Money in Scandinavian tradition and the Eddas

In Norse mythology, as reported in the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda (13th century, compiled by Snorri Sturluson), silver occupies a subtle and essential place in the symbolic universe of gods and kings.

Gold embodies sunlight, dazzling wealth, and visible royalty.

Silver, on the other hand, represents inner nobility , purity, wisdom, loyalty, and reflected light, that of the moon rather than that of the sun.

A symbol of clarity and loyalty

Among the ancient Scandinavians, silver was considered the metal of truth and sacred bonds . It was used to strike oath rings, which warriors swore never to betray.

These rings, often made of solid silver, symbolized clan loyalty and keeping one's word , fundamental values in Nordic societies.

It was said that a man "carried pure silver" when he lived according to honor, transparency, and keeping his word.
Conversely, breaking an oath was like “tarnishing one’s silver”... a very telling metaphor for moral oxidation.

Silver, the metal of artisanal nobility

In the Eddas, the Dwarves (the mythical blacksmiths) are described as the guardians of precious metals. They work in the bowels of the Earth, forging the weapons and jewels of the gods: Thor's hammer ( Mjölnir ), Odin's spear ( Gungnir ), Freyja's necklace ( Brísingamen ).

In this context, silver is linked to the art of shaping , to the controlled transformation of matter , and to manual intelligence , qualities that the gods themselves respected.

This is why in medieval Scandinavia, offering a silver jewel or cup was an act of recognition of the value and rank of the recipient.

Lunar and feminine metal

In the Eddic poems, silver is linked to the Moon, just as gold is linked to the Sun.

The goddess Sól drives the solar chariot, while her brother Máni guides the Moon, described by poets as “silver and silent”.

Thus, in Nordic thought, silver represents reflected light, calm after battle, and wisdom that tempers strength.
It is the symbol of benevolent gods, just alliances, and cycles of rebirth.

Heritage and transmission

Archaeologically, discoveries in Viking tombs confirm this special status: elite warriors, chiefs and high-ranking women were buried with solid silver objects: fibulae, rings, necklaces or engraved utensils.

These objects were signs of wealth, but also marks of honor and continuity.

Silver linked the living to the ancestors: it does not corrupt, it acquires a patina, like memory.

It is precisely because of this ability to transcend centuries without losing its value or symbolism that sterling silver is at the heart of Honu Creations. They are designed to connect generations and carry within them the memory of the gesture and its meaning.

More than a jewel, it's part of our DNA.