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The Prose Edda attributes the forging of Mjölir to Odin.
Answer: False
The Prose Edda, specifically in the account of Mjölir's creation by the dwarf brothers Eitri and Brokkr, attributes the forging to these skilled smiths, not to Odin. Odin was involved in the wager that led to its creation.
According to the dwarf Brokkr, Mjölir's notable defect was its excessively long handle.
Answer: False
The dwarf Brokkr identified the hammer's rather short handle as a defect during its creation, not an excessively long one.
The Prose Edda describes Mjölir's creation as a result of a wager initiated by Odin.
Answer: False
The Prose Edda describes Mjölir's creation as part of a wager initiated by Loki, the mischievous deity, who instigated the competition among the dwarves to forge the items.
Who are identified as the dwarf brothers who forged Mjölir, according to the text Skáldskaparmál?
Answer: Eitri and Brokkr
The text Skáldskaparmál identifies the dwarf brothers Eitri and Brokkr as the skilled smiths responsible for forging Mjölir.
What was the notable defect of Mjölir mentioned by the dwarf Brokkr during its creation?
Answer: Its handle was rather short.
During the forging of Mjölir, the dwarf Brokkr noted that the hammer's handle was rather short, which he considered a defect in the craftsmanship.
According to the Prose Edda, the creation of Mjölir was part of a wager initiated by which mischievous deity?
Answer: Loki
The Prose Edda recounts that the creation of Mjölir was precipitated by a wager initiated by Loki, the trickster god, who challenged the dwarves to forge the item.
The assertion that Mjölir served exclusively as a weapon for Thor against his enemies in battle is inaccurate, as its functions extended beyond mere combat.
Answer: True
While Mjölir served as Thor's primary weapon against giants and mythical beasts, its application extended to ceremonial and sanctifying contexts, such as blessing Baldr's ship and reviving Thor's goats, thereby refuting its exclusive use in battle.
The statement that Mjölir is mentioned in only one poem within the Poetic Edda is incorrect.
Answer: False
Mjölir is referenced in multiple poems within the Poetic Edda, including Vafþrúðnismál, Hymiskviða, Lokasenna, and Þrymskviða, indicating its significant presence in the corpus.
According to the poem Vafþrúðnismál, Thor's sons, Móði and Magni, are destined to wield Mjölir subsequent to Ragnarök.
Answer: True
The poem Vafþrúðnismál explicitly states that following the cataclysmic events of Ragnarök, Thor's sons, Móði and Magni, will inherit and wield Mjölir.
In the poem Hymiskviða, Mjölir is poetically referred to as 'whales' during Thor's engagement with giants.
Answer: True
The poem Hymiskviða employs a poetic kenning, referring to Mjölir as 'whales' when Thor utilizes it in his confrontation with giants while retrieving a cauldron for Ægir.
The poem Lokasenna depicts Loki using Mjölir to threaten the other gods.
Answer: False
In the poem Lokasenna, Mjölir is primarily depicted as a threat wielded by the other gods against Loki in response to his insults, rather than Loki using it to threaten others.
The poem Þrymskviða details Thor disguising himself as the god Loki to retrieve Mjölir.
Answer: False
The poem Þrymskviða describes Thor disguising himself as the goddess Freyja, not Loki, to infiltrate the realm of the giants and recover the stolen Mjölir.
Thor's three primary possessions listed in the Prose Edda's Gylfaginning are Mjölir, his sword, and his helmet.
Answer: False
The Prose Edda's Gylfaginning lists Thor's three principal possessions as Mjölir, his iron gloves Járngreipr, and his belt Megingjörð, not a sword and helmet.
The resurrection of Thor's goats after being blessed with Mjölir in Gylfaginning resulted in all the goats being restored perfectly unharmed.
Answer: False
In the Gylfaginning account, one of Thor's goats was left lame after the blessing because a peasant's son broke a bone to access the marrow, indicating that not all goats were restored perfectly unharmed.
In Gylfaginning, Thor's attempts to strike the giant Skrymir with Mjölir were perceived by Skrymir as insignificant.
Answer: True
During Thor's encounter with Skrymir in Gylfaginning, Skrymir perceived Thor's attempts to strike him with Mjölir as minor disturbances, such as falling leaves or twigs, rather than powerful blows.
Thor utilized Mjölir to consecrate Baldr's ship during his funeral rites.
Answer: True
According to Norse records, Thor employed Mjölir not only as a weapon but also in ceremonial capacities, including the consecration of Baldr's ship during his funeral rites.
The text Skáldskaparmál refers to Thor as the 'destroyer' of Mjölir.
Answer: False
Skáldskaparmál refers to Thor as the 'ruler and owner' of Mjölir and uses kennings that depict Mjölir as a 'bane' to creatures like the Midgard Serpent, not as its destroyer.
Mjölir was solely utilized as a weapon and never employed in ceremonial or sanctifying contexts.
Answer: False
Norse records indicate Mjölir served multiple functions beyond being a weapon, including sanctifying rituals, consecrating ships, and reviving Thor's goats, demonstrating its ceremonial utility.
Mjölir's primary significance is confined solely to its role as Thor's destructive weapon against giants.
Answer: False
Mjölir's significance extends beyond its destructive capacity against giants; it is also intrinsically linked to Thor's attributes as a protector and is employed in various sanctifying and ritualistic contexts.
The description of Mjölir being kept 'inside his shirt' highlights its magical ability to change size.
Answer: True
The narrative detail that Mjölir could be kept 'inside his shirt' implies its magical property of size alteration, allowing Thor to carry his powerful hammer discreetly.
Mjölir was never depicted as a weapon used against the Midgard Serpent in Norse mythology.
Answer: False
Norse mythology, particularly in texts like Skáldskaparmál and Gylfaginning, explicitly depicts Thor wielding Mjölir in his battles against the colossal Midgard Serpent, Jörmungandr.
Mjölir's association with fertility cults is primarily evidenced by detailed accounts in the Prose Edda.
Answer: False
While Mjölir has associations with fertility, detailed accounts of this specific connection are not primarily found in the Prose Edda; rather, evidence comes from broader interpretations of its role in blessing rituals and potential links to earlier cultic practices.
In which poem from the Poetic Edda does the giant Þrymr steal Mjölir?
Answer: Þrymskviða
The poem Þrymskviða is the narrative that details the theft of Mjölir by the giant Þrymr and Thor's subsequent efforts to retrieve it.
According to the poem Vafþrúðnismál, who is destined to wield Mjölir after the events of Ragnarök?
Answer: Thor's sons, Móði and Magni.
The poem Vafþrúðnismál explicitly states that after Ragnarök, Thor's sons, Móði and Magni, will inherit and wield Mjölir.
In the poem Hymiskviða, Mjölir is referred to by what poetic name during Thor's battle with giants?
Answer: Whales
In the poem Hymiskviða, during Thor's battle with giants while retrieving a cauldron, Mjölir is poetically referred to as 'whales'.
What are Thor's three principal possessions as listed in the Prose Edda's Gylfaginning?
Answer: Mjölir, his iron gloves Járngreipr, and his belt Megingjörð.
The Prose Edda's Gylfaginning enumerates Thor's three principal possessions as his hammer Mjölir, his iron gloves Járngreipr, and his belt Megingjörð.
In the Gylfaginning account, why was one of Thor's goats left lame after being blessed with Mjölir?
Answer: A peasant's son broke a bone in the goat to access the marrow.
One of Thor's goats was left lame after the blessing because the peasant's son, Þjálfi, broke a bone to eat the marrow, indicating mistreatment of the bones despite the magical resurrection.
What surprising revelation does the giant Skrymir make after Thor's failed attempts to strike him with Mjölir in Gylfaginning?
Answer: He reveals Thor's blows had actually carved deep valleys into the landscape.
Skrymir reveals that Thor's seemingly ineffective blows with Mjölir had, in reality, carved significant valleys into the surrounding landscape, demonstrating the immense, albeit unrecognized, power of the hammer.
Which of the following actions demonstrates Mjölir's use in ceremonial or sanctifying contexts, according to Norse records?
Answer: Consecrating Baldr's ship during his funeral rites.
Norse records indicate Mjölir was employed in ceremonial contexts, such as the consecration of Baldr's ship during his funeral rites, alongside its more commonly known use as a weapon.
In the kenning 'gorge-whales bane' used in Skáldskaparmál, what does 'gorge-whale' likely refer to, making Mjölir its 'bane'?
Answer: Thor's battle against the Midgard Serpent, Jörmungandr.
The kenning 'gorge-whales bane' found in Skáldskaparmál likely refers to the Midgard Serpent, Jörmungandr, as the 'gorge-whale,' with Mjölir being its 'bane' due to Thor's confrontations with it.
What does the description of Mjölir being able to be kept 'inside his shirt' imply about the hammer's properties?
Answer: It possessed the magical ability to change its size.
The ability of Mjölir to be kept 'inside his shirt' suggests it possessed the magical property of size alteration, enabling Thor to carry his powerful hammer discreetly.
The concept of Thor and his hammer is believed to originate exclusively from Proto-Germanic mythology, not Proto-Indo-European.
Answer: False
Many scholars theorize that the concept of Thor and his hammer originates from Proto-Indo-European mythology, drawing parallels with similar deities and weapons in other Indo-European traditions.
The etymology of Mjölir exclusively suggests a meaning related to grinding or crushing.
Answer: False
While one proposed etymology connects Mjölir to Old Norse 'mala' (to grind), other significant theories link it to 'lightning-maker' (from Proto-Slavic 'mlunuji') or 'shining lightning weapon' (from Old Norse 'mjell'), indicating a broader semantic range.
The short handle of Mjölir is often interpreted as a symbol of its diminished magical power.
Answer: False
The short handle of Mjölir, mentioned as a defect by Brokkr, is often interpreted symbolically not as diminished power, but perhaps as concentrated magical potency or a deliberate design choice by the smiths.
What is Mjölir, and what is its primary significance in Norse mythology?
Answer: The hammer of the thunder god Thor, used as a weapon and for blessings.
Mjölir is the hammer wielded by the thunder god Thor in Norse mythology. It functions both as a formidable weapon against enemies and as a divine instrument for bestowing blessings, signifying Thor's protective and generative roles.
Which proposed etymology for the name Mjölir connects it to the concept of grinding?
Answer: Connection to Old Norse 'mala' (to grind).
One significant etymological theory posits that the name Mjölir derives from the Old Norse verb 'mala,' meaning 'to grind,' thereby linking the hammer's name to a concept of crushing or pulverizing.
The concept of Thor and his hammer is theorized by many scholars to originate from which ancient linguistic and mythological source?
Answer: Proto-Indo-European mythology.
Many scholars posit that the concept of Thor and his hammer originates from Proto-Indo-European mythology, drawing parallels with similar thunder-wielding deities found in various Indo-European traditions.
What etymological theory connects the name Mjölir to the phenomenon of lightning?
Answer: Link to Old Church Slavonic 'mlunuji' (lightning).
One prominent etymological theory suggests that the name Mjölir derives from the Old Church Slavonic word 'mlunuji' (meaning lightning), thereby connecting it to the concept of lightning or a 'lightning-maker'.
The inscription on the 11th-century Kvinneby amulet suggests Mjölir originated from the sea.
Answer: True
The inscription on the 11th-century Kvinneby amulet states, 'May Thor protect him with his hammer which came from out of the sea,' indicating a narrative connection to the sea, rather than a definitive origin statement.
Archaeological findings indicate that over 10,000 pendants shaped like Thor's hammer have been discovered across Northern Europe.
Answer: False
Archaeological evidence suggests approximately 1000 pendants shaped like Thor's hammer have been found, not over 10,000.
The Mjölir find from Kóbelev, Denmark, is unique as the sole hammer artifact discovered bearing a runic inscription.
Answer: True
The Mjölir find from Kóbelev, Denmark, is indeed unique among hammer artifacts because it is the only one discovered to date that features a runic inscription.
The Eyrarland Statue, discovered in Iceland, is widely believed to depict Odin holding Mjölir.
Answer: False
The Eyrarland Statue, an 11th-century artifact from Iceland, is generally interpreted by scholars as depicting Thor, not Odin, holding his hammer, Mjölir.
Pictorial representations of Thor's hammer are found on Danish runestones but not on Swedish ones.
Answer: False
Pictorial representations of Thor's hammer are found on runestones in both Denmark (e.g., DR 26) and Sweden (e.g., VG 113, Sö 111), contradicting the assertion that they are absent from Swedish stones.
Nordic Bronze Age petroglyphs show no evidence or connection to hammer symbols that might predate Mjölir.
Answer: False
Scholars propose that Nordic Bronze Age petroglyphs depicting figures holding hammer-like objects, such as axes, may represent precursors to Mjölir, suggesting an early connection to hammer symbols.
The archaeological evidence suggests Mjölir pendants were uncommon during the Viking Age.
Answer: False
The widespread discovery of approximately 1000 Mjölir pendants across Northern Europe indicates that these symbols were quite common and held significant importance during the Viking Age.
According to archaeological evidence, how was the symbol of Mjölir commonly utilized during the Viking Age?
Answer: Worn as pendants throughout the Scandinavian cultural sphere.
Archaeological findings demonstrate that Mjölir was commonly worn as pendants across the Scandinavian cultural sphere during the Viking Age, serving as a widespread symbol of faith and identity.
What specific invocation regarding Mjölir is found in the inscription on the 11th-century Kvinneby amulet?
Answer: 'May Thor protect him with his hammer which came from out of the sea.'
The inscription on the 11th-century Kvinneby amulet includes the invocation, 'May Thor protect him with his hammer which came from out of the sea,' linking the hammer to Thor and a narrative involving the sea.
Approximately how many pendants shaped like Thor's hammer have been discovered through archaeological excavations in Nordic regions?
Answer: Around 1000
Archaeological excavations in Nordic regions have yielded approximately 1000 pendants shaped like Thor's hammer, indicating their widespread use and significance during the Viking Age.
What distinguishes the Mjölir find discovered in Kóbelev, Denmark, from other hammer finds?
Answer: It is the only hammer find discovered bearing a runic inscription.
The Mjölir artifact unearthed in Kóbelev, Denmark, is unique among discovered hammer finds due to the presence of a runic inscription, which reads 'This is a hammer'.
The Eyrarland Statue, an 11th-century artifact found in Iceland, is widely believed to depict which deity holding Mjölir?
Answer: Thor
The Eyrarland Statue, an artifact dating to approximately the 11th century and discovered in Iceland, is predominantly interpreted by scholars as a depiction of Thor seated and holding his hammer, Mjölir.
Which of the following is NOT listed as a Danish or Swedish runestone featuring pictorial representations of Thor's hammer?
Answer: DR 1 (Denmark)
The source material lists DR 26, VG 113, and Sö 111 as runestones featuring pictorial representations of Thor's hammer. DR 1 is not mentioned in this context.
What potential link has been proposed between Nordic Bronze Age petroglyphs and Mjölir?
Answer: They show figures holding hammer-like objects, possibly representing precursors to Mjölir.
Scholars propose that Nordic Bronze Age petroglyphs depicting figures with hammer-like objects may represent precursors to Mjölir, suggesting an early role for hammer symbols, possibly within fertility cults.
The increasing popularity of Mjölir pendants during the Viking Age was primarily a direct rejection of Christian symbols.
Answer: False
While the rise in Mjölir pendant popularity coincided with Christianization, scholarly theories suggest it may have been a cultural response or adaptation to the prevalence of Christian cross pendants, rather than solely a direct rejection.
Thor is identified as the sole Norse deity invoked to bless or hallow runestones during the Viking Age.
Answer: True
Scholarly consensus indicates that Thor holds a unique position as the only Norse deity known to have been invoked for the blessing or hallowing of runestones during the Viking Age.
In late Icelandic folk belief, the term 'Thor's hammer' referred to the swastika symbol.
Answer: True
Historical records of late Icelandic folk belief indicate that the term 'Thor's hammer' became associated with the swastika symbol, also known as a 'sun-wheel,' by the early modern period.
Modern depictions of Mjölir are consistently identical in design to the earliest archaeological finds.
Answer: False
Modern artistic and popular culture depictions of Mjölir exhibit considerable variation and are not always identical to the earliest archaeological examples, often drawing inspiration from various sources and interpretations.
Mjölir has lent its name to a geological crater off Norway's coast.
Answer: True
The name Mjölir has been adopted for a geological feature, specifically a crater located off the coast of Norway, reflecting the enduring cultural resonance of the symbol.
In modern Heathenry, Mjölir is considered a rare artifact, used exclusively in private rituals.
Answer: False
For adherents of modern Heathenry, Mjölir is a common sacred artifact, frequently displayed publicly and worn as a pendant, serving as a significant expression of spirituality and connection to ancient traditions, not restricted to private rituals.
The Mjölir symbol has never been appropriated or utilized by extremist groups.
Answer: False
The Mjölir symbol has unfortunately been appropriated by certain white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups, sometimes incorporating hate symbols into their renditions of Thor's Hammer.
Mjölir's symbolism in modern Heathenry is solely focused on its destructive power.
Answer: False
In modern Heathenry, Mjölir symbolizes more than just destructive power; it represents spirituality, connection to ancient religions, protection, and community well-being.
The term 'Thor's hammer' in Icelandic folk belief historically referred exclusively to medieval hammer pendants.
Answer: False
In late Icelandic folk belief, the term 'Thor's hammer' evolved to refer to the swastika symbol ('sun-wheel'), moving beyond its historical association solely with medieval hammer pendants.
What theory suggests a connection between the rise in Mjölir pendant popularity and the spread of Christianity in the Viking Age?
Answer: Their popularity may have been a cultural response to the increasing prevalence of Christian cross pendants.
One scholarly theory posits that the surge in Mjölir pendant popularity during the Viking Age may have represented a cultural adaptation or response to the growing presence of Christian cross pendants during the period of Christianization.
Scholars have identified a unique role for Thor concerning runestones; he is known as:
Answer: The only deity known to have been invoked to bless or hallow runestones.
Scholars have established that Thor holds a unique position in relation to runestones, being the only Norse deity specifically known to have been invoked for their blessing or hallowing during the Viking Age.
What items did Magnus the Strong remove in 1125 from a temple identified with Thor (via Roman interpretation as Jupiter)?
Answer: Large, bronze hammer models.
In 1125, Magnus the Strong removed large, bronze hammer models from a temple associated with Thor (interpreted as Jupiter), which were believed by the populace to be instruments capable of generating thunder and lightning.
In late Icelandic folk belief, what symbol eventually became referred to as 'Thor's hammer'?
Answer: The swastika, also known as a 'sun-wheel'.
In late Icelandic folk belief, the term 'Thor's hammer' became associated with the swastika symbol, also referred to as a 'sun-wheel,' rather than exclusively with medieval hammer pendants.
How has the Mjölir symbol been appropriated by extremist groups?
Answer: By incorporating hate symbols like swastikas into their versions of the hammer.
Extremist groups, particularly white nationalist and neo-Nazi factions, have appropriated the Mjölir symbol, sometimes by integrating hate symbols such as swastikas into their representations of Thor's Hammer.
For adherents of modern Heathenry, what is the primary significance of Mjölir?
Answer: The most common sacred artifact, expressing spirituality and connection to ancient religions.
Within modern Heathenry, Mjölir is considered a principal sacred artifact, frequently worn as a pendant, serving as a potent expression of spirituality and a tangible link to ancient Norse religious traditions.
Katherine Suzanne Beard is credited with the creation of the online resource 'Eitri: The Norse Artifacts Database'.
Answer: True
Scholar Katherine Suzanne Beard developed 'Eitri: The Norse Artifacts Database,' an online repository cataloging Norse artifacts, and also proposed extensions to the typology of Mjölir finds.
Adam of Bremen described Thor at the Temple at Uppsala as holding a spear similar to Odin's Gungnir.
Answer: False
Adam of Bremen described Thor at the Temple at Uppsala as holding a mace-like symbol, which he likened to Jupiter's sceptre, not a spear resembling Odin's Gungnir.
Saxo Grammaticus described Thor wielding Mjölir, characterized by its long handle.
Answer: False
Saxo Grammaticus, in his euhemerized account, described Thor wielding a club named 'clava' which possessed a short handle, contrary to the assertion of a long handle.
Hilda Ellis Davidson proposed that Thor's hammer power was limited exclusively to destructive storm forces.
Answer: False
Hilda Ellis Davidson suggested that the power symbolized by Thor's hammer extended beyond destructive storm forces to encompass community well-being, protection against evil, and the sanctification of significant life events.
The 'Eitri: The Norse Artifacts Database' is a physical museum collection.
Answer: False
The 'Eitri: The Norse Artifacts Database' is an online resource created by Katherine Suzanne Beard, serving as a digital catalog of Norse artifacts, rather than a physical museum collection.
Saxo Grammaticus's description of Thor's weapon aligns perfectly with the Eddic descriptions of Mjölir in all aspects.
Answer: False
Saxo Grammaticus's euhemerized account describes Thor wielding a club named 'clava' with a short handle, which differs in some aspects from the Eddic descriptions of Mjölir, particularly regarding the specific weapon type and handle length.
Which of the following ancient texts is NOT mentioned in the source material as attesting to the existence or use of Mjölir?
Answer: The Saga of the Volsungs
The provided source material attests to Mjölir's presence in the Poetic Edda, the Prose Edda, and the Kvinneby amulet. The Saga of the Volsungs is not cited as a text that mentions Mjölir.
Which scholar is credited with proposing an extension to the typology of Mjölir finds and creating the 'Eitri: The Norse Artifacts Database'?
Answer: Katherine Suzanne Beard
Katherine Suzanne Beard is recognized for her contributions to the study of Mjölir finds, including proposing extensions to their typology and establishing the online resource 'Eitri: The Norse Artifacts Database'.
How did the historian Adam of Bremen describe the symbol associated with Thor at the Temple at Uppsala?
Answer: A mace-like symbol likened to Jupiter's sceptre.
Adam of Bremen described the symbol associated with Thor at the Temple at Uppsala as being mace-like, drawing a comparison to the sceptre of Jupiter, the Roman equivalent deity.
In Saxo Grammaticus's euhemerized account, what was the characteristic of the club Thor wielded, named 'clava'?
Answer: It possessed a short handle.
Saxo Grammaticus's euhemerized account describes Thor wielding a club named 'clava,' which was characterized by its short handle.
Hilda Ellis Davidson proposed that the power symbolized by Thor's hammer extended beyond mere destruction to include:
Answer: Community well-being and protection against evil.
Hilda Ellis Davidson suggested that the power symbolized by Thor's hammer encompassed not only destructive forces but also community well-being and protection against malevolent entities.