I love ancient Celtic and Nordic symbols - particularly jewellery featuring the intricate knot-work of both Celtic and Nordic culture. Unfortunately though, mass-marketing to tourists and the rise of nationalism has diluted the symbolism. If you go to Dublin or Stockholm, you can see these ancient characters and signs reproduced willy-nilly on everything from toilet paper to socks. In addition, several of the ancient Viking symbols - for example Mjölnir (Thor's Hammer) - have been appropriated by white supremacists as symbols of racial purity. I love depictions of Mjölnir like this one, but would not wear one in Sweden.
I do have am Irish claddagh ring though, given to me by my Irish husband when I was working in Ireland. I also have this Nordic pendant, found at a flea market for $10 but sold for $162. This is one I have not seen anywhere and so I am hoping it never gives the wrong signals to far-right extremists who have co-opted Norse symbolism .
Viking Age (800-1050 AD).
The small figure holding a spear and sword and carrying a horned helmet can be associated with Odin. Horned helmets were used in earlier times at ceremonies and cultic procession, but the Vikings never wore horned helmets. Odin was the wisest of the Norse gods. One of the main Germanic gods and in Norse mythology the supreme among the Aesir. As lord of Valhalla Odin is the god of war and battle, but also god of death, wisdom, sorcery and poetry. He created the world, placed the stars in it their orbits and illuminated the earth with the sun. The city of Odense and Wednesday is derived from the name Odin.
The jewelery is made in bronze, sterling silver, 8 kt gold and 14 kt gold. Other metals can be made to order,
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