This listing includes the gong, a brown gong handle, and a traditional Chinese gong mallet.

Note: Each of these gongs is unique. Once each one has sold, we won't have another one exactly like it. Each gong was specially chosen for its great sound. The design is done by hand by our in-house artists using one of our 14" Atlantis Wind Gongs. The etching takes a great deal of time and patience. This gong is special and full of wisdom.

Unlimited 14" Helm of Awe Gong (#IPI284)

Contrary to the way they are commonly presented in media, the peoples of Viking Age Scandinavia were not all barbarians and berserkers. Most were in fact farmers, fishers, garment makers, and the like. And among those honest workers were great poets, astrologers, storytellers, shamans, and mystics. unfortunately, little of their wisdom survived to the modern era. But most of what has is collected in The Poetic Edda, as well as in the traditions of the later medieval Norse peoples.

The Ægishjálmr (In English, The Frightener's Helmet) is mentioned in the poem Fáfnismál, likely composed around 800-1000 AD. In the tale, a man named Fáfnir murders his father to obtain his wealth and his magical ring. Fáfnir then shapeshifted into a dragon to guard his hoard. The ring's magic allowed the wearer to locate treasure, but it was cursed, and all who greedily used its power were doomed to misfortune. Fáfnir is later slain by the hero Sigurðr of the legendary Völsung family. The Frightener's Helmet is referenced by Fáfnir in the poem before his death:

"Fáfnir spoke: ‘I carried the frightener’s helmet among men while I laid upon my treasures. I thought myself stronger than all, a fiercer man I never found."

-Fáfnismál, Stanza 16

The symbol on this gong represents the Helm, and was used as part of syncretic rituals, where Pagan mysticism and Christian beliefs married together. In the historical record, it appears in the Late Medieval Period, long after the Christianity had reached the Nordic Realm, but before paganism had been lost. A time when Catholic Priests and Seiðr Völvas both occupied the frozen North. (Völvas are Seiðr sorceresses, get your mind out of the gutter!) Attested in manuscripts and books of magic in the 1500s AD, the symbol is said to cure wrath, end conflict, and protect against greed.

Add this honorable gong to your sound healing toolkit to dauntlessly smite wrath and greed the Viking way!

Item Specifications:
Diameter: 13.75" / 35 cm
Approximate Weight: 3 lbs 3 oz


Bonus Fun Fact: The story of Sigurðr slaying Fáfnir appears as an important cultural tale in many different forms throughout ancient Northern Europe. Most notably, a version of the story appears in the famous Old-English epic, Beowulf. Though Beowulf's rendition attributes the killing of the dragon to Sigurðr’s father, Sigemund.