The important part that Thor played at weddings is also evident from Herröd's and Bose's saga. Here it is told how Thor's "health" (toast) was drunk at the wedding-banquet before that of any other god. Norwegian folklore also relates Thor's presence at certain weddings.
But consecration by the hammer was not confined to brides. When Balder lay on the pyre, Thor consecrated the pyre with Mjöllnir, and on some runic monuments from Scandinavia we read the supplication "May Thor consecrate these runes," or "May Thor hallow these monuments." When there is a hammer figured on a runic stone, it is evident that the monument has been consecrated with the hammer (Fig. 24[1]). Runic monuments of the Christian era have a cross instead of the hammer.
How our Viking ancestors pictured to themselves the hammer of Thor may be gathered from the aforesaid runic monuments, as well as from many small hammer-shaped ornaments made of silver or iron which have been dug up (Figs. 25, 26, and 30). Several of these ornaments have been worn on silver chains, just as Christians used to wear small crosses. The difference between the hammer and the cross was not great. To make a cross it was only necessary to continue the handle on the other side of the hammer.
That the likeness between the hammer and the cross was noticed at a comparatively early date is best shown by Snorre's account in the saga of King Håkon, Athelstan's foster son, about the sacrificial festival at Lade, where Jarl Sigurd was present. King Håkon, though baptized in England had to be present at the heathen festival. When the horn was filled for the first "health," Jarl Sigurd dedicated it to Odin. The king received the horn and made the sign of the cross over it. Then one of the peasants asked,—"Why does the king do like that? Is he still unwilling to offer a sacrifice?" Jarl Sigurd answered,—
- ↑ Runic stone at Stenqvista, Södermanland, Sweden.
