Ukonvasara
Encyclopedia
Ukonvasara or Ukonkirves is the symbol and magical weapon of the Finnish
thunder god Ukko
, and was similar to Thor
's Mjolnir. Ukonvasara means hammer of Ukko and ukonkirves means axe of Ukko. With Ukonvasara, Ukko created lightning. Pagan Finns sometimes carry hammer or axe-pendants on their necks like the Christians sometimes carry a cross.
Ukko's hammer was probably originally the same thing as the boat-shaped stone axe. While stone tools were abandoned with the advent of metalworking, the origins of stone-weapons became a mystery. Stone axes, so called thunderstone
s (called Ukonvaaja in Finnish), were found on ground especially after big rain that removed some dirt. They were believed to be weapons of Ukko, stone-heads of striking lightnings. Shamans collected and held stone-axes because they were believed to hold the power to heal and to damage.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
thunder god Ukko
Ukko
In Finnish mythology, Ukko, in Estonian mythology Uku, is a god of sky, weather, crops and other natural things. He is the most significant god in Finnish and Estonian mythologies, and created the goddess Ilmatar, creator of the world. The Finnish word ukkonen, thunderstorm, is derived from his...
, and was similar to Thor
Thor
In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
's Mjolnir. Ukonvasara means hammer of Ukko and ukonkirves means axe of Ukko. With Ukonvasara, Ukko created lightning. Pagan Finns sometimes carry hammer or axe-pendants on their necks like the Christians sometimes carry a cross.
Ukko's hammer was probably originally the same thing as the boat-shaped stone axe. While stone tools were abandoned with the advent of metalworking, the origins of stone-weapons became a mystery. Stone axes, so called thunderstone
Thunderstone (folklore)
Throughout Europe, Asia, Polynesia, in fact in almost all parts of the world where their use had been forgotten, flint arrowheads and axes turned up by the farmer's plow are considered to have fallen from the sky, are often thought to be thunderbolts and are called "Thunderstones".It was not until...
s (called Ukonvaaja in Finnish), were found on ground especially after big rain that removed some dirt. They were believed to be weapons of Ukko, stone-heads of striking lightnings. Shamans collected and held stone-axes because they were believed to hold the power to heal and to damage.