The bronze Vegvísir necklace with wolf heads combines the Icelandic magical symbol Vegvísir with wolf heads inspired by a historical Viking amulet from Foss in Iceland.
- Material: bronze
- Amulet diameter: 39 mm
- Motif: Vegvísir and wolf heads
- Historical inspiration: Iceland, Viking Age
- Made in: Czech Republic
Vegvísir – an Icelandic magical symbol
Vegvísir, loosely translated as “the one that shows the way”, is an Icelandic magical sign associated with protection against losing one’s way. Its best-known historical depiction comes from the 19th-century Icelandic manuscript Huld. The accompanying text explains its meaning as follows: “If a person carries this sign, they will never lose their way in a storm or bad weather, even when the way is not known.”
Today, Vegvísir is also called the Viking compass, although its use during the Viking Age itself is not historically documented. It belongs to the Icelandic tradition of magical signs known as galdrastafir, which appear in manuscripts containing magical and protective symbols.
Wolf heads – a Viking amulet from Foss, Iceland
The wolf heads on the necklace are based on a historical silver amulet known as the Wolf Cross, also called Thor’s hammer from Foss. This piece of jewellery was found around 1910 at Foss (Fossi), Hrunamannahreppur, in the historical region of Árnessýsla in southern Iceland. The find dates to approximately the 10th century, during the Viking Age, and is held at the National Museum of Iceland in Reykjavík.
The original amulet is made of silver and its distinctive feature is a three-dimensional animal head with a prominent muzzle and teeth, traditionally interpreted as a wolf’s head. Similar animal motifs also appear on other metal objects from the Viking Age. The two wolf heads used on this necklace are a contemporary jewellery design inspired by the original Icelandic find.
According to published reports, iron weapons, including spearheads and an axe, were also found at Foss. Southern Iceland was among the areas settled by Norse immigrants during the colonisation of the island in the late 9th and 10th centuries. The Wolf Cross from Foss is one of the best-known archaeological finds of Icelandic jewellery from the Viking Age.
Wolves in Norse mythology
The wolf held an important place in Old Norse mythology. Among the best-known mythological wolves are Fenrir, a giant wolf associated with the events of Ragnarök, and Geri and Freki, the pair who accompany the god Odin. Wolf motifs also appeared in Norse art, on jewellery, weapons and other objects.
The Vegvísir necklace with wolf heads combines two motifs from Icelandic history and tradition: 10th-century Viking animal art and the later Icelandic protective symbol Vegvísir.
Related products
