Viking Thor's hammer Denmark, damascus steel

Product description

This Thor's hammer is based on an original that was likely found in Denmark. It was part of a pendant with four sickle-shaped objects. Therefore, this Thor's hammer probably had a shamanistic significance and may have been worn by a Viking völva. Pendants with multiple parts could rattle and were therefore used during seiðr rituals where gjalder was used. Today, the original is part of the National Museum of Denmark.

Hand-made damascus steel Thor's hammer made from 256 layers of folded steel. In the Early Middle Ages, Vikings frequently used Damascus steel in sword, spear head and seaxes. This way, soft and hard steel layers were mixed together, allowing the weapons to benefit from the advantages of both types of steel.

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