The Odin figurine and its association with various artifacts from the 6th to 7th centuries provide intriguing insights into the identification of this important Norse deity. One key element in identifying Odin is the discovery of four cast bronze stamps at Torslund in 1870. Recent examination of these stamps has revealed a fascinating detail: one of them depicts a dancing naked warrior carrying a helmet with horns, which end in two birds of prey. Originally, the dancer on the die had two eyes, but one of them was removed during its fabrication.
This motif is not unique and appears on several other artifacts as well. An identical motif can be found on the helmet of Sutton Hoo. However, the warriors on the Sutton Hoo helmet are dressed differently from those on the helmet plates from Walsgarde 7 and 8, which were discovered in Sweden.
A third depiction of this motif is found on the buckle of Finglesham, which dates back to the 6th century and originates from an early Anglo-Saxon burial ground. In this depiction, the dancer is depicted as nude.
A fourth version of this motif is seen on the Eckhammer pendant from Kungsengen in Uppland, which is now housed in the Swedish National Museum of History. A fifth version, slightly different from those found in Birka and Uppåkra, was discovered in Staraya Ladoga in Russia and dates to the 8th century.
A particularly intriguing discovery is an amulet found on Gotland, which is almost identical to the one from Uppåkra. It measures approximately 4 cm and is made of an alloy of silver and bronze. Archaeologist Dan Karlsson from Gotland tentatively dates it to the period between the 6th and 7th centuries. The presence of holes drilled in its sides suggests that it may have been used as an amulet, further highlighting the significance of this motif in the context of Norse culture and belief systems.