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Thor

Explorer · ages 7 and underAdapted from Wikipedia
'Donar-Thor', a painting by German artist Max Friedrich Koch from about 1905, showing the Norse god Thor riding in his goat-drawn chariot.

Who Is Thor?

Thor is a famous god from long ago. He comes from Norse mythology, which are old stories from the far north. Thor is a friendly god who carries a special hammer.

Where Thor Came From

Long ago, people in Scandinavia told stories about Thor. His name is written in many old languages. Thor was very popular during the Viking Age. People even wore little pictures of his hammer, Mjölnir, as lucky charms.

Thor's Family

In the old stories, Thor is the son of Odin. He is married to the golden-haired goddess Sif. Thor rides in a cart pulled by two goats. Thor has many brothers, including Baldr.

Thor Today

People still remember Thor today. His name is used for Thursday, which means "Thor's day." You can find his name in many places and in fun stories too. Some people even made a superhero named Thor!

Quiz time!

3 questions about Thor

Question 1 of 3

What is the name of Thor's hammer?

Pictures

An old illustration showing Thor battling the giant Midgard Serpent, from Norse myths about Ragnarök, the final battle of the gods.
A Roman stone altar dedicated to the god Hercules Magusanus, on display at the Rheinisches Landesmuseum in Bonn.
An 1905 illustration by Emil Doepler showing Saint Boniface, holding an axe and a white cross, beside the fallen Thor's Oak as members of the Germanic Chatti tribe watch.
An old woodcut from 1555 showing three Norse gods: Frigg with a sword and bow on the left, Thor wearing a crown and sitting on a throne in the middle, and Odin fully armored on the right.
A Viking-Age runestone from Sønder Kirkeby on the island of Falster in Denmark, now displayed at the National Museum of Denmark. It was reused as a building stone in a medieval church wall before being discovered in 1802.
The runestone Sö 111 standing near Stenkvista church in Södermanland, Sweden. Runestones like this one were carved about a thousand years ago with messages and names in the runic alphabet.
A carving on the Altuna runestone in Sweden shows the god Thor fishing for the Midgard Serpent, with his hammer Mjölnir raised. The carving dates from the Viking Age.
A detail of the Altuna runestone in Sweden, showing the Norse god Thor and his raised hammer, Mjölnir. This carved stone is about a thousand years old.
A carved section of the Gosforth Cross, an old stone monument in England, showing the Norse god Thor on a fishing trip.
An illustration by Lorenz Frølich showing Thor and the giant serpent Jörmungandr lying dead after they defeated each other, as described in the Norse poem Völuspá.
An old illustration from Norse mythology showing the god Thor and his goat, Tanngrisnir, whose leg is hurt, while the god Týr looks on.
Loki leaves the hall and threatens the gods with fire, as told in the Norse poem Lokasenna. Thor stands to the right, holding his hammer, Mjölnir.
A close-up of the Velanda runestone in Västergötland, Sweden, showing the Viking Age inscription "Thor vigi," a blessing invoking the Norse god Thor.
Thor's Fight with the Giants (Tors strid med jättarna) by Mårten Eskil Winge (1872).
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

Keep exploring

Norse mythology
Scandinavia
Odin
Superhero

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Thor, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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