Giant Hrungnir Who Lost The Race And Engaged In A Deadly Duel With Mighty Thor In Norse Mythology

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - In Norse mythology, Thor is a god who protects the Aesir gods and humans from giants and monsters. Thor fights with his main enemy, the serpent of Midgard, and other fearful giants of Jötunheimr, with whom he shares their strength and courage. Without his help, they are almost defenseless.

Thor's duel with Hrungnir. Ludwig Pietsch (1824-1911) - Reusch, Rudolf Friedrich. 1865. Die nordischen Göttersagen. Credit: Public Domain

One of them is Hrungnir, a giant from Jotunheim. Snorri Sturluson tells his story in Skáldskaparmál, the Prose Edda.

How Did Hrungnir Lose His Life?

He was killed by the god Thor with his mighty hammer, Mjölnir, but before it happened, Hrungnir met Odin, the All-Father of Nordic Gods. One day, Odin went to Jötunheimr, accompanied by his miraculous eight-legged horse, Sleipnir. He arrived at the hall of Hrungnir, the strongest of all the giants. At once, Hrungnir was delighted with the stranger's brilliant steed.

'Who are you?' Hrungnir asked, and when Odin did not answer, Hrungnir continued:

'I've been watching. I saw you coming, your gold helmet flashing under the sun. You seemed to be riding as much through the air as on the ground.' 'That's an uncommonly fine horse you've got there.'

'Better than any in Jotunheim,' retorted Odin. 'That's for sure.'

'That's what you think,' replied Hrungnir.

'That's what I know,' said Odin.

At once, Hrungnir proposed a race, declaring that his steed, Gullfaxi (golden-maned), could rival Sleipnir in speed. The race started, and the two competitors and their horses raced across the gigantic flatlands but neither gained ground on the other; then they ran across the uplands, and Hrungnir - fully occupied with the chase - did not notice the direction in which they were going. They crossed the nineteen rivers, and suddenly, the giant Hruingnir found himself inside the walls of Asgard. At this moment, he knew who his competitor was.

'You must be thirsty after such exertion,' Odin said. 'Let Gold Mane drink from this torrent, Thund. And you, Hrungnir, come and drink in Valhalla.'

In Asgard's banqueting halls, the heavenly mead was set before Hrungnir. He was soon so intoxicated and excited that he began to boast of his power, declaring he would one day destroy Asgard, kill all the gods, and abduct Freya and Sif.

It was agreed that Thor and Hrungnir would fight in a duel and meet at Griottunagard ('Place of Stones') in Jottunheim.

Thor would fight accompanied by his human servant Thialfi, so the giants—fearing Thor's power before the duel—constructed a creature of clay nine leagues tall (about nine miles) long and proportionately broad, whom they called Mokkurkalfi.

Mokkurkalfi was easily defeated by Thjalfi, who attacked the creature with a spade. Then, Thor momentarily attacked Hrungnir's head with his magical hammer. The giant had no shield to parry the blow, so he covered himself with his stone club. The club vibrated and broke into pieces that flew all over the place. One of the pieces seriously injured Thor, sinking deep into Thor's forehead.

The hammer killed Hrungnir, but his falling body fell over Thor, leaving the god buried under the giant's gigantic legs. Thjalfi went to Asgard and brought all the gods to help. Even their combined strength was not enough to pull the giant's foot off Thor's throat.

Happily, Magni, Thor's infant son with the giantess Jarnsaxa, was passing by and quickly lifted the foot, freeing his father.

Back in Asgard, the sorceress Groa was called upon to remove Hrungnir's whetstone from Thor's forehead using her powerful enchantments. At first, Groa cured

Thor's headache, and she continued her treatment. Thor was so relieved that he wanted to make Groa happy. He told her that he had rescued her lost husband, Aurvandil, and carried him across the poisonous stream Elivagar.

Now Aurvandil was safe and waiting for Groa. Groa was so happy at the news that she had run from the hall. In her excitement, she forgot to cast a magic spell that would remove the stone from Thor's head.

Updated on November 1, 2022

Written by A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

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