The Eyrarland Statue is a bronze statue of a sitting figure, measuring 6.7 cm in height, dating back to around 1000 AD. It was discovered and restored on the Eyrarland farm in Akureyri, Iceland, and is currently on display at the National Museum of Iceland. The identity of the figure depicted in the statue is a subject of debate, as it could represent the Scandinavian god Thor or possibly be associated with a game.
The statue was found either in 1815 or 1816 on one of two farms called Eyrarland near Akureyri.
If the statue indeed represents Thor, it portrays him holding his hammer, Mjöllnir, which is depicted in a typical Icelandic cross shape. Some scholars have suggested that the statue may be connected to a scene from the Poetic Edda's poem "Þrymskviða," in which Thor retrieves his hammer while seated, grasping it with both hands during a wedding ceremony. Another theory, proposed by archaeologist Christian Eldjarne, suggests that the statue could be the central piece of a Hnefatafl (a Viking board game) set. This theory is based on its resemblance to a smaller whale mustache figure found in Baldur heimura, along with black and white gaming pieces and a die.
