Since the Viking era, Nordic mythology has played an important role in Swedish culture. Names, landmarks and statues throughout Sweden contain references to the mythological tales and characters. It’s no surprise that the Thunder God Thor, with his incredible strength and courage, was a favorite amongst the Vikings. It has been centuries since the Vikings dominated the Nordic lands, but Thor’s influence is still widely apparent in Sweden today.
A historic temple in Uppsala once served as a center of worship for the Vikings and featured a statue of Thor on the center throne between Odin and Freya. Because Thor was God of the Sky, it was believed he controlled the weather and the success of agricultural production. If the Vikings had a low harvest and were facing famine, they would offer a sacrifice to the image of Thor. In return, it was believed that Thor would bring rain storms to water the fields. Present-day Swedes will use the word tordön, meaning “Thor’s rumble,” to describe thunder.
Thor’s hammer, the Mjolnir, is an iconic symbol of Thor’s power and was worn as a pendant or amulet by his Viking supporters. Several carvings and runestones throughout Sweden feature an inscription of Thor’s hammer. The hammer inscription was used to invoke protection over sacred sites. At Thor of Sweden, we use the design of Thor’s hammer in our Hammer Bracelets to symbolize strength, determination and passion. When you wear a Thor’s Hammer Bracelet in sterling silver or gold, we hope that it will empower you to protect all that you hold sacred in your life.
