Black Sun

The Black Sun is a large sun wheel featuring 12 Sig runes arranged around the centre. 

The symbol was placed as a pattern on a marble floor in the Wewelsburg castle, a building that SS leader Heinrich Himmler obtained in 1934 and intended to turn into a cult-like headquarters for the Nazi paramilitary organisation. For the SS, the Black Sun was a symbol that served a central role in their esoteric rituals and beliefs.

While the Black Sun’s design was based on older historical sun wheel symbols, scholars state that the Black Sun symbol at Wewelsburg is a “unique…design” that was “commissioned specifically for [Heinrich] Himmler”.

The Black Sun symbol is frequently used by the far right around the world, particularly neo-Nazis. When used by hate groups it is often intended to represent “ancient” European heritage as well as esoteric neo-Nazi spiritual beliefs.

The Black Sun may occasionally, in some contexts, be used by individuals unfamiliar with its origins.