MMythWeaveNorse Mythology Library
Deity

Thor

One of the strongest gods, holder of Mjolnir and the centre of later giant-world tests.

Norse Lichen iron editorial illustration of Thor for the atlas detail view.
MythWeave AI-generated editorial illustration, Norse portrait v1 full approved batch

Overview

Thor is called strongest of gods and men in Gylfaginning 21, with Mjolnir, the strength-belt and iron gloves. This story first places his force within divine order; the fishing episode, stolen hammer and other giant-world tests belong to the Thor story.

Key facts

Strongest god

Chapter 21 calls Thor strongest of all gods and men.

Holder of Mjolnir

Both that chapter and Skaldskaparmal 35 place Mjolnir in Thor’s hands.

Relationships

  • Mjolnirholds

    Gylfaginning 21 and Skaldskaparmal 35 both place Mjolnir in Thor’s hands.

  • Heimdallproposes disguise

    Heimdall proposes that Thor wear the bridal veil and appear as Freyja.

  • Brisingamenuses in disguise

    The disguise plan has Thor wear Brisingamen on the way to Jotunheim.

  • Mjolnirrecovers

    When Mjolnir is brought to hallow the bride, Thor recovers the hammer.

  • Thrymkills

    After recovering Mjolnir, Thor kills Thrym first.

  • Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjostrdraw chariot

    The two goats draw Thor’s chariot.

  • Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjostrhallows and revives

    Thor hallows the goat-skins and bones with Mjolnir, reviving the goats.

  • Thialfitakes as servant

    Thor takes Thialfi as a servant.

  • Roskvatakes as servant

    Thor also takes Roskva with him.

  • Skrymirdeceives through scale

    Skrymir makes Thor’s hammer blows seem ineffective, until they are revealed as valleys.

  • Utgarda-Loki's Testsmeasures limits

    The tests place Thor against disguised cosmic forces: the sea, Jormungandr and old age.

  • Elliwrestles

    Thor wrestles Elli, later revealed as old age.

  • Jormungandrlifts cat illusion

    The cat Thor tries to lift is actually Jormungandr encircling the world.

  • Hymirfishes with

    Hymir goes out to sea with Thor.

  • Baldr's Funeralhallows the pyre

    Thor hallows Baldr’s pyre with Mjolnir.

  • Lokicatches

    Thor catches Loki in the river after Loki takes salmon form.

  • Jormungandrkills the serpent

    Thor kills Jormungandr.

  • Jormungandrkills by venom

    After killing the serpent, Thor walks only nine paces before dying from its venom.

  • Sifmarried to

    Skaldskaparmal calls Sif the wife of Thor.

  • Ullrstepfather of

    Skaldskaparmal’s periphrases call Ullr the stepson of Thor.

  • Giant Master Builderkills the builder

    Thor kills the builder, now revealed as a giant, with Mjolnir.

  • Hrungnirchallenges to duel

    After Thor returns to Asgard, Hrungnir agrees to duel him.

  • Hrungnirkills

    Thor strikes Hrungnir with Mjolnir and ends the duel.

  • Gridrlends protective gear

    Gridr warns Thor of Geirrod's danger and lends the Girdle of Might, iron gloves and her staff.

  • Gjalpattacks with the chair trap

    Gjalp and Greip hide beneath Thor's chair and make it rise toward the roof.

  • Greipjoins the chair trap

    Greip joins Gjalp beneath the chair to attack Thor.

  • Geirrodkills with heated iron

    When Geirrod throws a glowing iron bar, Thor catches it in iron gloves and drives it through the giant, iron pillar and wall.

  • Lokithreatens with Mjollnir

    Thor repeatedly threatens Loki with Mjollnir.

  • Ægirasks to bring a kettle

    Ægir needs a great kettle for the gods’ feast.

  • Tyrguides toward Hymir

    Tyr tells Thor where Hymir’s great kettle can be found.

  • Elivagartravels east of Elivagar

    Thor and Tyr leave Asgard eastward toward Hymir’s dwelling.

  • Hymirreceives in his hall

    Thor reaches Hymir’s hall and later eats at his table.

  • Hymireats two oxen of

    Thor eats two of Hymir’s oxen.

  • Hymirsends for bait

    Hymir tells Thor to seek bait from the herd.

  • Black Ox Headprepares bait with an ox head

    Thor breaks off a black ox’s head and horns for sea bait.

  • Hymirrows to sea with

    Hymir takes Thor to sea, while Thor asks to row farther.

  • Jormungandrhooks with an ox head

    Thor uses the ox head to pull the world-serpent to the boat and strike it with his hammer.

  • Hymircarries the boat home for

    After Hymir asks for shared work, Thor carries the boat, oars, and bailer home.

  • Hymirtests strength with a cup

    Hymir says only one who breaks the cup counts as strong.

  • Hymir’s Cupbreaks the cup

    Following the advice, Thor throws the cup against Hymir’s head and it breaks.

  • Hymir’s Cauldroncarries away

    Tyr cannot move the kettle, so Thor lifts it on his head and carries it away.

  • Hymirpursues with a host

    Hymir leads a many-headed host after Thor once he has the kettle.

  • Many-Headed Pursuerskills with Mjollnir

    Thor wields Mjollnir and kills the pursuing many-headed group.

  • Ægirbrings the kettle to

    Thor brings Hymir’s kettle to the gods’ council, enabling Ægir’s feast.

  • Thrudtraditionally identified as father

    Thor says the bride’s father has first right; editorial tradition identifies the unnamed bride as Thrud.

  • Alvisrefuses direct consent

    Thor says a promise made in his absence cannot give Alvis the bride.

  • Alvissets a knowledge test

    Thor turns marriage into a condition: Alvis must name things across the worlds.

  • Harbardasks for passage

    Thor asks the ferryman on the far bank to take him across the sound.

  • Harbardrefuses him passage

    Harbard does not bring the boat and refuses to let Thor cross.

  • Harbardmocks his dress and plight

    Harbard ridicules Thor’s dress, hunger, and predicament.

  • Harbardnames himself Odin’s son

    Thor tells the ferryman that he is Odin’s son.

  • Harbardcalls himself Harbard

    The ferryman names himself only as Harbard.

  • Harbardanswers with exploits

    Thor answers Harbard’s contempt with his own exploits.

  • Harbardclaims to stir wars

    Harbard claims to have stirred wars among rulers; it is his boast across the sound.

  • Harbardtaunts him with a glove

    Harbard uses the glove episode to taunt Thor.

  • Harbardthreatens the ferryman

    Thor answers Harbard’s mockery with a threat.

  • Harbardtaunts him about Sif

    Harbard says Sif has a lover, and Thor calls the claim a lie to his face.

  • Harbarddirects him to a long land route

    After refusing passage, Harbard directs Thor only to a long overland route.

  • Mjolnirfinds missing

    finds missing

  • Brisingamenwears Brisingamen

    wears Brisingamen

  • Lokiaccompanies as serving-maid

    accompanies as serving-maid

Story appearances

Ancient sources

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

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