Name: Vendel bracteate amulet Zealand, bronze
Brand: Celtic WebMerchant
SKU: 0_See-Bra_bro
Price: 15.90 EUR
Availability: InStock

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Product description

The gold bracteate was discovered in 1852 near Køge on the southeastern coast of the Danish island of Zealand, along with an identical piece. It dates back to the Iron Age, specifically between 450 and 570 AD. The most distinctive feature of this bracteate is the depiction of a figure on horseback in the center, which is believed to represent the Norse god Odin (or Wotan) with his horse, Sleipnir.

The original bracteate features a surrounding row of runes, which can be interpreted as either "Hariuha is my name, the traveler. I give protection on the journey" or "I am called Hariuha. Knowing misfortune, I bring good fortune." Hariuha is likely another name for Odin, as he is known in Germanic mythology to adopt various epithets while traveling among people to avoid immediate recognition.

This bracteate is currently housed in the Danish National Museum in Copenhagen. The term "bracteate" comes from the Latin word "bractea," meaning a thin disc. The Germanic bracteates were modeled after Roman medals depicting emperors but differed in that they were struck only on one side. These amulets were likely used by the Germanic tribes as symbols of luck and were possibly awarded to deserving warriors.

Product details

Product details:

Material: bronze

Dimensions: 3 x 3.5 cm

Based on a historic original

Shipment weight (grams): 100