Mjolnir

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For other uses of this term, see Mjolnir (disambiguation).

Image:Mjollnir.png Image:Vasara.jpg

In Norse mythology, Mjolnir (also commonly spelled Mjollnir) is the Hammer of Thor, the god of lightning and thunder.

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Etymology

The origin for the word "Mjolnir" is unknown though eptymological speculation has provided thories for its literal translation. The Icelandic verbs mølva (to crush) and mala (to grind) have been suggested as possible translations while another theory suggests that Mjolnir might be related to the Russian word mólnija and the Welsh word mellt (both words being translated as "lightning"). This second theory parallels with the idea that Thor was the god of thunder, therefore might have used lightning as his weapon. <ref> Turville-Petre, E.O.G. Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1964. p81 </ref>

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Overview

Mjolnir is the most fearsome weapon in the arsenal of the Norse pantheon, used to slay any challengers to Æsir supremacy. While referred to as a club, an ax, and a hammer, Mjolnir was thought to be capable of toppling giants and entire mountains with a single blow. <ref> Davis, Kenneth. Don't Know Much About Mythology. New York: Harper Collins, 2005. p.305 </ref> Legend surrounding the war hammer’s origins vary: some relate that 'The Black Elves', or dwarves, Sindri and Brokk made it at the behest of the calculating Loki; other tales contend that it descended to earth as a meteorite. Consequently, many Norse pagans believed that lightning strikes where either a manifestation or metaphor of Mjolnir exists on earth.

In keeping with Norse pre-Christian traditions, Mjolnir symbolizes regeneration, and not merely destruction. Viking brutality unleashed over several centuries demonstrated that these concepts were closely interwoven; Medieval Viking life hinged on fomenting mayhem. As for Norse myth, evocative allusions depict Mjolnir strengthening both male virility and female fertility. As the Norse gods were often only as powerful as the tools and weapons they possessed, Mjolnir is a pivotal archetype for the survival and perpetuation of the Norsemen and their customs. In its mythic context, one can conclude that without Mjolnir, Thor’s ability to maintain the cosmic equilibrium would be imperiled by giants, the sea-dwelling world serpent, and possibly, even reckless gods.

Mjolnir is often represented with a bent handle (see the myth below). The rune Tiwaz, usually thought to be a symbol of the god Tyr, is thought by some to represent Thor's hammer. Mjollnir may also mean fertility, the phallus that impregnates the earth.

Even if Thor's Hammer is like a "boomerang" there are few times that the god throws it at his enemies. Usually, he used it as normal warhammer. There may be a connection between Thor's thrown hammer and the francisca throwing axes of the Franks.

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Norse myth

The most popular version of the creation of Mjollnir myth, found in the poem Skáldskaparmal from Snorri's Edda<ref> Snorri's Edda, Skaldskaparmal. 41.</ref>, is as follows. In one story Loki ends up to the dwarves called Ivaldi's sons (or Ovaldi's sons) that create precious items for the gods: Odin's spear Gungnir, and Freys' foldable boat Skidbladnir. Then Loki bets his head that Eitri and his brother Brokk would never succeed in making items more beautiful that those of Ivaldi's sons. Thus Eitri puts a pig's skin in the forge and tells his brother never to stop blowing until he comes and takes out what he put in. A fly came and bit Brokk on the arm but he continued to blow. Then Eitri took out Gullinbursti which is Frey's boar with shining bristles. Then Eitri put gold in the furnace and again told Brokk the same thing. A fly came and bit his neck twice as hard. But as before nothing happened and Eitri took out Draupnir, Odin's ring, that at a certain time duplicates fall from itself. Then Eitri put Iron in the forge and told Brokk to never stop blowing in the forge. A fly came and bit Brokk on the eyelid and the blood made him stop blowing for a while to try to kill the fly. When Eitri came it took out Mjollnir, but the handle was a bit short, making it one handed. Eitri and Brokk won the bet which was Loki's head, but the bet could not be given since they had to cut the neck, which was not part of the bet. So Brokk sewed shut Loki's mouth to teach him a lesson.

While Thor possessed a formidable chariot, belt, and iron gloves used to lift Mjolnir, Mjolnir is the focal point of many of Thor's adventures.

This is clearly illustrated in a poem found in Snorri's Edda titled Trymskvida, perhaps the most humorous of Thor's trials. The myth relates that the giant, Thrym, steals Mjolnir from Thor and then demands fair goddess Freya in exchange. Loki, the god notorious for his duplicity, conspires with the other Æsir to recover Mjolnir by disguising Thor as Freya and presenting him as the "goddess" to Thrym. At a banquet Thrym holds in honor of the impending union, the dim-witted Thrym takes the bait marvellously. Unable to contain his passion for his new maiden with long, blond locks (and broad shoulders), as Thrym approaches the bride by placing Mjolnir on "her" lap, Thor rips off his disguise and destroys Thrym and his giant cohorts.

Snorri's Edda gives a detailed description of Mjolnir's special qualities:

"...He(Thor) would be able to strike as firmly as he wanted, whatever his aim, and the hammer would never fail, and if he threw it at something, it would never miss and never fly so far from his hand that it would not find its way back, and when he wanted, it would be so small that it could be carried inside his tunic."<ref> Orchard, Andy. Norse Myth and Legend. London: Cassell, 2002. p.255 </ref>

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Culture

Myths, artifacts, and institutions revolving around Thor indicate his prominent place in the mind of medieval Scandinavians. His following ranged in influence, but the Viking warrior aristocracy were particularly inspired by Thor's ferocity in battle. In the medieval legal arena, according to the late Joseph Campbell, "(a)t the Icelandic Things (court assemblies) the god invoked in the testimony of oaths, as 'the Almighty God,' was Thor."

Emblematic of their devotion were the appearance of miniature replicas of Mjolnir. Widely popular in Scandinavia, they were used in Blóts and other sacral ceremonies, such as weddings. Many of these replicas where also found in graves and tended to be furnished with a loop, allowing them to be worn. They were most widely discovered in areas with a strong Christian influence including southern Norway, south-eastern Sweden, and Denmark. <ref> Turville-Petre, E.O.G. Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1964. p83 </ref> By the late 10th century, increased uniformity in Mjolnir’s design over previous centuries suggest it functioned as a popular accessory worn in defiance of the Christian cross – even while sometimes being worn alongside it. This may be part of why wearing the cross upside down is considered defiant.

Stones found in Denmark and southern Sweden bare an inscribed picture of a hammer to invoke god's protection. Sometimes accompanying the carved hammer was an inscription calling for Thor to safegaurd that stone. For example, the stone of Virring in Denmark had the enscription, "þur uiki þisi kuml" "May Thór Hallow this memorial." There are several examples of a similar inscription, each one asking for Thor to "Hallow" or protect the specific artifact. Such inscriptions may have been following the example of the Christians, who would ask for God's protection over their dead.<ref> Turville-Petre, E.O.G. Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1964. p82-83 </ref>

Despite the dominance of Christianity in Scandinavia for roughly a millennium, Mjolnir is far from extinct. At annual festivals reviving the Viking past – replete with rowdy feasts and brawls – the Mjolnir motif is apparent everywhere from the amulets worn to the hammer tattoos emblazoned on chests and biceps. Today, some Scandinavian fishermen continue to wear Mjolnir for protection, and many practitioners of the modern-day Asatru faith wear Mjolnir pendants as a symbol of that faith.

The armor the Spartans wear in the Halo series is named after Mjolnir.

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Other spellings

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See also

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Footnotes

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References

  • Baker, Alan. The Viking. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2004.
  • Bulfinch's Mythology. New York: Avenel, 1978.
  • Campbell, Joseph. The Masks of God: Occidental Mythology. New York: Penguin, 1964.
  • Davis, Kenneth. Don't Know Much About Mythology. New York: Harper Collins, 2005.
  • DuBois, Thomas A. Nordic Religions in the Viking Age. Philadelphia: University of Pennsyvania Press, 1999.
  • Hamilton, Edith. Mythology. Boston: Little Brown & Company, 1942.
  • Munch, Peter Andreus. Norse Mythology: Legends of Gods and Heroes. trans. Sigurd Bernhard Hustvedt. New York: AMS Press, 1970.
  • Orchard, Andy. Norse Myth and Legend. London: Cassell, 2002.
  • Turville-Petre, E.O.G. Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1964.
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External links

da:Mjølner de:Mjölnir fi:Mjölner fr:Mjölnir hr:Mjollnir it:Mjölnir ja:ミョルニル lv:Mjelnirs nl:Mjölnir no:Mjølner pl:Mjølner pt:Mjölnir sv:Mjölner

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