrifice—Týr loses his hand in the process. However, the gods avoid killing Fenrir to prevent bloodshed on sacred ground, following an ancient Indo-European tradition.
Fenrir’s rebellion against Odin is sometimes explained through parallels with real wolf behavior. Ethologist Valerius Geist suggests that Fenrir’s struggle for dominance may have been inspired by observations of wolves challenging and sometimes overthrowing their leaders.
Fenrir’s myth is illustrated in archaeological finds such as the Ledberg Stone and the Gosforth Cross, where pagan and Christian symbolism intertwine. In Christian interpretations, Fenrir represents evil, while Odin symbolizes good.
Chaos as a Prerequisite for Renewal
During Ragnarök, Fenrir kills Odin, but he is ultimately defeated by Odin’s son Víðarr. This confrontation emphasizes the eternal struggle between order and chaos.
Although Fenrir is often depicted as pure evil in Christian interpretations, the dharmic Indo-European traditions did not view chaos solely as destructive but also as necessary for renewal. Fenrir can thus be understood as an embodiment of inevitable fate—a force required to destroy the old and make way for the new. Without chaos, there can be no order.
Odin’s Wolves: Geri & Freki
In Norse mythology, Geri and Freki, the two wolves accompanying Odin, symbolize the close bond between humans and wolves (or dogs). They are mentioned in the Poetic Edda, the Prose Edda, and in skaldic poetry. Geri and Freki were likely symbolic representations of the Germanic Úlfhéðnar, warriors who fought in a wolf-like trance as followers of Wodan/Odin.
Etymology
The names Geri and Freki both mean "greedy" or "ravenous" and originate from Proto-Germanic roots. Geri can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root gher-, which also appears in the name of Garmr, the dog associated with Ragnarök. Freki shares similar roots with Gothic, Old Norse, and Old High German words that all refer to greed or voracity.
Mythological Mentions
In the Poetic Edda, Odin feeds Geri and Freki all the food from his table while he himself consumes only wine. The Prose Edda confirms this, explaining that Odin, as a god, requires only spiritual nourishment. In the poem Grímnismál, they are described as loyal companions who devour the bodies of fallen warriors in battle.
Archaeological depictions, such as the Böksta Runestone, depict Odin alongside his wolves hunting an elk.
Symbolism and Interpretations
The 19th-century scholar Jacob Grimm noted similarities between Geri and Freki and the sacred wolves of Apollo, as well as other Indo-European wolf myths. Philologist Maurice Bloomfield linked them to Vedic mythology, where the god Yama has two dogs that guide the dead.
Geri and Freki reflect a broader Indo-European tradition in which wolves accompany gods, similar to the Greek Apollo, the Vedic Yama, and the Roman myth of Romulus and Remus. They embody the power of wolves, whereas mythological wolves like Fenrir and the Persian wolf Ahriman symbolize their dangers.
The Wolf Warriors: Úlfhéðnar
Scholars such as Michael Speidel connect Geri and Freki to archaeological finds of Germanic warriors wearing wolf pelts. These warriors, known as Úlfhéðnar, were believed to worship Odin and follow him as a mythical pack leader. This phenomenon is seen as a pan-Germanic cult that disappeared after the Christianization of Northern Europe.
The name úlfhéðinn (singular) translates to "wolf cloak" or "wolf pelt." This tradition dates back centuries: in Rome, shields and standards of Germanic wolf-warriors were captured and displayed during the Armilustrium, a military purification festival.
These elite warriors, comparable to berserkers, appear in various sagas such as the Vatnsdæla saga, Haraldskvæði, and Grettis saga. They are described as the personal guard of Harald Fairhair, the first king of Norway.
Unlike the more well-known berserkers, Úlfhéðnar are less frequently mentioned, though their status and skills are often described as exceptional. Their ritual origins trace back to the Proto-Indo-European Koryos.
Úlfhéðnar wore wolf pelts and were known for their fierce, animalistic behavior in combat. They would enter an ecstatic, trance-like state in which they became impervious to fire and iron, fighting with unmatched strength. This state, known as berserkgang, directly linked them to Odin. They were regarded as his special warriors, drawing power from his protection and inspiration. Some sources describe how they bit their shields and fought like rabid dogs or wolves.
Mythological and Archaeological Evidence of the Úlfhéðnar
In the Egils Saga, a man named Kveldulf (meaning “Evening Wolf”) is mentioned, who was said to transform into a wolf at night. While he is referred to as a berserker rather than an úlfhéðinn, this highlights the close connection between wolf mythology and warriors who entered a trance-like battle fury.
Another example is the Torslunda helmet plate, as well as the Sutton Hoo helmet and Valsgärde 7 & 8 helmets, which depict a warrior with a wolf’s head alongside a one-eyed, horned figure—likely Odin. This imagery strengthens the association between berserkers, the Úlfhéðnar, and the god Odin.
Indo-European Wolf Warriors
The Úlfhéðnar originated in the Proto-Indo-European culture and the koryoswarrior tradition.
To protect livestock and prove their bravery, young warriors would symbolically kill a wolf. Upon completing this ritual, they would adopt the identity of a wolf, possibly even taking wolf-related names, marking their transformation into warriors.
The koryos tradition appeared in many other Indo-European cultures, not just among the Germanic Úlfhéðnar but also in the Vedic tradition (Vrātyas), the Greeks (Kryptai and possibly Epheboi), the Romans (Luperci), the Scythians and Celts (Fían). The Old Irish mythological hero Cú Chulainn (cú meaning “hound”) can be considered a canine warrior. Many of these warrior groups are linked to rituals and myths emphasizing transformation into animals as a source of power and protection. Wolf-warriors likely served as the European inspiration for werewolf legends.
Even outside the Indo-European world, wolf-warrior traditions are found among Native American tribes and the Mongols. This suggests that the tradition may be far older than the Proto-Indo-European peoples.
The Fury of the Wolf
The Greek word lyssa means both "rage" and "rabies." It represented the uncontrollable fury with which wild dogs and wolves could attack.
In Greek mythology, Lyssa was sometimes depicted as a goddess. Herakles invoked her as a source of strength. The hero Actaeon was devoured by his own dogs in a state of lyssa after seeing the goddess Artemis naked.
The power of lyssa could be summoned by wolf warriors and legendary heroes such as the Irish Cú Chulainn. Without the ability to invoke lyssa, merely wearing a wolf pelt was meaningless. The Old Norse equivalent of lyssa was wut, its Indo-Iranian counterpart aesma, and its Vedic form varaarayna.
Conclusion
For the Proto-Indo-European peoples, the wolf held a dual significance. On one hand, it was a dangerous enemy that threatened both humans and livestock; on the other hand, the dog, a domesticated descendant of the wolf, was regarded as a loyal companion and protector of the family. As a result, the wolf itself was revered for its cunning, strength, and ferocity. This ambivalent relationship between humans and wolves led to rituals and traditions in which the wolf played a central role.
The koryos ritual was a key expression of a wolf cult. From Proto-Indo-European traditions emerged the Germanic and Old Norse Úlfhéðnar, warriors who worshipped Odin (Wodan) and were known as the "wolves of Odin."
In Germanic and Old Norse art, wolves symbolized loyalty, strength, and protection, but also aggression and strategic intelligence. Artifacts adorned with wolf imagery were likely perceived as carriers of these qualities, offering spiritual inspiration and protection to their owners.
Wolf depictions on weaponry
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-axe-type-g-engraved.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-shield-fafnir.html
Úlfhéðnar representations
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/sutton-hoo-helmet.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/valsgaerde-8-viking-helmet.html
Viking belts and fittings with wolf motifs
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-belt-borre-style-deluxe.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-belt-end-borre-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-belt-end-borre-1-cm-silver-plated.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/belt-end-york.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/gotland-rusvik-belt-fitting-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/gotland-rusvik-belt-fitting.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-belt-end-borre.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/nl/viking-riemeinde-borrebeest-verzilverd.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-belt-end-borre-animal.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-belt-fitting-borre-set-of-5-pieces-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-belt-end-borre-1-cm-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-belt-fitting-borre-set-of-5-pieces.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/rusvik-belt-fitting-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/belt-end-york-155145738.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-belt-borre-style.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-belt-fitting-birka-wolf.html
Wolf-themed rings
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/luxurious-iceland-viking-ring-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/luxurious-iceland-viking-ring-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/saxon-ring-trewhiddle-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/rung-ring-with-wolf-heads-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/iceland-viking-ring-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/iceland-viking-ring-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/saxon-ring-trewhiddle-bronze.html
Jewelry with wolf imagery
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/hooks-for-leg-wrappings-birka-grave-903-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/fenrir-amulet.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/beard-bead-with-wolf-heads-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/pendant-hounds-of-cu-chulainn.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/bronze-fenis-pendant.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/10th-century-rusvik-bracelet.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/iceland-thors-hammer-small-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-bracelet-with-weasel-heads.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/thors-hammer-with-wolf-head-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/bronze-pendant-wild-hunt.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/icelandic-thors-hammer-silver.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/celtic-bracelet-with-ancient-irish-motifs-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-torque-with-wolf-heads-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/pewter-wild-hunt-pendant-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/celtic-bracelet-with-trisquelion-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/pendant-thors-hammer-with-horses.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/leather-viking-necklace-with-weasels-brown.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/thors-hammer-wolf-cross-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/icelandic-thorshamer-from-fossi-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-upper-bracelet-with-wolf-heads-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-bracelet-with-weasel-heads-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/beard-bead-with-runes-and-wolf-heads-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/10th-century-rusvik-bracelet-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-bracelet-with-wolf-heads.html
http://celticwebmerchant.com/en/iceland-thors-hammer-small-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/gotland-bracelet-viking-155145761.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/beard-bead-with-wolf-heads-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-upper-bracelet-with-wolf-heads-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/small-disc-fibula-borre-style-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/earrings-icelandic-thors-hammer-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-cross-fibula-uppaakra-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-chain-end-weasel-head-silvered-price-per-pi.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/thors-hammer-wolf-cross-brass.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-jewel-norfolk-borre-style-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/thors-hammer-widh-eagle-head-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/icelandic-thorshamer-from-fossi-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-jewel-norfolk-borre-style-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/earrings-icelandic-thors-hammer-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/thors-hammer-widh-eagle-head-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/bracelet-with-wolf-heads.html
Torcs featuring wolves
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-bracelet-with-wolf-heads-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-torque-with-wolf-heads-bronze.html
Brooches with wolf designs
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/merovingian-bow-brooch.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/6th-century-merovingian-fibula.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/borre-style-disc-fibula-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/iceland-viking-fibula-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-brooch-kaupang-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-brooch-borrestyle-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/borre-style-fibula-from-finland-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/iceland-viking-fibula-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/small-disc-fibula-borre-style-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/ring-fibula-with-animal-heads-haithabu-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-jewel-borre-style-scabbard-end-brass.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-beardbead-with-wolf-silver.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/iceland-thors-hammer-silvered.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-cross-fibula-uppaakra-bronze.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/germanic-fibula-type-hahnheim-silvered.html
Wolf motifs on clothing
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-tunic-urnes-style-grey-blue.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-tunic-urnes-style-green.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-tunic-wolf-fenrir-green.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-tunic-wolf-fenrir-black.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-tunic-wolf-fenrir-blue-grey.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-tunic-snorri-black-red.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-tunic-snorri-black.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-tunic-wolf-fenrir-brown.html
Drinking horns adorned with wolves
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/drinking-fenrir-wolf.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/horn-cup-fenrir-wolf.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-horn-mug-fenrir.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/drinking-horn-decoration-with-wolf-head-brass.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/horn-mug-celtic-horse-copy.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/horn-drinking-cup-fenrir.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/drinking-horn-decoration-with-wolf-head-silver.html
Wood carvings featuring wolf imagery
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/wooden-head-of-fenrir.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/celtic-dog-cuchulain.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/the-wild-hunt.html
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/woodcarving-three-celtic-dogs.html