Vegvísir

A vegvísir (Nordic for sign post or wayfinder) is an Icelandic magical stave intended to help the bearer find their way through rough weather. The symbol is attested in the Huld Manuscript, collected in Iceland by Geir Vigfusson in 1880 (but consisting of material of earlier origin).[1]

The vegvísir according to the Huld manuscript

A leaf of the manuscript provides an image of the vegvísir, gives its name, and, in prose, declares that "if this sign is carried, one will never lose one's way in storms or bad weather, even when the way is not known".[2]

Etymology

Vegur (way) + vísir (pointer) deriving its meaning from the same word as the English wise. It points someone the right way.[3]

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gollark: That is concrete.
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References
  • Flowers, Stephen (1989). The Galdrabók: An Icelandic Grimoire. Samuel Weiser, Inc. ISBN 087728685X

Notes
  1. Flowers (1989:83).
  2. Flowers (1989:88).
  3. Magnússon, Ásgeir Blöndal (1989). Íslensk orðsifjabók (Icelandic Etymological Dictionary). Orðabók Háskólans.
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