Ukonvasara
Ukonvasara or Ukonkirves is the symbol and magical weapon of the Finnish thunder god Ukko, and was similar to Thor's Mjolnir. Ukonvasara means hammer of Ukko; similarly, Ukonirves means axe of Ukko. With Ukonvasara, it was said that Ukko created lightning. Pagan Finns sometimes carry hammer or axe pendants around their necks much like Christians sometimes wear a cross.
Ukko's hammer was probably originally a boat-shaped stone axe. When stone tools were abandoned with the advent of metalworking, the origins of stone-weapons became a mystery. Stone axes, so-called thunderstones (called Ukonvaaja in Finnish), were found on ground, especially after a drenching rain that removed some dirt. They were believed to be weapons of Ukko, stone heads of the striking lightning. Shamans collected and held stone-axes because they were believed to hold the power to both heal and damage.
