Neo-Nazis see themselves as different from common citizens. The image of the fighting, frightening Viking is very similar to the picture that the Nazis create of themselves as the saviours of the nation. By linking their struggle for a white Norway to Norse mythology, the right wing forces also try to achieve legitimacy by portraying themselves as part of an ongoing Nordic tradition, starting with the Vikings and continuing with militant neo-Nazis. A picture says more than thousand words, and a swastika painted on an immigrant's shop is more than paint on a wall. Both the perpetrator and the victim know the meaning of the symbol, and thereby the message is delivered.
Symbols have a crucial meaning in extreme right wing groups world-wide.
The Odalrune is one of the most frequently used symbols, and was first used in post-war Norway by Nazi organisations operating in the seventies. The Norwegian nationalists interpret this sign as a symbol of Norwegians' right to keep their own country free from foreigners. The Norwegian far right scene has used mythology to a great extent, choosing organisation names like Viking and calling the women's group Valkyria. Valkyria is the name of the women Odin sent to collect the dead warriors, and also the ones who served drinks at Odin's residence Valhalla. The fascination for this period can also be easily recognised in their magazines and companies.