World of Myth
ThorThor Fast Facts
Thor from the 18th-century Icelandic manuscript SÁM 66 | Jakob Sigurðsson. (Creative Commons)
Domain: Thor’s domain is storms, fertility and resurrection (through Mjollnir).
Type of Being: Aesir (the race of the gods)
Powers: Thunder, storms, and rainfall
Place: Thor’s realm was Thrudheim. His hall was Bilskirnir (Lightning), which had 540 rooms; Thor loved to feast and entertain.
Associated Animals: Two billy goats, Tanngniost and Tanngrisnir
Appearance: Red bearded, middle aged man riding a chariot pulled by two billy goats Tanngniost and Tanngrisnir
Significant Items: Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer and weapon, Megingjardir, Thor’s iron gloves to crush rocks
Primary Texts: Thrymskvitha and Hymiskvitha in the Poetic Edda, and the Prose Edda
Thor Student Research
Conflict (internal & external), etc.
In the story of Thor hooking Jörmungandr with Hrymr’s ox-head, he has been in hiding as a human after being tricked by Loki. This may explain why Thor so adamantly held onto his line.
What do they represent/explain?
“For this reason it is forbidden to throw a flint-stone across the floor, for then the stone in Thor’s head is moved.”
Be careful with fire because of Thor’s head
Alternative Names & Translations
Thor is the basis for Thursday
Þórr (Thor) – Thunderer
Thunaer
Thunor
–Norse Mythology A to Z
Select Thor Myths
Thor’s Journey to Utgard
When traveling with Loke, Thjalfe and Roskva, Thor and his companions stayed in the great hall of Utgard-Loke (a giant) and competed in feats of strength and skill but they were deceived with illusions by Utgard-Loke. Loke was competing in an eating contest, but he was actually competing against a wildfire which consumed the food and the trough holding it. When Thor drank from the horn but was unable to finish because one end of the horn was in the sea. Thor drank so much that he lowered the level of the sea, which is what caused the ebb. Thor was challenged to lift Urgard-Loke’s cat, but in reality Thor was lifting Jörmungandr and he raised Jörmungandr so far that his hand nearly reached the heavens. In the final competition, Thor was wrestling Elle, but it was impossible for Thor to win because Elle was old age.
Enraged with the deception, Thor seized Mjollner to strike down Utgard-Loke, but when he turned around Utgard-Loke and his hall had disappeared. Thor turned returned to Thrudvarg, but he resolved to search out Jörmungandr.
Thor tries to lift Jörmungandr in the guise of a cat, 1872. (Creative Commons)
“Ah, what a lovely maid it is!” by Elmer Boyd Smith, 1902. (Creative Commons)
Theft of Mjollner
Thrym, the huge giant king, stole Mjollner and buried it eight miles underground. When confessing his theft to Loki, Thrym demanded Freya as his bride in exchange for returning Mjollner. Gods convened in Asgard to discuss how to get Mjollner back as they were undefended without it. Heimdall suggested that Thor should disguise himself as the bride to meet Thrym. The thought of Thor, with his fiery red beard, dressed as a woman amused the gods, although Thor initially balked at the idea. Eventually, he acquiesced, and allowed the goddesses to adorn him in a lavish bridal ensemble. Dressed in a bridal gown and veil and wearing Freya’s necklace Thor went with Loki as his bridesmaid to Jotunheim.
Thrym eagerly awaited Freya’s arrival, preparing a grand feast in anticipation. He was surprised to see how much “his bride” was eating and drinking. This concerned Thrym and Loki had to quickly invent a story about how “Freya” had been so anxious about meeting her husband that she had been unable to eat or drink for eight days. When Thrym lifted “Freya’s” veil he saw Thor’s burning eyes and once again Loki had to invent a story about how “Freya” had been unable to sleep in addition to not eating and drinking. To bless the marriage in the Norse custom, Thrym had the Mjollner brought to the hall. As soon as Thor had Mjollner, he tore off his veil and began to kill every Giant.
Thor in the Historical Record
Worship of Thor continued for centuries after the coming of Christianity to Scandinavia in the late 900s a.d. The great oak trees of central and western Europe were sacred to the god. Worshipers of Thor made wooden oak chairs with high backs, called “high seats,” to ensure Thor’s blessing on the house (protecting it from lightning) and the well-being and fruitfulness of the family and its lands. As well as bringing thunder and lightning and storms, Thor sent the rain that made the fields fertile.
Resources
Further Reading / Viewing
Norse Sources
Lindow, John. Old Norse Mythology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2021.
Pettit, Edward, ed. The Poetic Edda: A Dual-Language Edition. Cambridge, UK: Open Book Publishers, 2023.
Sturluson, Snorri. The Younger Edda; Also Called Snorre’s Edda, or The Prose Edda. Translated by Rasmus Bjørn Anderson. Chicago: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1901. www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18947/pg18947-images.html.
General Sources
Daly, Kathleen N., and Marian Rengel. Norse Mythology A to Z. 3rd ed. Mythology A to Z. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 2010.
