Ca. 700-1100 AD A gilded bronze pendant representing Thor's hammer comprising a vertical shaft with a suspension loop, and a horizontal head in the shape of a wide-angled chevron decorated with a series of three stamped triangles containing three raised dots. In Norse mythology Thor's hammer, Mjölnir is the greatest of all the gods' treasure as it represents Thor's role as a protector of both humans and the gods from the ever-present threat of the giants. When worn as a pendant or adorning jewelry this symbol represents Thor's sacred function as a protective deity and served an amuletic function. Size: L:37mm / W:25mm ; 9.51g Provenance: From the private collection of an Essex gentleman; previously in an old British Collection, formed in the 1990s.