Norse & Germanic
Mjölnir
Mjölnir
Smashes anything, and returns to its owner's hand when thrown.
WeaponFirst recorded 1220
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Photograph: A Frankish iron belt buckle of the late sixth to seventh century. Three rivets with copper-alloy heads are set in a plate inlaid with silver.
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1,946 × 1,868 PX1946×1868
ArchiveNorse & Germanic · Armor
Megingjörð
Megingjörð
Worn around the waist, it doubles the wearer's strength.
- Owner
- Thor
- Maker
- Unknown
- First record
- Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda1220
- Gallery
- Norse & Germanic
Notes on the photograph 3
Story
Snorri's Prose Edda says Thor has three most precious treasures: the hammer Mjölnir, the iron gloves Járngreipr and the belt of strength Megingjörð.
When Thor put on this belt his divine strength doubled. With it he took on the giants, and even hauled the great world-encircling serpent Jörmungandr up from the sea.
In another story the giantess Gríðr lends Thor this belt along with gloves and a staff. Thanks to them Thor manages to survive the palace of the giant Geirröd without his hammer.
The object in the photo
The photograph shows Belt Buckle(Frankish, late 6th–7th century), a real museum object that evokes the legendary artifact.
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