This amazing Viking treasure was revealed in 1873 after flooding on the German island of Hiddensee on the Baltic Sea. It is believed to have been created in the late Viking Age (10th century) possibly for the Danish King Harald Bluetooth. It was all pure gold and weighs about 600 grams.

The center piece in the above photo is a fibula (brooch) and contains imagery of both Viking and Christian symbols. Scandinavian metalsmiths were renowned for their skill, and the detail of twisting gold represents snakes or dragons.

Imagery on the pendants combined an eagle or owl head almost forming a Thor-like hammer followed by Greek-Byzantine influenced crosses.

Also found was a neck ring or armlet of braided gold.

The above photos are a replica traveling as part of Vikings: Beyond the Legend. You can see the original at the Stralsund Museum of Cultural History in Germany or another replica on the island of Hiddensee.

Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.

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