The Axe of Perun - Slavic Axe Amulet.
Detailed replica of the so-called Axe of Perun, a Slavic axe amulet of the late Viking Age after models of the late 11th to early 12th century.
The Axe of Perun was worn around the neck as an amulet by
West Slavs and Rus and was an attribute of the supreme Slavic god Perun.
Link to an original Perun-Axt...
According to the archaeological definition, this Perun axe-amulet belongs to the
Makarov type 2, which is often found in the eastern find material of the Viking Age and was widespread in the Slavic countries of the Baltic, Poland, Ukraine and western Russia.
Original axe pendants of this type were between 30 and 57 mm in size and often had circular eye ornaments and
zigzag lines as decoration, which are interpreted as symbolizing the sun and lightning.
However, there are also interpretations that point to the
symbolic representation of a ship, which are hidden in the shape of the axe because the stern, stem and sails seem to be clearly visible in the shape of the Axe of Perun.
The Slavic axe pendant
measures 4.5 x 3.3 cm.
You can buy this Viking pendant in high-quality
bronze or real
silver-plated.
Alternatively, also available in 925
sterling silver (Please note the delivery time).
Alloy...
A black
leather cord in 1 m length for the Axe of Perun is included.
Perun is considered the highest god of Slavic mythology and was at the same time the
god of thunderstorms, thunder and lightning - his name means "the mighty one who strikes". Perun thus roughly corresponds to the North Germanic Thor in his function and was especially revered by the common people.
Perun's attributes are, besides the iris, the oak and the axe, which symbolizes the
descending lightning. Therefore, in the archaeological context in the West Slavic area and among the Rus, miniature axes are often found, which roughly correspond in meaning to the Thor's hammer.
In 980 AD, Prince Vladimir I had a
wooden stele of the god Perun with a silver head and golden beard erected in Kiev. At the same time, another image of Perun was erected in Novgorod. However, both statues of the god were destroyed as early as 988/989 in the course of Christianisation.
Even human sacrifices are said to have been offered to Perun. In 983, two
Christian Varangians are said to have been sacrificed by the Russians because they had insulted the images of the gods.