Thor's Hammer


Miniature Thor's hammers were widely used as religious amulets during the Viking era. These charms were normally between two and three centimeters in length, and typically made from silver. The following examples are typical of the approximately fifty such amulets that have been discovered.
A small silver pendant discovered near Rømersdal, Bornholm, Denmark. Photograph copyright by the Danish National Museum.
A small undecorated silver pendant discovered near Sejerby, Sejerø, Denmark. Photograph copyright by the Danish National Museum.
A cast silver pendant ornamented with small stamped circles and found near Tågemosen, Sjælland, Denmark. The reverse of this pendant is decorated with an incised net-like pattern. Photograph copyright by the Danish National Museum.
Two amulets, both found in the same hoard at Mandemark, Møn, Denmark. One hammer is elaborately decorated with gold foil, the other with embelished with simple stamped dots. Photograph copyright by the Danish National Museum.
A simple pendant made of iron. Discovered at Leire, Sjælland, Denmark. Photograph copyright by the Roskilde Museum.
This silver pendant can be interpretted either as a Christian cross or a Thor's hammer. The beast's head incorporated into the pendant is unusual for amulets of this type. Found near Fossi, Iceland. Photograph copyright by the National Museum of Iceland.
A simple silver pendant. Discovered near Patreksfjord, Iceland. Photograph copyright by the National Museum of Iceland.
An amulet carved from amber. Found at Wolin, Poland. Amber goods such as this one were made for export to Scandinavia and other locations. Photograph copyright by Muzeum Narodowe, Szczecin, Poland.

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Revised November 11, 1996.