'Hammer of Thor' unearthed: Runes on 1,000-year-old amulet solve mystery of why Viking charms were worn for protection
- Legend says Thor’s hammer helped protect Asgard, home of the gods
- Thousands of Viking amulets similar to Thor’s hammer have been found
- This amulet discovery is the only one with the inscription ‘This is hammer’
- It finally ends the debate about whether amulets were a representation of Thor’s hammer
In Norse mythology, Thor’s hammer helped prevent giants from destroying Asgard, the celestial home of the gods.
Thousands of tiny intricate amulets, similar to this weapon, have been found all over the Viking world since the first millennium CE.
But for years, researchers have been unsure whether the amulets, known as ‘torshammere’, were a representation of Thor’s hammer or something else entirely.
Researchers have been unsure whether the amulets, known as torshammere, were a representation of Thor’s hammer or something else entirely. Now archaeologists have unearthed a 10th century torshammere (pictured) on a Danish island that could finally end the debate
Now, archaeologists have unearthed a 10th century torshammere in Købelev, on the Danish island of Lolland, that could finally end the debate on how Thor’s legend influenced Viking jewellery.
The latest find is unusual as it has runes inscribed that reads ‘Hmar x is’ meaning ‘This is a Hammer’.
‘It was the amulet’s protective power that counted, and often we see torshammere and Christian crosses appearing together, providing double protection’, said Peter Pentz, an archaeologist at the National Museum of Denmark.
Both sides of the amulet are shown here with runes seen on the left image. The latest find is unusual as it has runes inscribed that reads ‘Hmar x is’ (This is a Hammer’)
In Norse mythology, Thor’s hammer helped prevent the giants from destroying Asgard, the home of the gods. Pictured is actor Chris Hemsworth in the 2011 film ‘Thor’
MJOLNIR: THE HAMMER OF THOR
In Norse mythology, Mjölnir (pronounced roughly ‘miol-neer’) is the name given to the hammer of Thor, a major Norse god associated with thunder.
The hammer is described in Norse mythology as one of the most powerful weapons, capable of levelling mountains.
It was used by Thor to guard Asgard, the celestial stronghold of the Aesir, the main tribe of gods and goddesses in Norse mythology.
As well as being a weapon, legend has it that Thor’s hammer also occupied a key role in religous rituals of cleansing.
It was used in formal ceremonies to bless marriages, births, and possibly funerals. In one tale, Thor once killed and ate his goats, then brought them back to life by hallowing their bones with his hammer.
This object is cast in bronze and has traces of silver or tin and gold plating, according to a report in Past Horizons.
Mr Pentz said he grateful to the unknown rune writer who has confirmed that these amulets do depict Thor’s hammer – a lasting symbol of Viking culture.
The fact that the person who made the hammer was literate is a source of fascination for archaeologists.
They claim the amulet could indicate that literacy was widespread among craftspeople.
The runes range in height from 3 to 7mm, so it required precision to inscribe them onto the amulet.
As well as the torshammere, the archaeologists recovered fragments of silver needles and a mould for making brooches.
These suggest that there may have been a workshop producing jewellery nearby.
Museum Lolland-Falster, who reported the discovery, has no plans to excavate the Viking site at Købelev, but said it will continue metal detector surveys.
Thousands of tiny intricate amulets, similar to this weapon, have been found all over the Viking world since the first millennium CE. Pictured are two examples
Archaeologists, working with the National Museum of Denmark, unearthed the unusual 10th century amulet in Købelev on the Danish island of Lolland
Mjölnir (pronounced roughly ‘miol-neer’) is the name given to the hammer of Thor, a major Norse god associated with thunder. The hammer is described in Norse mythology as one of the most powerful weapons, capable of levelling mountains
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Whistler Blowers, Insiders
I get the impression that the depiction of using the hammer in the manner of modern carpenters is wrong; up side down. Rather, the business end of this “hammer” (sounds like a more precision/technical instrument; laser like weapon) that is, the opposite end of the “hammer” would perhaps indicate that it is where the power emanates from.
Thor’s hammer isn’t even a hammer. From the side it looks like a hammer but it’s really an axe, but it’s more then that. It’s the key to the tower, and it’s destruction. It’s what brings down the tower, or the escape from the laberynth. Which is nothing more then the mind. Using the power you can escape your prison. But it’s much like the movie the matrix, once you’re awake, you won’t like what you find.