|
 |
Thor and His Hammer
This article is from
Jim Cornish's Website:
http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/v_drakkar.htm
Viking Religion
Every society around the world has developed some sort of
religious beliefs. They usually have one or more supernatural
beings and a variety of beliefs in an afterlife. The gods of
these religions are believed to control the destiny of the
people under their care. Their guidance is also used to bring
some sort of order to daily life and laws to society in
general. Today, most of these religions and their beliefs are
part of our mythology.
The Vikings were no different than most societies and the turn
of the first millennium. They had a religion based on powerful
gods, the most powerful of which was named Odin. He is often
pictured on medieval tapestries and Viking rune stones riding
a eight-legged horse; the extra legs ensuring the horse would
never tire.
Thor, The Thunderer
Another Viking god was the eldest son of Odin, and named Thor,
the Thunderer. Based on the amount of Viking jewelry bearing
his likeness and that of his famous hammer, Thor was probably
the most popular of Vikings gods. He was the patron god of
seamen and farmers and protected them from perils. He was
depicted as a huge man with red hair, red beard and red eyes.
He was god of the sky, the ruler of storms and the deliverer
of thunderbolts and rain. The Vikings believed he rode the
heavens in a chariot drawn by two goats. As Thor passed
overhead, thunder rumbled from the wheels of the chariot and
lightning flashed from sparks created by the hooves of the
goats.
Thor has lived on, not as a part of any religion, but on our
weekly calendar. Thor is used to name Thursday (Thor's Day),
one of the seven days of our week. Friday is named after a
Viking too. This time it is the goddess Frigg, Odin's wife and
the protector of women.
Thor's Hammer
Thor was also the protector of the universe. He guarded the
world with his mighty hammer, Mjööllnir (meaning the crusher
or destroyer). His main enemy were the giants and serpents
that lurked in the underworld. The hammer hit whatever object
it was aimed at and always returned to Thor's hand. Thor also
had a magical belt named Megingiord. When worn in battle, it
doubled his strength against the enemy.
Thor's Hammer was more than a symbol of his supernatural
strength. It was used by Vikings of all walks of life as a
piece of jewelry. Usually made of silver, it was worn as a
necklace or pendant. Those wearing it believed it would
protect them from danger. It was especially important to
Viking warriors. And, it was often given to a bride on her
wedding day as a source of protection and good luck.
Variations in Thor's Hammer Designs
When the Vikings returned from their raids, they often buried
their jewelry in pits called hoards. Many such hoards have
been discovered across Scandinavia and have given
archaeologists great insight into the Viking's way of life and
their religious beliefs.
The Thor's Hammers found in some of these hoards show some
interesting variations on the basic hammer design, probably a
result of the designer's imagination. But the most striking
variations are connected to Vikings who converted to
Christianity but could not completely let go of their now
pagan beliefs in Thor. Some of the hammer designs looking like
Christian crosses shaped in a hammer fashion and hammers that
resemble Christian crosses.
|
