Gold disc found in Norse treasure pile is oldest-known reference to Odin, experts say

A hoard of Norse treasure was discovered at the Viking site of Jelling, in the western region of Denmark.

Found in 2021, it included 23 pieces of goldwork, some with inscriptions, and was named the Vindelev Hoard.

And the find has surprising implications for the history of Norse mythology.

In a statement from the National Museum of Denmark on March 8, experts have revealed what those history-making inscriptions said.

One of the gold bracteates, a type of ornamental disc or pendant, was inscribed with the words “He is Odin’s man” in part of a sentence. It was in reference to the unknown king or man that was seen on the disc.