Editing Hammer (section)

==Symbolism==
[[File:Tampere.vaakuna.svg|thumb|upright|A T-shaped hammer in the upper left corner of the coat of arms of [[Tampere]]]]
The hammer, being one of the most used tools by [[Homo sapiens|man]], has been used very much in symbols such as [[flag]]s and [[heraldry]]. In the Middle Ages, it was used often in blacksmith guild logos, as well as in many family symbols. The [[hammer and pick]] are used as a symbol of mining.

In mythology, the gods [[Thor]] ([[Norse mythology|Norse]]) and [[Sucellus]] ([[Ancient Celtic religion|Celtic]] and [[Gallo-Roman religion|Gallo-Roman]]), and the hero [[Hercules]] ([[Greek mythology|Greek]]), all had hammers that appear in their lore and carried different meanings. Thor, the god of thunder and lightning, wields a hammer named [[Mjölnir]]. Many artifacts of decorative hammers have been found, leading modern practitioners of this religion to often wear reproductions as a sign of their faith.

In [[Folklore of the United States|American folklore]], the hammer of [[John Henry (folklore)|John Henry]] represents the strength and endurance of a man.

A political party in Singapore, [[Workers' Party (Singapore)|Workers' Party of Singapore]], based their logo on a hammer to symbolize the party's [[civic nationalism]] and [[social democracy]] ideology.

A variant, well-known symbol with a hammer in it is the [[hammer and sickle]], which was the symbol of the former [[Soviet Union]] and is strongly linked to [[communism]] and early [[socialism]].  The hammer in this symbol represents the industrial working class (and the sickle represents the agricultural working class). The hammer is used in some coats of arms in former socialist countries like [[East Germany]]. Similarly, the Hammer and Sword symbolizes [[Strasserism]], a strand of [[Nazism]] seeking to appeal to the working class. Another variant of the symbol was used for the North Korean party, [[Workers' Party of Korea]], incorporated with an [[ink brush]] on the middle, which symbolizes both [[Juche]] and [[Songun]] ideologies.

In [[Pink Floyd – The Wall]], two hammers crossed are used as a symbol for the fascist takeover of the concert during "[[In the Flesh (Pink Floyd song)|In the Flesh]]". This also has the meaning of the hammer beating down any "nails" that stick out.

The [[gavel]], a small wooden mallet, is used to symbolize a mandate to preside over a meeting or judicial proceeding, and a graphic image of one is used as a symbol of legislative or judicial decision-making authority.

[[Judah Maccabee]] was nicknamed "The Hammer", possibly in recognition of his ferocity in battle. The name "Maccabee" may derive from the [[Aramaic]] ''maqqaba''. (see {{section link|Judah Maccabee|Origin of Name "The Hammer"}}.)

The hammer in the song "[[If I Had a Hammer]]" represents a relentless message of justice broadcast across the land. The song became a symbol of the [[civil rights movement]].