Norse symbol

Triple Horn of Odin

Wisdom and the mead of poetry

Pronounced —Also known as Horn Triskelion, Odin's horns

  • Odin
  • wisdom
  • inspiration
  • poetry
  • the quest

Researched & written by the VikingsBrand team

The Triple Horn of Odin shows three interlocking drinking horns and recalls the myth in which Odin won the Mead of Poetry. It symbolises wisdom, inspiration and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.

The Triple Horn of Odin is three drinking horns locked together in a single interwoven emblem. Each horn recalls a stage of one of the most famous quests in Norse myth: Odin's winning of the Mead of Poetry.

The Mead of Poetry

The mead was brewed from the blood of the wise being Kvasir and granted poetry and wisdom to any who drank it. To win it, Odin schemed, laboured and shape-shifted his way to where it was hidden, then drank all three vessels — Óðrœrir, Boðn and Són — in three great draughts and escaped in eagle form to share it with gods and poets. The three horns are those three draughts.

Wisdom hard-won

More than a tale of cleverness, the myth says something about knowledge: that wisdom and inspiration are earned, often through patience and sacrifice. The Triple Horn is therefore a symbol of the seeker — anyone who pursues mastery, craft or insight. It stands beside the questing ravens Huginn & Muninn and the fearless resolve of Mjölnir.

How to wear it

The Triple Horn suits poets, makers and lifelong learners — anyone who values inspiration won through effort. Engraved on a Viking wooden watch, it is a fitting mark for a craft or a calling. Discover the rest of the Norse symbol lexicon.

Related symbols

ValknutThe knot of the slain Huginn & MuninnThought and memory MjölnirProtection & strength

Triple Horn of Odin — common questions

The Triple Horn of Odin symbolises wisdom and inspiration. Its three interlocking horns recall the three draughts of the Mead of Poetry that Odin won in Norse myth.

In Norse myth the Mead of Poetry granted wisdom and the gift of poetry to whoever drank it. Odin won it through a long quest and shared it with gods and poets.

The three-horn motif appears on Viking-age artefacts such as the Snoldelev Stone, and is strongly tied to Odin and the Mead of Poetry in the myths.

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