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In Norse mythology, 'Mjolnir' (also spelled Mjölnir, Mjöllnir, Mjollner, Mjølnir, Mjølner, or Mjölner) (IPA pronunciation: ) is the hammer of Thor, the god of thunder, lightning, wind, and rain.

Contents

Etymology

Overview

Norse polytheism

As an emblem

Ancient usage

Modern usage

Germanic neopaganism

Modern popular culture

Other spellings

See also

Footnotes

References

External links

Etymology

"Mjolnir" simply means "mealer" referring to its pulverizing effect. It is related to words such as the Icelandic verbs ''mölva'' (to crush) and ''mala'' (to grind), but similar words, all stemming from the Proto-Indo-European root ''melə'' can be found in almost all European languages, e.g. the Slavic ''melvo'' (grain to be ground) and ''molotu'' (hammer), the Dutch ''meel'' (meal), the Russian Молоток (''molotok'' - hammer), the Greek μύλος (''mylos'' - mill) and the Latin ''malleus'' (hammer) as well as the Latin ''mola'' (mill). The English ''meal'', ''mill'' and ''maul'' are direct relatives, while ''mallet'' and ''molar'' arrived via Latin. It has been suggested that although the name reflects Mjolnir's awesome powers it might also allude to Thor's agricultural nature, as he was primarily worshipped by farmers.
An alternative theory suggests that Mjolnir might be related to the Russian word молния (''molniya'') and the Welsh word ''mellt'' (both words being translated as "lightning"). This second theory parallels with the idea that Thor, being a god of thunder, therefore might have used lightning as his weapon.^[1]

Overview

Mjolnir is said to be the most fearsome weapon in Norse mythology, and is used to slay any challengers to Æsir supremacy. It is often referred to as either a club, axe, or hammer, and is capable of toppling giants and destroying mountains with a single blow.^[2]
Legends surrounding the war hammer’s origins vary: some relate that the Svartalf Sindri and Brokkr made it at the command of Loki; other tales contend that it descended to earth as a meteorite. Consequently, many Norse polytheists believed that lightning strikes were a manifestation of Mjolnir on earth.
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. Mjolnir may also mean fertility, the phallus that impregnates the earth.
Sometimes Mjolnir is compared to a boomerang, due to its ability to return to its thrower. Usually, it is used as normal war hammer. There may be a connection between Thor's throwing hammer and the francisca throwing axes of the Franks.

Norse polytheism

The most popular version of the creation of Mjolnir myth, found in the poem ''Skáldskaparmál'' from Snorri's Edda,^[3] is as follows. In one story Loki sends up to the dwarves called the sons of Ivaldi (or Ovaldi's sons) that create precious items for the gods: Odin's spear Gungnir, and Frey's foldable boat Skidbladnir. Then Loki bets his head that Sindri (or Eitri) and his brother Brokk would never succeed in making items more beautiful that those of Ivaldi's sons. The bet is accepted and the two brothers begin working. Thus Eitri puts a pig's skin in the forge and tells his brother (Brokk) never to stop blowing until he comes and takes out what he put in.
A fly, actually Loki in disguise, comes and bites Brokk on the arm but he continued to blow. Then Eitri takes out Gullinbursti which is Frey's boar with shining bristles. Then Eitri puts some gold in the furnace and gives Brokk the same order. Loki in the fly guise comes again and bites Brokk's neck twice as hard. But as before nothing happened and Eitri took out Draupnir, Odin's ring, having duplicates falling from itself every ninth night.
Eitri then puts Iron in the forge and tells Brokk to never stop blowing. Loki comes again and bites Brokk on the eyelid much harder than before and the blood made him stop blowing for a short while. When Eitri came and took out Mjolnir, the handle was a bit short (making it one handed) and also the handle was not perpendicular to the head-piece. Yet Eitri and Brokk won the bet which was Loki's head, but the bet could not be honoured since they needed to cut the neck as well which was not part of the deal. So Brokk sewed Loki's mouth to teach him a lesson.
While Thor possessed a formidable chariot, which is drawn by two goats; a 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 comedic of Thor's trials. The myth relates that the giant, Þrymr, steals Mjolnir from Thor and then demands fair goddess Freyja in exchange. Loki, the god notorious for his duplicity, conspires with the other Æsir to recover Mjolnir by disguising Thor as Freyja and presenting him as the "goddess" to Þrymr. At a banquet Þrymr holds in honor of the impending union, the dim-witted Þrymr takes the bait marvelously. Unable to contain his passion for his new maiden with long, blond locks (and broad shoulders), as Þrymr approaches the bride by placing Mjolnir on "her" lap, Thor rips off his disguise and destroys Þrymr 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."''^[4]

As an emblem

Ancient usage

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 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 were 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.^[5] 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. This may be part of why wearing the cross upside down is considered defiant.
Stones found in Denmark and southern Sweden bear an inscription of a hammer. Sometimes accompanying the carved hammer was an inscription calling for Thor to safeguard the stone. For example, the stone of Virring in Denmark had the inscription, ''"þur uiki þisi kuml"'' which translates into English as "May Thor 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 in response to the Christians, who would ask for God's protection over their dead.^[6]

Modern usage

Germanic neopaganism

Despite the dominance of Christianity in Scandinavia for roughly a millennium, Mjolnir is far from extinct. Today, many practitioners of modern-day Germanic neopagan faiths wear Mjolnir pendants as a symbol of that faith. At annual festivals reviving the Norse 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.

Modern popular culture

Outside of these uses, Mjolnir is also frequently referenced in modern popular culture, although sometimes bearing very little resemblance to the source inspiration of the name.

★ The armor worn by Master Chief in the Halo videogame series is called MJOLNIR.

★ In the mod called DotA, (Defense of the Ancients), there is an item called Mjollnir which has a chance to release chain lightning on attacking.

★ In the Starcraft and Starcraft II video games, the Siege Tank's centerpiece weapon is the Mjolnir Artillery Cannon.[1]

★ In the popular mmorpg Runescape, Mjolnirs are items used as banners to rally behind the runescapian gods, Zamorak, Guthix and Saradomin.

★ In the MMORPG Ragnarok Online, players can acquire Mjolnir as a weapon.

★ The Marvel Comics version of Thor wields his own Mjolnir.

★ The original version of Gunbound was named Thor's Hammer.

★ Thor's Hammer was also a weapon that the Renegades tricked Rodyle into building in Tales of Symphonia.

★ Thor's Hammer was also an Asgard (Stargate) device to protect a certain planet from the Goa'Ulds in Stargate SG1.

★ In Age of Mythology, there is a level in which you have to help Brokk and Eitri repair the Mjolnir so that the Tartarus Gate can sealed.

★ In Halo, Master Chief's suit is designated as MJOLNIR Mark V.

★ In The Avengers, Thor weilds the Mjolnir while fighting the Hulk.

Other spellings

★ Common Danish: ''Mjølner''

★ Faroese: ''Mjølnir''

★ Icelandic and German: ''Mjölnir''

★ Norwegian: ''Mjølner''

★ Swedish: ''Mjölner''

See also

★ Labrys or Pelekys, the double-headed axe wielded by thundergod Zeus in Greek mythology.

★ Vajra, the thunderbolt weapon wielded by Indra in Hindu mythology.

★ The Battle Axe culture left burial goods including stone axes, probably status symbols rather than actual weapons.

Footnotes

1. Turville-Petre, E.O.G. Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1964. p81
2. Davis, Kenneth. Don't Know Much About Mythology. New York: Harper Collins, 2005. p.305
3. Snorri's Edda, ''Skaldskaparmal''. 41.
4. Orchard, Andy. Norse Myth and Legend. London: Cassell, 2002. p.255
5. Turville-Petre, E.O.G. Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1964. p83
6. Turville-Petre, E.O.G. Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1964. p82-83

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 Pennsylvania 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.

External links

★ Images of Mjolnir amulets

★ Article on Thor's Hammer as religious symbol