Material: Bronze
The axe was used as a household tool as well as a weapon. Often an axe, along with other sharp objects (knife, sickle, scythe), was a talisman and a remedy against evil spirits and diseases. Traditionally, in folk beliefs, the axe was associated with masculinity and sexual power. Among the Vikings, the axe was a very common weapon, along with the sword. Researchers believe that it was closely connected with the other world.
The axe symbol has been used since ancient times all over the world. For example, in the Middle Ages, Eastern Slavs often cut the umbilical cord of newborn boys with an axe. In Belarus, if a couple wanted a girl, they would place a sickle at the head of the bed, and if they wanted a boy, they would place an axe. In Ukraine, peasants buried an axe in the ground before plowing to ensure a good harvest. The symbol was also used in medieval heraldry, for example, the Lion with an axe is the emblem of Norway.
This type of medieval pendants was very popular with the Slavs and a little less with the Vikings. In the last photo you can see one of the many original and authentic artifacts that have been excavated in Ukraine.
