Sleipnir
Óðinn’s horse, Sleipnir, is grey and eight-legged, and the old poems call him the best of horses. He was born to Loki in the shape of a mare, and he is the horse that carries riders down into Hel and brings them back out again.
Hrungnir’s Heart (Valknut)
You know this symbol as the valknut. That name is barely two hundred years old, and originally meant a different pattern entirely. Snorri gives us a better one: Hrungnir’s heart.
Browse the Artefacts
The Gelmir Compendium features a growing reference of artifacts, motifs, and iconography spanning the Viking Age (c. 800–1100 CE) and the Proto-Viking Age (c. 400–800 CE).
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Try: “helmet”, “Nationalmuseet” or “Uppsala”.
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New Artefacts in the Compendium
Thor
Thor is the most frequently named deity in the saga material, and his importance is reflected in countless personal names and place names across Scandinavia.
Weapons
The Compendium is growing.
Here’s an overview of every sword and axe currently documented, grouped by type, with individual artefacts linked.
The Runes of The Viking Age
Here’s an overview of every sword and axe currently documented, grouped by type, with individual artefacts linked.
Icelandic Magic Staves
If you’ve ever looked into the helm of awe or the vegvísir, someone has probably told you they aren’t quite what they seem. Not Viking Age. Not ancient.
