Viking Rune Bead Sowilo: The Sun of the North
Specifications
| Color | Bronze |
| Material | Zinc alloy, patinated bronze finish |
| Dimensions | Height: 10 mm | Diameter: 8 mm | Hole: 6 mm |
| For | Unisex |
- For: men and women (adults)
- Zinc alloy, patinated bronze finish
- 6 mm hole · worn on a beard or hair braid
- Sold individually, height 10 mm, diameter 8 mm
- Free shipping from 49€ · secure payment
Sowilo, the sun — a guide for those who sail
A jagged, broken line engraved as a cartouche on a beard and hair bead made of patinated bronze alloy. Sowilo is the name for the sun: in a land where it disappears for weeks at a time, it is not a mere decoration but a landmark—one that allows you to hold your course.
Find this model in our collection of Viking beard and hair beads.
What makes this beard bead special
- The rune of orientation and victory over darkness, in the most literal sense: finding one's way.
- The sun is one of the oldest obsessions of the North, dating back long before the Viking Age—the Trundholm sun chariot in Denmark dates to approximately 1400 BCE.
- Slide-on, no clasp: the bead is slipped onto the strand before braiding. The fullness of the braid keeps it in place, so there is nothing to break.
- Inner hole of approx. 6 mm: the only criterion that truly matters. It should be slightly narrower than the finished braid and slightly wider than the loose strand.
Specifications
- Material: Zinc alloy, patinated bronze finish
- Inner hole: approx. 6 mm
- Dimensions: approx. 10 mm high, 8 mm in diameter
- Wear: beard, mustache, or hair, on a braided strand
- Sold: individually
Did you know?
The Anglo-Saxon rune poem defines it from the sailor’s perspective: the sun is "always a joy to mariners when they travel over the fishes' bath, until the wave-steed brings them to land." This is no allegory: for a crew without a magnetic compass, the position of the sun was the primary navigation instrument.
To learn more, our Viking hairstyle guide details cuts, braids, and beards, with supporting sources, and our Futhark alphabet guide covers every sign one by one.
Complete your set
What does the Sowilo rune mean?
Sowilo means the sun, and by extension finding one's bearings and regained clarity. The rune poem presents it from the point of view of sailors who used it to hold their course.
Was this rune used in the Viking Age?
This form belongs to the Elder Futhark, in use from the 2nd to the 8th century. The Vikings carved the Younger Futhark, which has sixteen signs.
What strand thickness does this bead fit?
The hole is about 6 mm: a beard braid of medium thickness, or a thin braid of hair.
How do I care for the bronze finish?
A soft, dry cloth is enough. Never use silver polish: it would strip the patina from the recesses, which is precisely what makes the design stand out.
Delivery — Allow 7 to 15 business days for mainland France, 10 to 20 days for the European Union. Free delivery on orders over €49.
Delivery guarantee — If your parcel is not delivered within 60 business days, we will provide an immediate reshipment or a full refund.
14-day returns — You have 14 calendar days from receipt to request an exchange or refund. The item must be returned within this period, in its original packaging.
Legal guarantees — All our products are covered by the legal guarantee of conformity and the guarantee against hidden defects, in accordance with the Consumer Code and the Civil Code.
