The Mjolnir Hammer: Legendary Weapon of the God Thor
We all know the name Mjolnir from American comics. But yes, you know, it's this famous hammer of Thor, the hero of Marvel Studios.
However. Before being a figurine enthroned alongside Spiderman or Wolverine, Thor is a leading figure in Nordic mythology.
Swords, clubs, scythes, bows, axes: deadly weapons increased the strength of many gods in ancient mythology.
Thor, the Viking god of thunder, wielded a hammer with an absolutely phenomenal capacity for destruction.
This hammer is called Mjolnir.
Contents :
Who can wear a Mjolnir pendant?
What is Mjolnir?
Mjölnir (pronounced Miol-nir) is the name of Thor's hammer in Norse mythology.
This weapon, forged by a dwarf, actually offers him great power. However, Mjolnir has a major flaw: due to the weapon's short hilt, Thor could only wield it with one hand and had to wear magical iron gloves to be able to grip the shaft.
Regardless, the God of Thunder used this hammer to protect Heaven and Earth from his enemies, such as giants and their destructive force. It is even said that at the time of Ragnarok, the vengeful spirits attacking the Aesir will be slain by Mjölnir.
According to some sources, the name Mjölnir could mean "lightning" in Old Norse. Specialist historians also believe that the word may mean white and thus refer to purity... a bit like the purity of white lightning.
As is often the case when it comes to Viking symbols (here you will find the ones we have analyzed), language is a precious tool.
It doesn't matter in the end. The fact is, when people heard the sound of thunder, they knew that Thor and his famous hammer were at work!
Origin of the name “Mjolnir”
While the etymology of Mjolnir is uncertain, most researchers go back step by step to the roots of the Indo-European language.
This is evidenced, for example, by the Old Slavic word mlunuji, the Russian word molnija and the Welsh mellt, which all mean "lightning".
Mjolnir could also be linked to the Icelandic words mjöll, which translates as “new snow” or mjalli, which means “white”.
The importance of symbolism and language in understanding the meaning of Mjolnir thus appears a little more obvious.
Who can wear a Mjolnir pendant?
Neopagans still use the symbol of Thor's hammer. To them, Mjolnir represents the vast power of the god of thunder.
Followers of Nordic paganism therefore wear this symbol to feel connected to ancient traditions.
As we have seen previously, wearing Mjolnir as a necklace is something directly linked to pagan tradition since around the time of early Christianization (although it is worth saying that there have been pendants of Mjolnir were found long before that).
We know from both archives and archaeological discoveries that the Viking symbol of Mjolnir was very (but really very) widespread among the pagan peoples of the North.
That we did not find many during excavations actually reflects two realities. Firstly, some poor quality alloys do not preserve well over time.
Secondly, pagan Viking culture was the subject of a veritable “witch hunt” which resulted in the destruction of many jewelry and lucky charms.
In short, like any religious symbol, a Mjolnir pendant means that you are a member of a certain religion.
Let us point out, however, that not all those who claim to be Nordic paganism necessarily wear this type of Viking symbol.
Beside this, not everyone who wields Thor's hammer is a true pagan. Some people may wear it because they feel a personal connection to Scandinavia, whether through blood or love of the local culture.
Others simply wear it because they like it or because they like “Viking stuff”.
Regardless, Norse Paganism is absolutely not a closed religion, meaning that it does not seek to appropriate symbols, cultures, or stories for any purpose.
This means that people who wear Mjolnir for non-religious reasons are not necessarily doing anything inherently wrong.
However, many pagans might take offense to this.
If you want to find a piece of jewelry representing Mjolnir (and which will benefit from its strength and its history), here is a ring and a pendant that should surely please you.
The Creation of Thor's Hammer
Mjolnir was created through the trickery of the god Loki, also known as the Trickster God.
One day, while he was always ready to play a trick as usual, Loki cut a lock of hair from Sif, Thor's wife. Mad with anger, the latter grabbed Loki and threatened to break his bone.
Very clever, Loki managed to dodge Thor's anger, promising that he would obtain some of the most beautiful jewelry for Sif from the dwarves. Thor agreed and let Loki travel to Svartalfheim, the caves where the little blacksmiths resided.
Loki found happiness in the talent of master craftsmen and therefore managed to keep his bet... he even received even more precious objects from the dwarves than he expected!
One of the jewelers gave her a head of hair made of gold thread: it went directly to Sif.
Another gave him, Skidbladnir, a ship that could fold up to fit in his pocket, and which always had the best winds in its sails.
A third gave him a deadly spear called Gungnir.
Long story short, Loki fell in love with their masterful work and decided he wanted more.
He tricked two other dwarven brothers, Brokkr and Sindri, into creating more beautiful works for him. He manipulated them by saying that they could not make better items than other artisans.
Sindri, whose honor was stung, created Gullinbursti, a boar with golden hair, as well as another piece called the Draupnir, a golden ring which multiplies into eight copies each week.
It was then that Sindri started working on a hammer…. He had successfully created Mjolnir. Caught in a frenzy upon seeing the quality of his work, he melted all the strongest metals he could find to make the impressive mass.
Once the task was accomplished, he realized that he almost ran out of material to make the handle! So this explains why Thor's hammer has this defect.
Once their work was accomplished, Sindri and Brokkr went to Asgard to demand payment for the three magnificent pieces they had created. Unfortunately for them, Loki had returned first.
He had actually already given the hammer and new hair to Thor, the ring and spear to Odin, and the ship and boar to Freyr.
The trickster god thus received all the honors and sympathy of his fellow men for a work he had not done.
If you like this story and are interested in Norse mythology, you should take a look at this article, in which we explain the origins of some Viking lucky symbols.
What is the role of Mjolnir?
As a Viking symbol, Thor's hammer served as both a ceremonial tool and a weapon of war.
Additionally, Mjolnir has also been used as an instrument of blessing at births, weddings, and perhaps even funerals. This lucky symbol was in fact found on many tombstones until 1300 AD.
Despite being so important to the Norse people, this powerful hammer was however stolen during a famous event.
The Poetic Edda (a collection of Viking sagas) tells us the story of a giant who managed to get his hands on it and, in exchange for the return of Mjolnir, insisted on marrying the goddess Freyja.
Thor then dressed himself in Freyja's clothes and thus managed to deceive the giant. Once the wedding began and the vows were ready to be said, Thor grabbed Mjolnir and destroyed the giant and his entire family.
This story actually teaches us more than we might think about the meaning of Mjolnir.
Indeed, by keeping the giants away, it is chaos itself that the hammer Mjolnir pushes back.
Thor's hammer as an instrument of blessing, consecration and protection
The ancient Nordics believed that this Viking symbol could offer a real blessing to couples, then synonymous with protection, fidelity and fertility, just that.
For them, the power of the god of thunder, symbolized by his hammer, actually extended over everything that concerned the well-being of the community.
Thor's famous weapon was therefore not only the symbol of the destructive power of the storm and the fire of the sky, but also a protection against the forces of evil and violence: without it, Asgard could no longer be guarded against the giants.
By analogy, men also counted on it to ensure their security and the maintenance of their freedoms.
The meaning of Mjolnir is therefore inseparable from its use as a weapon to defend Asgard.
A way for northern pagans to differentiate themselves
During the Viking Age, people sometimes wore amulets or necklaces showing Mjolnir in order to display their faith in Thor and other deities. According to some, this can be seen as Christians' way of carrying a cross to show their faith in Christ.
In reality, such lucky charms could well have been worn before the Viking Age... We currently do not have enough evidence to be able to decide one way or the other.
However, wearing Thor's hammer as a pendant appears to have become popular as Christians began to wear crosses in Scandinavia.
The use of Mjolnir as jewelry was most likely an imitation and/or reaction against the development of Christianity in the region.
During the Christianization of Northern Europe, the hammer Mjölnir therefore took on additional meaning.
The most common Christian sign seen was indeed the cross, and to differentiate themselves, those who clung to ancient beliefs wore the symbol of Thor's hammer, which formed a sort of inverted cross.
In Norse mythology, Christians were associated with giants and chaos, as they attempted to destroy their ancient culture.
Those who opposed the Christians were therefore fighting to save the cosmos, much like Thor and his mythical hammer, Mjolnir.
Thor and his hammer Mjolnir in the Marvel universe
A bit like Captain America has his shield, Iron-man has his armor and Hulk has his destructive force, Thor has his hammer. With it, he can defeat enemies as formidable as Thanos and save the galaxy. Finally, you have probably already seen the Avengers film.
Coming from Marvel comics, Thor is found in many pop culture works. “Fantastic Four”, “Thor: Ragnarok” and the “Infinity” and “Avengers” saga are just a few examples of its place in the cinematic universe.
In the comics, Mjolnir has the particularity of having two distinct origins. (In reality, this corresponds to two different universes but whose characters and superheroes sometimes meet.)
The first is exactly identical to that of the Viking myth.
The other tells us that the hammer was made from a dying star in a process that nearly destroyed the Earth.
It is this explanation that is chosen in the various Marvel studio films in which we have been able to see Thor at work.
In the Marvel Universe, Mjolnir actually serves two purposes: to destroy as well as to create. Indeed, it will sometimes serve as a weapon, and sometimes as a tool for constructing and shaping the world.
Additionally, the Hammer's abilities are important to understanding Thor's role. The most important detail lies in its almost mystical ability to create storms.
Once he wields his hammer, Thor can summon a whole series of calamities, which sometimes even become uncontrollable.
The power of the weapon symbolizes, according to some Marvel fans, Thor's savage behavior in combat. None of his attacks are measured or calculated. This undoubtedly makes him a perfect representative of lightning...
Thor as a Marvel hero is indeed seen as arrogant, combative and sometimes downright pompous. He underestimates his enemies and tends to opt for extreme brutality.
This is a characteristic that reminds us of its divine origin, as the Viking gods are often described as veritable roosters convinced that they are unbeatable.
Conclusion
Of all the symbols in Viking mythology, Mjolnir is arguably one of the most historically significant and probably the best known today.
Thor was the tireless god who guarded Asgard, the celestial fortress of the Aesir (or Aesir), the principal tribe of gods and goddesses in Norse mythology.
The giants, the forces of chaos, often tried to destroy Asgard and kill the Aesir, and it was Thor's task to stop them from doing so.
The hammer was his main weapon. .. but we're not talking about an ordinary hammer here: every time Thor threw it at an enemy, it returned to his hands like a boomerang.
Thor was also the god of storms, and thunder was heard as the sound of his hammer crashing down on his enemies.
It is therefore not surprising that the Old Norse name for his hammer, Mjolnir, literally meant "lightning".
