This is the only gold axe (Catalogue number Ts11937) that has been found from the viking age, and was originally covered completely in gold. The ornamentation on the axe is a dragon in Ringerike style.
Did you know that one of the Norse gods was said to carry a golden axe? Forseti, the son of Baldur and Nanna is the Norse god of justice. He lives in a fort called Glitne (shiny) which has silver roofs and gold columns. Both men and gods alike came to him for his advice and justice in difficult cases. Perhaps that is why we in Norway even to this day say that something is done with "forsett" when something bad is done with purpose. In Norway we have a place that retains the name, the farm Forsetlund in the Eastern part of the country. Forseti was also known to the Frisians. The President of Iceland is called Forseti Íslands.
The axe was most likely crafted in Norway and it has been dated till around year 1000. It was found in Botnhamn, Norway in the 1930's. It was a symbol of wealth and power.
A great silver treasure was also found nearby, perhaps the two finds are connected.
