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Description: | Treasure reference 2013 T188: A gold Viking pendant in the form of 'Thor's hammer'. The pendant is in the form of a double-headed hammer with an elongated pentagonal head. The head is rectangular in cross-section. From the centre of the head extends an integral tapering rectangular-sectioned shaft. The terminal of the shaftis narrowed to form a suspension loop.Both faces of the axe are decorated with punched motifs resembling quatrefoils or perhaps miniature axes. All sides of the shaft are also decorated in a similar manner.Similar decoration is seen on a silver Thor's hammer pendant from Thurcaston, Leicestershire (PAS ref. LEIC-185125).Thor's hammers are Viking-period amulet pendants, which are thought to represent the hammer of the Norse god Thor, known as Mjollnir. Examples in silver and copper-alloy are well represented in Scandinavia, and in areas of Viking settlement in England. Those examples from the Danelaw are mostly undecorated or simple decorated, and are thought to have been made in England. Those from Scandinavia are often elaborately decorated with punchwork or filigree (Ager 2003: 75).Only one other example in gold is known from England, coming from South Lopham, Norfolk (Margeson 1997: figs. 13-14).Viking hammer pendants date to the late 9th or early 10th century.ReferencesAger, B. (2003) 'Great Witchingham, Norfolk', Treasure Annual Report 2003 (London: DCMS)Margeson, S. (1997) The Vikings in Norfolk (Norfolk: Norfolk Museums Service)
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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