The Viking World: A History in ObjectsMain MenuGallery viewA galleryTag Cloudtag cloud pageThemesA path of thematic categoriesAuthor IndexExplore the collection by authorWorks CitedReferencesAdam Bigelow3afa9c7ecebf516bba6609664b1b12f79c54bf77Caitlin Donahue61b7e986e7c71d400e5c803912ed83c0cf65252fCaroline Harvey1783f21a5882b5b4d3d0b6c174d058052a5ff7eaEdward Hershewee701ef220480b51ca728fc9c719bc094cf813655Martin Hoffmana1fd203afd9a84ee8db567e188cf6ed1d269386eTyler Hruby23493f763b312110686cfafc62578fd0ab5f3833Brittany N. Johnsonc1c1763339f8fa953e3c907c6bb8a3bad0c28b2cCarlos Lua Pineda0a28cc23b0aa00b4f24a9e205aeb57fbdb07ff01Moira McConnell710633400590ea38533ea3412c01fc5056288180Clara McCurdy9aec76477d0b55f9c685c47330d6786ec98182e1Elise McIlhaneyef48481634ff342c8b43c9d56f678b2d3562fb69Cameron Meikle669a5682bfbfd603130a26e25628f24eb07e6295Alexander Christopher Newkirk019c2f5b38c043507251d1789e2fdf47e61c3b7fBenja Reilly816c23aa0d444213fb2d1ef33555a15617e08228Oliver Statenc625ae8c3926f5e1a4268bc91d6a6f4cdb1e7fb6Liam Sullivanaa3a1dccb90c7fe4646b61c4af594abbb0c5574aRead Wilder31bf4715220144a665996f2e6cae80a1a8611eadAliza Yazdanicd49f227d88c72331226ddf574bf56c37308cd10Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707dea
Pendant
12017-05-10T09:51:24-07:00Aliza Yazdanicd49f227d88c72331226ddf574bf56c37308cd10164562A "Thor's Hammer" amulet or pendant made of gold and found in England. Likely used for a decorative or religious purpose.plain2017-05-10T09:54:59-07:00Burrill, Charlotte. Pendant. Still Image, 2011. DENO-BD00C3. Portable Antiquities Scheme. https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/473580#2.850ad-950adDENO-BD00C3CC BY53.2646511,-0.5423965GoldPortable Antiquities SchemeEast Lindsey, England20130404105012+0000Viking AgeAliza Yazdanicd49f227d88c72331226ddf574bf56c37308cd10
12017-05-24T10:09:20-07:00Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707deaMap ViewAustin Mason2An interactive map of all the objects in the collectiongoogle_maps2017-05-24T11:39:30-07:00Austin Masonf6137011c68eb792c6e14634815583b15e707dea
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1media/2013_T188.JPG2017-05-18T18:33:52-07:00Gold Thor's Hammer Pendant8Object pageplain2017-09-17T14:06:08-07:00The decorative style of this pendant suggests it was made in Scandinavia; however, it was found within the Danelaw area of England and dated within the time period of the Danelaw, which suggests that the owner immigrated there after the pendant was made, offering supportive evidence that there was immigration from Scandinavia to the Danelaw.[1]
The pendant is made of gold and decorated with punched star-like indents resembling miniature axe heads. This punched style is characteristic of pendants made in Scandinavia, while pendants made in England tended to be plain. The pendant of cast gold suggests that its owner was high-born or wealthy, although the amulet could have been stolen or a gift. Its association with Thor would have likely made it valuable since, according to Adam of Breman, Thor was the mightiest of the Norse gods and, according to a later argument, Thor was the ancestor of royal dynasties.[2]
It is unlikely that this object was used as anything other than a pendant hung on the end of a necklace. It is possible that the Scandinavian settler who owned it used it for trade, but since the Norse generally traded with silver, this seems improbable. It may have been used as a religious symbol akin to wearing a cross for a Christian, showing devotion to the god Thor by wearing his hammer, or it may have been decorative. Amulets like this one, although generally made of iron or silver, were often found in burial mounds or cremations in Scandinavia as well as to the east of the Baltic sea.[3] The lack of context for this one suggests that it may have been lost.[2]
Whether this pendant was intended for decorative purposes or religious ones, its reference to the Nordic god, Thor, is significant. Its existence challenges the modern perception of the Norse being uncultured barbarians, only interested in killing and plundering without regard for matters of the spirit or of religion. This pendant, being in the image of the god Thor’s Hammer Mjollnir, suggests that the Scandinavians, just like the Christians of England, were devoted to their gods. It seems likely that the owner of this hammer was a member of the cult of Thor.