Tursaansydän

Variations of the tursaansydän symbol

The tursaansydän (Finnish for "heart of Tursas" or "heart of octopus" of the order "Octopoda") or mursunsydän ("heart of the walrus") is an ancient symbol used in Northern Europe. The symbol originates from prehistoric times and incorporates a swastika.

The tursaansydän was believed to bring good luck and protect from curses, and was used as a decorative motif on wooden furniture and buildings in Finland. During the 18th century the simple swastika became more popular in Finnish wood decoration than the more complex tursaansydän.

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