Gold pendant shaped the oldest Jesus in Denmark

Small gold pendant imitating a man with wide arms - God image on the cross - is the oldest cross symbol in Denmark.

The oldest cross-shaped pendant in Denmark.(Photo: Viking Museum)

Dating back to the first half of the 900s (10th century), the pendant gives new researchers a knowledge of Christianity in Denmark, according to a specialist at the Viking Museum in Ladby.

" It is older than the ancient Rune stone carving of King Harald Bluetooth in Jelling, " said the museum representative. The stone in Jelling town bears a humanoid cross, to commemorate King Harald Bluetooth's Christianity. So far, the massive stone born in 965 is still thought to be the first illustration of Jesus in the first cross in Denmark.

Illustrating the most famous religious symbol in Christianity, the newly discovered cross pendant indicates that the Danes followed Christianity earlier than previously estimated. This precious object was discovered by Dennis Fabricius Holm with a metal detector in the field around a church in Aunslev village, in the Danish island of Funen. "It is a blessing that this small jewelry can last for 1,100 years in the ground, " the museum representative said.

The pendant is 4cm tall and weighs 13g. While the back is very smooth, the front is made of delicate gold thread and extremely small gold pieces. At the top of the pendant there is a small hole to pierce through. The cross looked very much like a gold-plated silver cross found in 1879 in Birka, near Stockhom, Sweden, in the tomb of a Viking woman, according to the museum representative.

" It may be worn by a Viking woman, but we have not been able to identify the owner of the cross who is a Viking who is Christian or an outsider, " the museum representative said.