Thor
Thor is the Norse god of thunder, known for his strength and his hammer, Mjolnir. A son of Odin, he defends gods and humans against giants. His stories mix courage, quick anger, and comedy, often showing that great strength cannot solve every problem.
Key stories of Thor
The stolen hammer
The giant Thrym steals Thor’s hammer and demands Freya as his bride. Thor dresses as the bride, with Loki beside him, to recover it.
In The Poetic Edda, Thor nearly gives himself away by eating and drinking hugely at the wedding feast. Once the hammer is brought out to bless the bride, he seizes it and attacks the giants.
In The Poetic Edda by Anonymous
The fishing trip
Thor fishes with the giant Hymir, using an ox’s head to hook the world-serpent. Hymir cuts the line as Thor prepares to strike, and Thor throws his hammer after the escaping serpent.
In The Prose Edda, Snorri Sturluson reports that some say Thor’s thrown hammer strikes off the serpent’s head, but he himself maintains that the serpent remains alive. The account therefore leaves the hammer’s effect disputed.
In The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson
The tests at Utgard
Thor visits a giant’s stronghold and fails at apparently simple contests. He later learns that magic disguised opponents far beyond ordinary strength.
In The Prose Edda, Thor cannot empty a drinking horn, lift a cat fully, or defeat an old woman at wrestling. The horn connects to the sea, the cat is the world-serpent, and the woman is old age.
In The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson
The last battle
At Ragnarok, Thor faces the world-serpent again. In the most common version, he kills it but dies from its poison soon afterwards.
In The Poetic Edda, the seeress describes Thor’s final victory over the serpent and his death as part of the destruction of the gods’ world.
In The Poetic Edda by Anonymous
How to recognise Thor in stories
- Look for a mighty hammer that returns to its owner.
- Notice thunder, a goat-drawn chariot, and battles with giants.
- Watch for a strong defender whose anger or confidence invites a trick.
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Is Thor the same as Zeus?
Thor and Zeus are different gods who both have links with storms. Thor belongs to Norse tradition and usually fights with a hammer. Zeus belongs to Greek tradition, rules the gods, and wields the thunderbolt. Odin, rather than Thor, leads the Norse gods.
Are Thor and Loki brothers?
Thor and Loki are not brothers in the surviving Norse myths. Thor is Odin’s son, while Loki has a different parentage and an uneasy place among the gods. In The Prose Edda, Loki sometimes travels with Thor, helping him out of trouble or helping cause it.
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