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'Hammer of Thor' unearthed: Runes on 1,000-year-old amulet solve mystery of why Viking charms were
'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
By ELLIE ZOLFAGHARIFARD
PUBLISHED: 11:51 GMT, 1 July 2014 | UPDATED: 14:45 GMT, 1 July 2014
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.
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.
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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