Thialfi

Overview

Thialfi breaks a goat leg-bone in chapter 44, leaving the revived goat lame; Thor therefore takes him and Roskva. In Utgarda-Loki’s hall he races Hugi, only to learn that he had run against thought.

Key facts

Relationships

• Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjostrbreaks bone

  Thialfi breaks a goat leg-bone, leaving the revived goat lame.

• Thortakes as servant

  Thor takes Thialfi as a servant.

• Hugiraces

  Thialfi races Hugi, later revealed as thought.

• Hrungnirmisleads by counsel

  Thialfi misleads Hrungnir with counsel, causing him to put his shield under his feet.

Story appearances

• Thor and the Giant-World TestsThialfi

  Thialfi takes the marrow and breaks the goat’s leg-bone.

• Oaths, Treasures and Giant AftershocksDuel helper

  Thialfi first changes Hrungnir’s defence in the duel through speech.

Ancient sources

MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.

• Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning chapter 44, Thor’s goats, Thialfi breaks a bone, the goats are revived, and Thialfi and Roskva become Thor’s servants
• Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning chapter 46, Loki, Thialfi and Thor take the eating, running, drinking, cat-lifting and wrestling tests
• Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning chapter 47, Utgarda-Loki reveals Logi as fire, Hugi as thought, the horn as the sea, the cat as Jormungandr and Elli as old age