I love your knowledge, it is interesting to understand all the work you do to transmit quality and well-founded information. Thanks for the description of the sources.
@@ArithHärger You have educated and entertained me for along time. Question: Can you do a video on how Seidr on how it is practiced. I have watched your videos on Seidr, but the practice is missing. Is it possible to learn Seidr and weave the future of others. I have some weaving to do. Make the world a better place.
Eastern germanic material culture shows axe pendents worn as necklaces as early as the 1st century bc. Let's not forget about the Hercules club pendants being worn long before christianity.
Vielen Dank, dass Sie dieses Video erstellt und geteilt haben. Ein paar Momente am Tag wirken für mich wie Meditation, wenn ich mich auf die kulturellen Praktiken meiner Leute konzentriere.
I have been noticing a trend in today’s pop-culture/jewelry of people wearing an upside down cross. At first I thought it was probably an anti-Christian (maybe even Satanic) statement, but I never looked into it very deeply. Now I’m wondering if it might actually be an ancient reference to Thor’s Hammer as depicted. Very interesting!
It is also known as St. Peter's Cross, as St. Peter is reported to have been crucified upside-down. So when edgy Satanists wear upside-down crosses they're actually wearing a symbol of early Christian martyrdom. The earlier comment may also have said this, but it is being censored for some reason (I can't see it).
@@AteshSeruhn It's good you added the "edgy" part because there are plenty of Satanists who recognize that it's a symbol in Christianity of martyrdom when they don it. They consider the mythical figure of Satan/Lucifer to be a martyr in Christian canon who was cast from paradise for a variety of reasons, one predominant reason being defiance of absolute authority. Satan is a figure of liberation and freedom from eternal slavery to a deity metaphorically, or literally if you're one of those spiritual Satanists.
In Norse Cosmology, no Satan. The gods are both good and evil. Odin would start a war to gather warriors for valhalla, the common man did't care for Odin, the warriors love him. It can be a symbol of paganism and strength. No real dogma in Norse paganism, Must follow your own path. Christians follow their dogma but in my small town along there are at least 50 churches. I guess they don't their understand their dogma too.
@@stephenjones7090 As a pagan I take the Old Gods as Gods of Nature, which doesn't know what evil is. Evil and good are both man made constructs which have nothing to do with reality or the duality between female and male energies of the universe.
I look forward to the next video as I've heard that it might represent the beating heart, in that there is something that 1st makes the heart start beating so the hammer/stone axe was that spiritual force so to speak. Hope you are well brother 🤟
Woah D: it was just now. Thank you! Scary number ._. I'm happy but at the same time does this mean I have to be more responsible and people expect more of me?! lol
I'm proud to wear my Mjǫllnir pendant I received from Sweden. For me it means the start of my pagan journey, as well as respect for Thor. Thank you Arith for all you do.
if you want a viking tatto watch this man channel first. this guy gives you the knowledge required to understand the meaning of the ancient culture whitout Bs and with background research, great youtuber
Awesome video!! Did you see the news about Archaeologists are preparing to investigate two possible Viking boat burial sites on the Isle of Mull. What is the picture that’s lit up behind your head? And your lamp behind your left shoulder looks cool!
You known some young blacksmith was a solid capitalist lol.. he was like the Christian man wears these.. why not make our version and trade them or sell them ..
Thank you very much! Just saw it (because someone else also commented that and I went to check lol)! Somehow I have to find the time to celebrate this with the community :D
Hi there. Greetings dear friend. Starting to watch as allways a great matter and vídeo 👍🏻💯🙏 The hammer is a spiritual calling... Hugs from Soure Marajo Island Pará Brazil Leonardo Hope you are well Master.
@@ArithHärger Obbbrriggaddooo por perguntar.... Minha situação piorou é estou me recuperando de 3 cirurgias em 9 meses. Mente fraca e descrente de tudo até para evitar as vozzzess..... Muito obrigado pela ajuda e atenção hoje e sempre 🙏 🙏 🙏
truth. Some new-age organizations and their propaganda can literally change the public understanding of a culture. I also think that many "new-found vikings" mistake the "holy war" in Scandinavia for what happened to my ancestors in what is today Germany by the hands of the Franks and Charlemagne - which was religious genocide in some instances
Is it rightly understood, Thors hammers as pendant or personal ornament is a reaction to seeing crosses worn by Christians!? Somehow this is news to my learning.
It comes as no surprise that the great majority of the public finds this to be news to them. After all, in the past 15-20 years or so the narrative has been about Vikings fighting against Christians in some form of "holy war" against oppression and to preserve their cultural heritage and traditions. However, this idea was never supported by academia or any historian and archaeologist. This idea of a "Heathen vs Christian Holy War" was actually a political propaganda from the part of US Ásatrú religious organizations who tend to (conveniently) discard the evidences of the strong religious syncretism during this period, and then this influenced Pop Culture. Perhaps it would also come as a surprise to know that many Scandinavians at least since the 10th century (especially vikings, as in people who went abroad) have been baptised. Many Heathens would choose to be baptised to be able to enter Christian cities and establish commerce (be allowed to by Christians). This is registered and there are historical accounts that mention this practice. From this historical fact it's then not hard to understand Thor's hammer as a symbol of religious syncretism in response to Christianity, to establish an identity in appreciation for the custom of Christians wearing the cross. As I said in the video, the molds to cast Thor's Hammers and Christian crosses sometimes are indistinguishable, as a Cross could be made and easily turned into a hammer, and vs versa. Some findings are hard to determine if they are crosses or hammers due to the similarity in shape. I think the problem here is when a specific type of information is so widespread that it is assumed to be "common knowledge", but the problem doesn't only reside within certain Modern religious organizations with a specific political agenda; the problem also resides within Academia, which, for many decades, has been quite elitist and tends to keep information away from the public.
@@ArithHärger Thank you. Allow me a bit of explanation to the initial Q, trying to pinpoint the usage of personal belief symbolisms. As a Scandinavian growing up, schooled in Denmark up to academic level, I have known from History lessons (like all other Scandinavians) there was a purely political motivation behind the introduction and usage of Christian beliefs in national affairs, as mere tools to power consolidation. The actual molds for Thors hammer pendants with Christian crosses is widely acknowledged as an archaeologically based cultural truth of that era, because any child here knows that these "dual purpose" pendant molds were found in all Scandinavia, and the molds support the idea that Viking age Scandinavians had no qualms about embracing both the Mjølnir and cross symbol simultaneously when Christianity was made part of the Nordic Viking culture. Vikings didn't wage any 'Holy War' as a religious battle, we plainly allowed a transition or merge of belief as needed. Most importantly, the Scandinavian Viking age individual was free to adapt, adopt or refrain from the merger with Christianity. Wear one or many Mjølners with any other symbol, that's fine, you can be of synergetic beliefs or a "80/20" type believer no one cares. In fact the sentiment still lives here, underneath Christian morals there is a free will, a Viking spirit which can adopt many other tid bits of beliefs as needed. My question is - do you have evidence that the Mjølner/Mjølnir hammer pendants were worn as 'response' to cross pendants seen on Christians - that the hammer jewelry symbols wasn't worn by Vikings before the Christian influence? It's a rather important issue - since our Scandinavian history lessons holds on to a fact that the Thors hammer was worn by Vikings (not just depicted on stones or artifacts but worn on people) long before the Christian influence. TY.
@@ArithHärger As an archaeologist who has studied Nordic culture, I was not that surprise when I read sometime ago, that Thors Hammer pendants came as a response to the Christian Cross pendant. I like that you went into this topic. I have been of the opinion, that the early dealings of the Nordic peoples with the Christian religion followed along the idea of practicality and making deals with whatever deity that usually followed through successfully on the deal.
@@ArithHärger truth. Some new-age organizations and their propaganda can literally change the public understanding of a culture. I also think that many "new-found vikings" mistake the "holy war" in Scandinavia for what happened to my ancestors in what is today Germany by the hands of the Franks and Charlemagne - which was religious genocide in some instances
There is evidence of axe-hammer pendants dating back to the bronze age, the weapon seemed to have a ritualistic importance. Modern pendants are in response to Christian ones, but historically it isn't the case. Even the Mediterranean had a similar occurance with Hercules club pendants.
Hello, Mr. Arith. Have you noticed the snakes on the stones, why are they so important? there are other creatures with legs Are snakes made in another age or culture? I also noticed three solar wheel coiled serpents thanks for your job
Amor, nos próximos vídeos sobre Thor, o que você pode falar sobre Thrud que é sua filha e uma Valquíria? Eu tenho uma conexão muito forte com eles rsrs
Some researchs shows that in the early centurys of christianity, people just add the christ to the pantheon of there own pagans deitys. You can see that in many roman churchs, with representations of the christ between a lot of other pagans figures and symbols. He seems that he just have been added to the others . That could explain why you can find in a same mold a cross and hammer, and make us remeber that at this time polytheisme was the norm .
Yes indeed. I've talked about that in other videos. It is an historical fact that Scandinavian Heathens, as early as the 8th century (but mostly visible in the 9th century Viking Age graves in the Scandinavian Peninsula, and as early as the 7th century in literary accounts for Denmark) did add Christ as yet another god. Before Christianity was forced upon the remaining Heathens in Scandinavia Christianity and Christ were well known. In fact the great majority of Rune Stones were raised in the 11th century and contain quite the clear artistic elements, religious and iconographic syncretism of faiths, both Christian and Heathen. Outside Scandinavia there's a great example of this religious syncretism - the Gosforth Cross, dating to the first half of the 10th century. In literary sources before Snorri there's the Völuspá as well, probably written in Iceland in the 10th century at most, which is also a work with clear Heathen and Christian elements.
@@ArithHärger Thanks for the answer. Didn t know for the Gosforth Cross, its very interesting to see how this two religious influences are "mixed" and give another perspective.
Arith is it possible that the traders from Denmark would increasingly wear Mjölnir/axe pendants due to the arrival of angloxasons and christians to their shores?
That's entirely possible yes. People in the past where not so isolated as we tend to think. In archaeology of border areas we find quite the religious and cultural syncretism, which was then transported to the centres of power and the large trading areas, in this case Birka, Ribe, Lejre, Old Uppsala, Hedeby, etc. in fact, new evidences show that the famous Valknut symbol has Anglo-Saxon origins, as earlier evidences of it appear in such contexts of the British Isles and only later on in Scandinavia.
_Your Holiness, the newly converted northerners still retain the symbols of their heathen gods. What shall we do? Another crusade?_ *What do you mean? Show me.* *Ah, no, that's basically a cross. I'm happy with that. Cheers.*
Syncretism or integration is not a problem for paganism. But for mosaism. Look at Japan, they practice a lot: shintoism, buddhism and much people are christians at same time.
It doesn't seem to have been a problem to pagans, indeed. In fact, looking at European history, cultural and religious syncretism (and integration of different ethnic groups) started to be seen as a problem within later Christian context by the end of the Middle Ages. It's also curious to notice that the ideologies behind racist views and the formulation of the idea of Race started in the Middle Ages, out of any remaining pagan contexts, but rather within Christendom (mostly of Western Europe). As a European of Western Europe it's not hard to still notice this influences in our society.
@@ArithHärger That pagan communities have and differentiate between themselves and the others should be equally indisputable. Identity emerges in the face of the other, in philosophical as well as in practical sense. How the takeover of Christendom took place (in Iceland 1000 AD) can also be understood with a critical reading. This act would not have taken place if the Icelanders had not seen (a claimed) difference in the form of government as well as the form of belief. The compromises made by both sides are understandable. And without an awareness of antagonism, no compromise. Another example is Columban’s attempt to convert the Frisians. I think you can see that a confrontation with the other creates identity as a cohesive group, but also leads to an ideological demarcation. Not only in regency, but also in matters of faith. But I’m sure that’s debatable (till the end of time (and it's new beginning)). I am shure you know the tesis that the hammer was a reaction of pagans, a form of resistance against cristianity. The Church has also recognized this and the approach to missionary activity has been discussed. (Sources are given only if there are doubts) [Can you please sometimes make such an music intro again you did?] :) Sry for my unprecise english.
That was too short. 1. Isn’t there supposed to be two cats? 2. Such a great teacher, I’ve learned so much but, I still want to know what you believe and based on that, what ritual or homage might you give.
So are you suggesting that the use of Thors hammer as a 'symbol' of a believer or a follower of a belief was due to the lessons learned from the aggressive Christian missionaries who were pushing for conversions or what may have been considered other threating behavior (seen today in muslim, Hindu and Bhuddist countrys against Christian missionaries) and is this similar to the Ogham publication of meeting the challange of those 'foreign' methods seen to have a powerful persuasive force amongst the people, Symbolism and the written word?
Depends on the context, period and material we are dealing with. If we look into 10th century representations of tiny hammers in English/Anglo-Saxon contexts, it's hard to say if there were more hammers or crosses around this period, geographical reality and culture. If we look into 10th-11th centuries Scandinavia, there are as many crosses (some contexts more, actually) as Thor's hammers. In fact, something that baptismal wasn't adding up until quite recently, at least to me, is the fact that only very few Thor's hammers in Scandinavia were ever found. Yet, Thor was the most popular hero, so why so few represenations of his hammer as pendents? The Christian crosses are as many in these periods and in some contexts even more than Thor's hammers. This may have to do - and this is my recent theory - with baptism. While researching about 11th century Scandinavian fonts this also led me to accounts of baptism of Scandinavians as well as those abroad (vikings). As recently as the 8th and 9th centuries they were being baptised, on freewill, to be able to trade and do commerce with Christians and in Christian towns and cities. This further leads to the appreciation of the custom of Christians wearing crosses around their necks. Scandinavians started to use Thor's hammer's as pendants (fabricated on the same molds as the crosses), but these items were costly, so not a lot of Scandinavians would use them. Only wealthy Scandinavians, or with some considerable social status, would use these hammers because they could afford it. I'm not saying that this is the case for every Scandinavian at the period, but probably most of these hammers belonged to Scandinavian traders who were baptised and often traded in Christian cities. They would wear both the hammer and the cross as a form of identification, sort of a ID and "passport" to be able to enter and trade in specific ports, depending on the local religion and belief systems and also depending on the ruling Elite and with whom they were trading. This may be one of the reasons for so few Thor's hammers, because they belonged to people with a considerable social status due to trading with people outside Scandinavia or in major cities where different faiths would come together, like in Ribe and Birka, and beyond at Hedeby, Dorestad, in Aquitaine, Northern Spain, Galicia, Portuguese early kingdom, Uracin/Euracino (modern Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal), York (England), Dublin (Ireland), etc. In these contexts Thor's hammer was an identification for who the person was. Wearing both the Hammer and the Cross, or just one and the other, depending on the context and the people they were establishing commerce.
i love how you remind people that the pagan people were more connected to the earth than the gods. so many people portray them as believing in the traditions whole heartedly and thats just illogical.
⨁ symbol this is present on church towers of the early 13. century where I live. 2 to 300 kilomertes from here same symbol is ingraved in stones. also persons wearing axes. how everyone interprets this fact for himself is up to him, as long as there are no historical sources. to claim a history of ideas, as a historian can do when he looks at chistianism, is unserious. however, it is also unserious to exclude something. for example, that ideas and beliefs are handed down over centuries and millennia, even without written culture. (The "Wessobrunner Schöpfungsgedicht" proves just this with its similarities with the Icelandic and Indian region.) post scr.: Personally, I find M. Eliade's approach very "beautiful". (in short)
Saw the title and remembered how happy I am to have found this channel. What a great topic!
There are far better sources than this con artist
Shout out to his cat!
That's Gigi :D the other one (Sól) was nearby too but out of the camera frame.
Hello, good to see you, and what a great view! I'll watch the video, always long-awaited! Thank you for your work and sharing!
Arith thank you for sharing your research, much appreciated. Greetings from South Africa ☀️
Hey there my friend, greetings! Thank you. Be well!
Interesting, Heathen and Christian at one time. Thanks for the information, always good to see a new video from you.
I love your knowledge, it is interesting to understand all the work you do to transmit quality and well-founded information. Thanks for the description of the sources.
I am so glad that you took the time to make these videos even though you are away. I enjoy your weekly wisdom. 🙂
Excellent, Bravo, Bravissimo! I love these content, you are a super thinker!
Thank you very much, I'm happy that you enjoyed it :D
@@ArithHärger You have educated and entertained me for along time. Question: Can you do a video on how Seidr on how it is practiced. I have watched your videos on Seidr, but the practice is missing. Is it possible to learn Seidr and weave the future of others. I have some weaving to do. Make the world a better place.
Eastern germanic material culture shows axe pendents worn as necklaces as early as the 1st century bc. Let's not forget about the Hercules club pendants being worn long before christianity.
Love the cat at the end. Reminds me of long ago with the other one who passed away...
Yes, I do miss my old friend, he was like a brother to me. Now I have these two girls :)
Vielen Dank, dass Sie dieses Video erstellt und geteilt haben. Ein paar Momente am Tag wirken für mich wie Meditation, wenn ich mich auf die kulturellen Praktiken meiner Leute konzentriere.
I have been noticing a trend in today’s pop-culture/jewelry of people wearing an upside down cross. At first I thought it was probably an anti-Christian (maybe even Satanic) statement, but I never looked into it very deeply. Now I’m wondering if it might actually be an ancient reference to Thor’s Hammer as depicted. Very interesting!
It is also known as St. Peter's Cross, as St. Peter is reported to have been crucified upside-down. So when edgy Satanists wear upside-down crosses they're actually wearing a symbol of early Christian martyrdom.
The earlier comment may also have said this, but it is being censored for some reason (I can't see it).
@@AteshSeruhn It's good you added the "edgy" part because there are plenty of Satanists who recognize that it's a symbol in Christianity of martyrdom when they don it. They consider the mythical figure of Satan/Lucifer to be a martyr in Christian canon who was cast from paradise for a variety of reasons, one predominant reason being defiance of absolute authority. Satan is a figure of liberation and freedom from eternal slavery to a deity metaphorically, or literally if you're one of those spiritual Satanists.
@@kylegonewild As long as we understand that Satan is not pagan and thus neither are Satanists..
In Norse Cosmology, no Satan. The gods are both good and evil. Odin would start a war to gather warriors for valhalla, the common man did't care for Odin, the warriors love him. It can be a symbol of paganism and strength. No real dogma in Norse paganism, Must follow your own path. Christians follow their dogma but in my small town along there are at least 50 churches. I guess they don't their understand their dogma too.
@@stephenjones7090 As a pagan I take the Old Gods as Gods of Nature, which doesn't know what evil is. Evil and good are both man made constructs which have nothing to do with reality or the duality between female and male energies of the universe.
Great work as always 🔮🧙♂️
Thank you :)
I look forward to the next video as I've heard that it might represent the beating heart, in that there is something that 1st makes the heart start beating so the hammer/stone axe was that spiritual force so to speak. Hope you are well brother 🤟
I always enjoy your point of view. Good stuff.
Nice to see a new video ! You’re looking well!
Congratulations on 100k!
Woah D: it was just now. Thank you! Scary number ._. I'm happy but at the same time does this mean I have to be more responsible and people expect more of me?! lol
@@ArithHärger Definitely! But jokes aside you deserve far more for all the content you’ve put out over the years. Skål my friend!
Thank you, Arith :-). Wishing you all the very best in light and love.
Congratulations on 100k subs!!
Hey! Thank you!! Yeah, this is a pretty cool milestone but at the same time it's scary lol
I'm proud to wear my Mjǫllnir pendant I received from Sweden. For me it means the start of my pagan journey, as well as respect for Thor. Thank you Arith for all you do.
Thank you again for your time🖤
if you want a viking tatto watch this man channel first. this guy gives you the knowledge required to understand the meaning of the ancient culture whitout Bs and with background research,
great youtuber
Awesome video!! Did you see the news about Archaeologists are preparing to investigate two possible Viking boat burial sites on the Isle of Mull. What is the picture that’s lit up behind your head? And your lamp behind your left shoulder looks cool!
Interesting! I'll have to follow along with that one. Planning to pop over to Mull next summer.
Good vid ,didn't the pagan Anglosaxon wear hammer pendants on their belts much earlier than the viking age , as devotion to Donar?
haha loved the "obrigado por hoje" nice content thanks !
You known some young blacksmith was a solid capitalist lol.. he was like the Christian man wears these.. why not make our version and trade them or sell them ..
theres also something just kinda cute and wholesome about it, "ohh thats a cool way to honor your god we'll do that too!"
Congrats on 100k! 🎉🎉🎉
Thank you so much ! I'm astounded D:
@@ArithHärger it's well deserved and I've watched it the last few years hoping to see it finally hit 100k! 😁
Lovely short video, hanks. From 5.26 I was listening to you, but watching den herlige katten din!
Congrats on 100k✨
Thank you very much! Just saw it (because someone else also commented that and I went to check lol)! Somehow I have to find the time to celebrate this with the community :D
Hi there.
Greetings dear friend.
Starting to watch as allways a great matter and vídeo 👍🏻💯🙏
The hammer is a spiritual calling...
Hugs from Soure Marajo Island Pará Brazil Leonardo
Hope you are well Master.
Hey mate, how have you been? I hope things are getting better for you and in your life. I wish you strength of mind and spirit my friend.
@@ArithHärger Obbbrriggaddooo por perguntar.... Minha situação piorou é estou me recuperando de 3 cirurgias em 9 meses. Mente fraca e descrente de tudo até para evitar as vozzzess.....
Muito obrigado pela ajuda e atenção hoje e sempre 🙏 🙏 🙏
truth. Some new-age organizations and their propaganda can literally change the public understanding of a culture. I also think that many "new-found vikings" mistake the "holy war" in Scandinavia for what happened to my ancestors in what is today Germany by the hands of the Franks and Charlemagne - which was religious genocide in some instances
Is it rightly understood, Thors hammers as pendant or personal ornament is a reaction to seeing crosses worn by Christians!?
Somehow this is news to my learning.
It comes as no surprise that the great majority of the public finds this to be news to them. After all, in the past 15-20 years or so the narrative has been about Vikings fighting against Christians in some form of "holy war" against oppression and to preserve their cultural heritage and traditions. However, this idea was never supported by academia or any historian and archaeologist. This idea of a "Heathen vs Christian Holy War" was actually a political propaganda from the part of US Ásatrú religious organizations who tend to (conveniently) discard the evidences of the strong religious syncretism during this period, and then this influenced Pop Culture. Perhaps it would also come as a surprise to know that many Scandinavians at least since the 10th century (especially vikings, as in people who went abroad) have been baptised. Many Heathens would choose to be baptised to be able to enter Christian cities and establish commerce (be allowed to by Christians). This is registered and there are historical accounts that mention this practice. From this historical fact it's then not hard to understand Thor's hammer as a symbol of religious syncretism in response to Christianity, to establish an identity in appreciation for the custom of Christians wearing the cross. As I said in the video, the molds to cast Thor's Hammers and Christian crosses sometimes are indistinguishable, as a Cross could be made and easily turned into a hammer, and vs versa. Some findings are hard to determine if they are crosses or hammers due to the similarity in shape. I think the problem here is when a specific type of information is so widespread that it is assumed to be "common knowledge", but the problem doesn't only reside within certain Modern religious organizations with a specific political agenda; the problem also resides within Academia, which, for many decades, has been quite elitist and tends to keep information away from the public.
@@ArithHärger Thank you.
Allow me a bit of explanation to the initial Q, trying to pinpoint the usage of personal belief symbolisms.
As a Scandinavian growing up, schooled in Denmark up to academic level, I have known from History lessons (like all other Scandinavians) there was a purely political motivation behind the introduction and usage of Christian beliefs in national affairs, as mere tools to power consolidation. The actual molds for Thors hammer pendants with Christian crosses is widely acknowledged as an archaeologically based cultural truth of that era, because any child here knows that these "dual purpose" pendant molds were found in all Scandinavia, and the molds support the idea that Viking age Scandinavians had no qualms about embracing both the Mjølnir and cross symbol simultaneously when Christianity was made part of the Nordic Viking culture.
Vikings didn't wage any 'Holy War' as a religious battle, we plainly allowed a transition or merge of belief as needed. Most importantly, the Scandinavian Viking age individual was free to adapt, adopt or refrain from the merger with Christianity. Wear one or many Mjølners with any other symbol, that's fine, you can be of synergetic beliefs or a "80/20" type believer no one cares. In fact the sentiment still lives here, underneath Christian morals there is a free will, a Viking spirit which can adopt many other tid bits of beliefs as needed.
My question is - do you have evidence that the Mjølner/Mjølnir hammer pendants were worn as 'response' to cross pendants seen on Christians - that the hammer jewelry symbols wasn't worn by Vikings before the Christian influence?
It's a rather important issue - since our Scandinavian history lessons holds on to a fact that the Thors hammer was worn by Vikings (not just depicted on stones or artifacts but worn on people) long before the Christian influence. TY.
@@ArithHärger As an archaeologist who has studied Nordic culture, I was not that surprise when I read sometime ago, that Thors Hammer pendants came as a response to the Christian Cross pendant. I like that you went into this topic. I have been of the opinion, that the early dealings of the Nordic peoples with the Christian religion followed along the idea of practicality and making deals with whatever deity that usually followed through successfully on the deal.
@@ArithHärger truth. Some new-age organizations and their propaganda can literally change the public understanding of a culture. I also think that many "new-found vikings" mistake the "holy war" in Scandinavia for what happened to my ancestors in what is today Germany by the hands of the Franks and Charlemagne - which was religious genocide in some instances
There is evidence of axe-hammer pendants dating back to the bronze age, the weapon seemed to have a ritualistic importance. Modern pendants are in response to Christian ones, but historically it isn't the case.
Even the Mediterranean had a similar occurance with Hercules club pendants.
Loved it!!
If I didn’t know that the mjolnir was supposed to be a hammer I would have thought it was an anchor.
looking forward too more videos love all of them
Thank you for this wonderful video. I am wearing a Hiddensee Hammer myself - a combination of Mjolnir and Christian cross :)
Hello, Mr. Arith. Have you noticed the snakes on the stones, why are they so important? there are other creatures with legs Are snakes made in another age or culture? I also noticed three solar wheel coiled serpents thanks for your job
Amor, nos próximos vídeos sobre Thor, o que você pode falar sobre Thrud que é sua filha e uma Valquíria? Eu tenho uma conexão muito forte com eles rsrs
Thank you. Very interesting.
Some researchs shows that in the early centurys of christianity, people just add the christ to the pantheon of there own pagans deitys. You can see that in many roman churchs, with representations of the christ between a lot of other pagans figures and symbols.
He seems that he just have been added to the others .
That could explain why you can find in a same mold a cross and hammer, and make us remeber that at this time polytheisme was the norm .
Yes indeed. I've talked about that in other videos. It is an historical fact that Scandinavian Heathens, as early as the 8th century (but mostly visible in the 9th century Viking Age graves in the Scandinavian Peninsula, and as early as the 7th century in literary accounts for Denmark) did add Christ as yet another god. Before Christianity was forced upon the remaining Heathens in Scandinavia Christianity and Christ were well known. In fact the great majority of Rune Stones were raised in the 11th century and contain quite the clear artistic elements, religious and iconographic syncretism of faiths, both Christian and Heathen. Outside Scandinavia there's a great example of this religious syncretism - the Gosforth Cross, dating to the first half of the 10th century. In literary sources before Snorri there's the Völuspá as well, probably written in Iceland in the 10th century at most, which is also a work with clear Heathen and Christian elements.
@@ArithHärger Thanks for the answer. Didn t know for the Gosforth Cross, its very interesting to see how this two religious influences are "mixed" and give another perspective.
Love your stuff kick on love it
Always love the research you bring forward to the public brother ✌️🖖ty much
Thank You.
Thanks for the education as always! 🙂
The universe is literally guiding me, I cannot explain it is unexplainable.
Arith is it possible that the traders from Denmark would increasingly wear Mjölnir/axe pendants due to the arrival of angloxasons and christians to their shores?
Isnt that what kinda happened in Ribe?
That's entirely possible yes. People in the past where not so isolated as we tend to think. In archaeology of border areas we find quite the religious and cultural syncretism, which was then transported to the centres of power and the large trading areas, in this case Birka, Ribe, Lejre, Old Uppsala, Hedeby, etc. in fact, new evidences show that the famous Valknut symbol has Anglo-Saxon origins, as earlier evidences of it appear in such contexts of the British Isles and only later on in Scandinavia.
I have heared that most pandants of thors hammer are found in female graves. Is that true?
A great amount yes.
_Your Holiness, the newly converted northerners still retain the symbols of their heathen gods. What shall we do? Another crusade?_
*What do you mean? Show me.*
*Ah, no, that's basically a cross. I'm happy with that. Cheers.*
hi arith. had the honor and the pleasure to give you thumb up nr. 666. thanks for all your input und have a nice day! rudolph
Ayyyyy
Syncretism or integration is not a problem for paganism. But for mosaism. Look at Japan, they practice a lot: shintoism, buddhism and much people are christians at same time.
It doesn't seem to have been a problem to pagans, indeed. In fact, looking at European history, cultural and religious syncretism (and integration of different ethnic groups) started to be seen as a problem within later Christian context by the end of the Middle Ages. It's also curious to notice that the ideologies behind racist views and the formulation of the idea of Race started in the Middle Ages, out of any remaining pagan contexts, but rather within Christendom (mostly of Western Europe). As a European of Western Europe it's not hard to still notice this influences in our society.
@@ArithHärger That pagan communities have and differentiate between themselves and the others should be equally indisputable. Identity emerges in the face of the other, in philosophical as well as in practical sense.
How the takeover of Christendom took place (in Iceland 1000 AD) can also be understood with a critical reading. This act would not have taken place if the Icelanders had not seen (a claimed) difference in the form of government as well as the form of belief. The compromises made by both sides are understandable. And without an awareness of antagonism, no compromise.
Another example is Columban’s attempt to convert the Frisians. I think you can see that a confrontation with the other creates identity as a cohesive group, but also leads to an ideological demarcation. Not only in regency, but also in matters of faith. But I’m sure that’s debatable (till the end of time (and it's new beginning)). I am shure you know the tesis that the hammer was a reaction of pagans, a form of resistance against cristianity.
The Church has also recognized this and the approach to missionary activity has been discussed.
(Sources are given only if there are doubts)
[Can you please sometimes make such an music intro again you did?] :)
Sry for my unprecise english.
That was too short.
1. Isn’t there supposed to be two cats?
2. Such a great teacher, I’ve learned so much but, I still want to know what you believe and based on that, what ritual or homage might you give.
Is not Thor named after the ancient Druidical Tau Cross? It represents a very, very early Trinity. Mostly made from live trees I believe.
Thor is just the word Thunder in old Norse.
Perá, pq mandou um portugues no fim? XD
FOR ME THORS, HAMMER REPRESENTS TODAY!!!
THE NOT INJECTED ONES !!READY FOR RAGNAROK
AND THATS IT !!!
WERE GETTING CLOSER,...SO GOOD TO KNOW !!
Give Gigi and Sól pets from me!😺
I shall, thank you very much! :D they will be very happy.
🤘🤘🤘🔥🔥🤘🤘⚡️⚡️
Hail the Norse gods
So are you suggesting that the use of Thors hammer as a 'symbol' of a believer or a follower of a belief was due to the lessons learned from the aggressive Christian missionaries who were pushing for conversions or what may have been considered other threating behavior (seen today in muslim, Hindu and Bhuddist countrys against Christian missionaries) and is this similar to the Ogham publication of meeting the challange of those 'foreign' methods seen to have a powerful persuasive force amongst the people, Symbolism and the written word?
Don't you think the fact that there have been more "Thor's Hammers" found than Christian crosses ?
Depends on the context, period and material we are dealing with. If we look into 10th century representations of tiny hammers in English/Anglo-Saxon contexts, it's hard to say if there were more hammers or crosses around this period, geographical reality and culture. If we look into 10th-11th centuries Scandinavia, there are as many crosses (some contexts more, actually) as Thor's hammers. In fact, something that baptismal wasn't adding up until quite recently, at least to me, is the fact that only very few Thor's hammers in Scandinavia were ever found. Yet, Thor was the most popular hero, so why so few represenations of his hammer as pendents? The Christian crosses are as many in these periods and in some contexts even more than Thor's hammers. This may have to do - and this is my recent theory - with baptism. While researching about 11th century Scandinavian fonts this also led me to accounts of baptism of Scandinavians as well as those abroad (vikings). As recently as the 8th and 9th centuries they were being baptised, on freewill, to be able to trade and do commerce with Christians and in Christian towns and cities. This further leads to the appreciation of the custom of Christians wearing crosses around their necks. Scandinavians started to use Thor's hammer's as pendants (fabricated on the same molds as the crosses), but these items were costly, so not a lot of Scandinavians would use them. Only wealthy Scandinavians, or with some considerable social status, would use these hammers because they could afford it. I'm not saying that this is the case for every Scandinavian at the period, but probably most of these hammers belonged to Scandinavian traders who were baptised and often traded in Christian cities. They would wear both the hammer and the cross as a form of identification, sort of a ID and "passport" to be able to enter and trade in specific ports, depending on the local religion and belief systems and also depending on the ruling Elite and with whom they were trading. This may be one of the reasons for so few Thor's hammers, because they belonged to people with a considerable social status due to trading with people outside Scandinavia or in major cities where different faiths would come together, like in Ribe and Birka, and beyond at Hedeby, Dorestad, in Aquitaine, Northern Spain, Galicia, Portuguese early kingdom, Uracin/Euracino (modern Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal), York (England), Dublin (Ireland), etc. In these contexts Thor's hammer was an identification for who the person was. Wearing both the Hammer and the Cross, or just one and the other, depending on the context and the people they were establishing commerce.
i love how you remind people that the pagan people were more connected to the earth than the gods. so many people portray them as believing in the traditions whole heartedly and thats just illogical.
⨁ symbol this is present on church towers of the early 13. century where I live. 2 to 300 kilomertes from here same symbol is ingraved in stones. also persons wearing axes.
how everyone interprets this fact for himself is up to him, as long as there are no historical sources. to claim a history of ideas, as a historian can do when he looks at chistianism, is unserious.
however, it is also unserious to exclude something. for example, that ideas and beliefs are handed down over centuries and millennia, even without written culture. (The "Wessobrunner Schöpfungsgedicht" proves just this with its similarities with the Icelandic and Indian region.)
post scr.:
Personally, I find M. Eliade's approach very "beautiful". (in short)
Just add the sickle to that hammer and you get a workable ideology...
totally over your head?
No
711 99th comment, VERY auspicious!
ᛗ - Eventually you will realize it's much more fun to be a wizard than not to be a wizard.
Congratulations on 100k!
Thank you very much! Can't wait to get home and finally settle down this year to make a special video for this milestone :D