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The Eye of Tyr is a necklace bearing a prominent gem whose origins date back to 11th century Scandinavia. Discovery Shortly after World War I, a group of American and Danish archeologists discovered the Eye of Tyr during an expedition to a the Faroe Islands off of the coast of Northern Europe. A fancy tomb was found carved into the rock-covered hillside at the foot of the shore. Agricultural implements as well as early military weapons were found which were from 11th century Scandinavia. However, the most significant discovery in the tomb was a necklace featuring a large gemstone (eventually classified as an example of Garnet Malaya, a precious stone found only at the basin of the Umba River in Tanzania) that was strung on a baroque chain forged from silver ore, most likely from the Kongsberg ore deposit in nearby Norway. Despite carvings on the wall of the grave offering no clues as to the identity of who was buried there, they did clearly identify the necklace by the name "Eye of Tyr". History The Eye of Tyr, named after Týr the Norse god of combat and war, is frequently cited in ancient Viking manuscripts. For a long time, the Eye was assumed to be simply a legend of mythology. Its exact origins are still unknown. Considering that there is no documentation of Viking exploration farther south than the Mediterranean Sea, scientists and scholars have not yet provided an explanation as to how this gem went from being in a remote location in East Africa all the way to Northern Scandinavia. The necklace was held for several years in a private collection, but it was stolen during the mid-1980s and it is assumed that the thief smuggled it out of Europe. It reappeared at a 1990 auction and has changed hands among private collectors multiple times since then. It is not known where the Eye is currently located. Several archaeological groups and media personalities have expressed interest in examining, or purchasing, the Eye of Tyr if it resurfaces, particularly an attorney and talk radio host in Utah. Power According to Norse folklore, the Eye gave unique powers to whoever possessed it. These powers, believed to have been a gift from Tyr himself, enabled the possessor of the Eye to "control" another individual merely by touching the stone to the forehead (hence, "the third eye"). See Also *Anachronism *Norse Mythology *Pseudoarchaeology *Out-of-place artifact
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