Thor— Norse God"God of Thunder"

The Thunderer

Thor is the strongest of all the Æsir, the principal gods of Norse mythology. Born to Odin, the Allfather, and Jörð, a personification of the earth, Thor inherited both divine wisdom and primordial might. He dwells in the great hall Bilskirnir in the realm of Thrudheim, the largest building ever constructed with 540 rooms.

Mjolnir and His Treasures

Thor's most famous possession is Mjolnir, the hammer forged by the dwarven brothers Sindri and Brokkr. The hammer never misses its target and always returns to Thor's hand. However, due to Loki's interference during its creation, the handle was made too short. Thor wears the iron gloves Járngreipr to wield Mjolnir and the belt Megingjörð, which doubles his already formidable strength.

His chariot is pulled by two magical goats, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr, whom Thor can slaughter and eat, then resurrect the next day by blessing their bones with Mjolnir.

Defender Against Chaos

Thor's primary role is defending the ordered cosmos of gods and humans against the chaotic forces of the giants (jötnar). His journeys to Jötunheim, the land of giants, are legendary. He once nearly drank the sea while visiting the giant Útgarða-Loki, and wrestled with Old Age personified without being defeated—feats that seemed like failures but were actually extraordinary.

Thor and the Midgard Serpent

Thor's greatest enemy is Jörmungandr, the Midgard Serpent, a child of Loki so massive it encircles the entire world. They have encountered each other twice before their fated final battle. Once, Thor nearly pulled the serpent from the ocean while fishing, and once he unknowingly tried to lift it when it was disguised as a cat.

At Ragnarök, Thor and Jörmungandr will finally face each other. Thor will slay the serpent but will only take nine steps before falling dead from its venom—a hero's end for the protector of gods and men.

Worship and Legacy

Thor was perhaps the most widely worshipped Norse god among common people, who saw him as a protector against the forces of chaos and destruction. Thursday (Thor's Day) is named after him. His hammer symbol, Mjolnir, was worn as protective amulets and remains an important symbol in modern Norse paganism.