Freja Amulet Pendant 925s Sterling Silver

Beautiful and truly detailed pendant made of 925s Sterling Silver!

This fantastic piece of jewelry was found in Tissø in West Zealand, and there is disagreement among researchers about whether this jewelry depicts the goddess Freja with a cat's head or a völva with either ritual face paint or a trance-induced grimace.

According to mythology, Freja has a chariot pulled by two cats, so she is often associated with the feminine and warrior animal, which also represents many of the same strengths and abilities that she embodies. However, no other depictions of the Norse gods with the heads of the animals they have have been found, and therefore this interpretation is questionable.

Another suggestion is that the figure on this piece of jewelry is a völva - a kind of shaman or witch. The völvas were highly respected but also feared, as it was believed that they could travel through time, foresee the future, and perform magic.

The völvas are described in Icelandic sagas, and in the 1950s, a grave was found that is believed to belong to a völva. In this grave, among other things, belladonna and fat substances were found, which could have been used as ritual face paint. However, these are toxic, and direct contact with the skin can bring one into a trance-like state.

If these ingredients have been common among völvas, this could also explain the figure's intense facial expression.

This pendant is 40mm high and 30mm wide. The hole for the chain is approximately 3mm in size, and all chains of 3mm and smaller fit this pendant.