Thor

Thor is a powerful and well-known god from ancient Norse stories. He is often called the god of thunder because he controls storms and lightning. In old tales, Thor fights monsters and protects people and their farms. He carries a special hammer called Mjölnir, which he uses in many adventures.

People have loved Thor for many hundreds of years. His stories come from old Norse mythology, and he appears in many books and artworks. Thor is important not just in stories but also in everyday life. For example, the day we call Thursday comes from his name. Even today, many people still remember and honor Thor in different ways.

Thor has many friends and family in these stories. His wife is Sif, a beautiful goddess with golden hair, and he has sons who are also strong and brave. He also has a father, Odin, who is the king of the gods. Thor’s battles with big monsters, like a huge snake, are some of the most famous parts of his tales.

Today, Thor is still popular. He appears in many movies, books, and games, and people still learn about him in schools and libraries. Whether through old stories or new films, Thor continues to be a favorite hero for many around the world.

Name

The name Thor comes from old stories and languages. In different old Germanic languages, Thor was known by many names like Donar in Old High German, Þunor in Old English, Thuner in Old Frisian, Thunar in Old Saxon, and Þórr in Old Norse. All these names come from an older shared root meaning 'Thunder'.

The word for Thursday in English comes from old words meaning 'Thor's day'. This shows how important Thor was in old times. People even used Thor's name in their own names, especially during the Viking Age, as a way to show their beliefs.

Historical attestations

The earliest records of the Germanic peoples were written by the Romans. In these writings, Thor is often linked to the Roman god Jupiter or the hero Hercules. This happened because the Romans saw similarities between Thor and these figures. For example, the Roman historian Tacitus described Thor as being like Hercules because of the similarities between Thor’s hammer and Hercules’ club.

Later, during the Viking Age, Thor was a major god. In Sweden, a statue of Thor was placed in a temple alongside statues of other gods. People believed Thor controlled the sky, thunder, lightning, and good weather. He was also seen as a protector who could bring fertility to the land. Thor was honored through sacrifices, especially when there were threats like plagues or famines.

Archaeological record

Hammer pendants, hammer coins, and Eyrarland Statue

Main article: Mjölnir § Archaeological_record

Many pieces of jewelry shaped like Thor’s hammer have been found in places like the Nordic countries, England, northern Germany, the Baltic countries, and Russia. Most of these are simple and made from iron or silver, but about 100 have more detailed designs with decorations. These pieces were found in many different places and situations. Coins with pictures of Thor’s hammer have also been found.

The Eyrarland Statue, a copper figure from around the 11th century found near Akureyri, Iceland, might show Thor sitting with his hammer.

• Drawing of a silver-gilted Thor's hammer found in Scania, Sweden
• Drawing of a 4.6 cm gold-plated silver Mjölnir pendant found at Bredsätra on Öland, Sweden
• Drawing of a silver Thor's hammer amulet found in Fitjar, Hordaland, Norway
• Drawing of Thor's hammer amulet from Mandemark, Møn, Denmark
• A bronze statue of a seated figure from about AD 1000 that was recovered at the Eyrarland farm in the area of Akureyri, Iceland

Swastikas

Further information: Swastika (Germanic Iron Age)

The swastika symbol is thought to represent Thor’s hammer or lightning. It was used by both women and warriors for protection. The swastika appears on many objects from the Migration Period to the Viking Age, including the 3rd century Værløse Fibula from Zealand, Denmark; a Gothic spearhead from Brest-Litovsk, Belarus; many Migration Period bracteates; cremation urns from early Anglo-Saxon England; the 8th century Sæbø sword from Sogn, Norway; and the 9th century Snoldelev Stone from Ramsø, Denmark.

Eponymy and toponymy

Many place names in Scandinavia have the old name for Thor in them. It can be hard to know if these names really connect to the god because Thor was also a common part of people’s names. Some names are more clearly linked to Thor, like those ending in -vé (places where people used to worship), -hóf (special buildings for worship), and -lundr (sacred groves). For example, Þórslundr is common in Denmark, and Þórshof is found often in southern Norway. There is also a place called Torsö meaning “Thor’s Island” on the coast of Sweden.

In England, places with Thor’s name are less common. Examples include Thundersley and Thurstable. In Germany, some mountains named Donnersberg might come from the old German name for Thor, Donner. In old Iceland, a red fox breed was called holtaþórr, meaning “Thor of the woods.” In Sweden, special stones called Thorwiggar were thought to have been thrown by Thor at a tricky creature. Even some beetles and meteorites were linked to Thor in old stories. In Spain, a river called Torío also takes its name from Thor.

Origin, theories, and interpretations

Thor is similar to other gods from different cultures who are linked to thunder. These include the Celtic Taranis, the Estonian Taara, the Baltic Perkūnas, the Slavic Perun, and the Hindu Indra. Scholars often compare Thor’s battles to those of these other thunder gods.

Thor is especially known for his strength and his care for people and their land. He helps bring rain that makes crops grow, showing his link to nature and the changing seasons. His stories often highlight his role in protecting communities and ensuring the fertility of the land.

Modern influence

Today, Thor is still remembered and used in many ways. He has inspired poems, paintings, and stories for hundreds of years. Writers like Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow have written poems about Thor. Artists have painted and sculpted Thor in many scenes, such as fighting big monsters.

In 1962, Thor became a superhero in comic books created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. This version of Thor appears in many movies and TV shows, played by actor Chris Hemsworth. Thor is also a character in books, video games, and even a real shrew named after him, called Thor's hero shrew, because of his strength.