Icelandic Thor's Hammer replica.
Recently I began to reflect on the significance of the beast`s head at the top of the Wolf's Hammer. Some consider this to be a dragon, others a wolf. If one accepts this to be a wolf then there is a clear association with Woden as the God of the Hanged who was accompanied by His wolves, Freki and Geri. The wolf along with the raven is clearly associated with this God. The wolfhead of the hammer reminds us that we are at the moment as followers of Woden to be regarded as wolfheads.
The shape of the Wolf Hammer reminds us that Woden hung Himself upon the world tree for 9 nights in order to acquire the mysteries of the runes. It is generally considered that He hung upside down:
"I ween that I hung | on the windy tree,
Hung there for nights full nine;
With the spear I was wounded, | and offered I was
To Othin, myself to myself,
On the tree that none | may ever know
What root beneath it runs." (Havamal 139, translation by Henry Adams Bellows)
The shape of the hammer is not entirely unique as the Danish Laby hammer has a similar apparent inverted
cross form; almost T-shaped. The Wolf Hammer resembles very closely the form of the Judge`s gavel and one could consider it the most hammer like of hammers for most other Thor's Hammers resemble more the axe which it took its form from. The arms of the Wolf Hammer are rounded as one would expect in this type of hammer. We should remember that the All-Thing was dedicated to Thunor and so Thunor has this function of presiding-like Tiw and the Frisian Fosite over legal proceedings.
The statue of Thor from Eyraland is more or less contemporary with the Wolf Hammer and the shape of the hammer which Thor is grasping in both hands is practically the same as the Wolf Hammer. Clearly Thor would not be grasping a Christian cross so this adds further weight to the heathen nature of the Wolf Hammer.
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