Thor: Brave And Mighty Thunder God In Norse Mythology
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Thor was a very popular deity, particularly in Iceland and the western part of Norway; several complex rituals related to him existed, and when Christianity began to spread in these parts of Europe, it was not easy to eliminate the deep roots of rituals and the cult of Thor.
Photo of the original Thor's hammer in silver found somewhere in Skåne, Sweden, that belonged to a collecton owned by the baron Claes Kurck. Unreliable sources says that the hammer was found in Kabbarp near Staffanstorp in Skåne, Sweden. Photo cropped from the original. SHM 9822:810. Image credit: Ola Myrin, Statens historiska museum/SHM - CC BY 4.0
Thor (called ‘Asa-Thor’ or ‘Ouka Thor’) was a brave and righteous God who mastered storms and lightning, fought giants threatening him, and upheld the world's order.
Thor’s hammer was frequently depicted on boundary stones, carved on gravestones, laid in the bride’s lap at weddings, or raised over a newborn child.
The Viking people possessed silver hammer amulets, miniature hammers designed to be worn as pendants that symbolized their veneration of Thor, the most powerful of the gods and guardian of those who farmed the land.
This protective aspect of Thor is mentioned in Snorri Sturluson’s tales in the ‘Prose Edda’ and in the same way described by the German chronicler Adam of Bremen, who lived and worked during the 11th century.
On the wagon drawn by two goats (Tanngniostr and Tanngrisnir), or just walking, Thor entered Jötunheimr, the home of the fearful giants, armed with his beloved hammer, Mjölnir, iron gloves, a magic belt called ‘Megingiard’ and a mighty magical iron staff Gríðarvölr, so he could kill the giant Geirröd.
He spread destruction and death in Jötunheimr because his most important duty was to protect Asgard against the giants. This formidable weapon could crush everything in its way and, afterward, immediately return to his hand.
Considered invincible, Thor liked to chase giants and demons and kill them with Mjölnir, but this strong and brave god was vulnerable without his hammer, stolen one day by the giants, persistent enemies of the gods.
He had two palaces in Asgard: Thrudheim ("World of strength" in Old Norse) and Bilskirnir (Old Norse "lightning-crack"), the largest building of Asgard with 540 chambers, where he lived with his family. That is the greatest house known to men, according to Snorri’s Edda.
Thor’s widespread popularity has been demonstrated in many ways, especially since his name was popularized abroad by the Vikings, who gave names to their settlements often related to ‘Thor.’
Jakob Sigurðsson - 18th century Icelandic manuscript SÁM 66 - Public Domain
Especially, Iceland has many harbors and headlands with Thor-related names like Thorsness and Thorshofn. In Denmark, there is a town known as Thorsager (Danish for "Thor's Acre" a reference to the Norse god Thor.) Popular, are also Nordic names Thor, Thorgrim, Thorsten. ‘Thursday’ is named after this great god, and Torsdag (in Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish ) is named after god Thor - in English ‘Thursday.
Credit: Adobe Stock - David
Carvings in places as far apart as Altuna in Sweden and Gosforth, England, illustrate Thor’s deeds; legends tell about his encounters with the world’s serpent Midgardsorm. One recounts how Thor went fishing and baited his hook with the head of an ox and managed to catch the serpent on his line.
Written by – A. Sutherland AncientPages.com Staff Writer
Updated on May 19, 2024
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesMore From Ancient Pages
-
Did Richard The Lionheart Order Assassins To Kill Conrad Of Montferrat, King Of Jerusalem?
Featured Stories | Dec 27, 2018
-
On This Day In History: The U.K.’s First Murder Case Solved By A Fingerprint – On March 27, 1905
News | Mar 27, 2017
-
A 2,700-Year-Old Urartians’ Ayanis Castle And Haldi Temple – Soon An Open-Air Museum
Archaeology | Aug 10, 2020
-
2,000-years-old tomb found in S. China
Archaeology | Apr 6, 2016
-
Ancient Seal Found In The City Of David: Evidence Of Bethlehem’s Existence Long Before Jesus Was Born
Archaeology | May 24, 2012
-
Huge 36-Million-Year-Old Skull Of Fearsome Marine Monster Discovered In Peru
Fossils | Mar 21, 2022
-
Hidden Mega-Monument Discovered At Laona, An Ancient Burial Mound In Cyprus
Archaeology | Aug 15, 2022
-
6 Ancient Minorities That Intrigue Scientists
Civilizations | Apr 26, 2024
-
Great Ruins of Zimbabwe: Unsolved Secrets Of Bizarre Buildings Without Windows And Doors
Civilizations | Jun 24, 2015
-
Immortal Mimi Spirits In Beliefs Of Aborigines Of Arnhem Land
Featured Stories | Mar 26, 2020
-
Knowledge Of Divine Alien Beings And High-Tech In Ancient Egypt Described In Sacred Books And Papyrus – Reincarnation, Cloaking Technology And Space Travel – Part 2
Featured Stories | May 16, 2021
-
Skull Of Biblical Giant Goliath Is Buried On The Hill Golgotha In Jerusalem – New Claim
Archaeology | Nov 7, 2019
-
Ancient Disc-Shaped Copper Ingots Found In Shipwreck At Bulgaria’s Sea Coast
Archaeology | Apr 28, 2020
-
Secrets Of Viking Age Shields Finally Revealed
Civilizations | Oct 7, 2020
-
On This Day In History: Roman Emperor Trajan Was Born In Spain – On Sep 18, 53 AD
News | Sep 18, 2016
-
Enigmatic 2,000 -Years-Old Carved Stone Owl Pipes – An Ancient Unsolved Secret Of Illinois
Artifacts | Oct 4, 2018
-
Thoth: Ancient Egypt’s Most Mysterious, Highly Venerated God Of Knowledge And Writing
Egyptian Mythology | May 24, 2017
-
Cernunnos ‘Horned One’ – Powerful Continental God Preserved In Celtic Beliefs As Master Of Animals
Celtic Mythology | Dec 18, 2018
-
Siberian Shigir Idol With Seven Faces Is The World’s Oldest Wooden Sculpture
Archaeology | Sep 1, 2015
-
Rare Fossil Of A Dog-Sized Horned Dinosaur From ‘Lost Continent’ Identified By British Scientist
Archaeology | Dec 5, 2015