Viking Thor's hammer Erikstorp, brass

Product description

This Thor's hammer is based on an original from Erikstorp, East Gotland, and is made in the Jelling style.

The hammer is the symbol of the thunder god Thor. He was often regarded, especially by farmers and warriors, as the highest god of the Vikings. According to mythology, Thor's hammer was forged by the dwarf Brokk and never missed its target when thrown.

This bronze hammer is 3 cm high and 2.2 cm long.

Thor was the most revered god of the Viking Age. His symbol, Thor's hammer (Mjölnir), was worn by both men and women, and around 1000 examples have been found in Scandinavia, England, Germany, the Baltic states, and Russia. Most hammers are simple, made of iron or silver; around 100 are richly decorated. They likely originated from older Germanic amulet, such as the maces from the Roman period associated with Donar. The earliest Thor's hammer date from the Migration Period and the Vendel period (from around 540 AD), but became especially popular during the Viking Age, possibly as a response to Christian crosses.