Introduction
Thor is the Norse god of thunder, storms, strength and the protection of both gods and humans, son of Odin and the earth-goddess Jord. Wielding his hammer Mjolnir, he is the tireless defender of Asgard and Midgard against the giants, and one of the most popular and widely worshipped gods of the Norse pantheon.
This article follows Old Norse mythological tradition, chiefly the Poetic Edda and Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, noting where the two sources differ.
Family
- Father: Odin
- Mother: Jord
- Wife: Sif
- Children: Magni, Modi, Thrud
- Siblings: Baldr, Hodr, Vidar, Vali, Tyr, Bragi
Mjolnir
Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, was forged by the dwarf brothers Brokkr and Eitri in a contest with Loki, and, despite a slightly-too-short handle (a flaw caused by Loki's sabotage during the forging), it never fails to strike true and always returns to Thor's hand when thrown. Mjolnir is Thor's primary weapon against the giants, whom he battles constantly to protect Asgard and Midgard.
Adventures
Thor features in some of the liveliest and most vivid stories of Norse mythology, including journeying to the giant Utgarda-Loki's hall and being humiliated by illusions he does not recognise as such until later, fishing for the World Serpent Jormungandr with an ox-head as bait, and, in a famously comic tale, dressing as the goddess Freyja to recover his stolen hammer from the giant Thrym, who wished to marry "her" in exchange for its return.
Ragnarok
At Ragnarok, Thor is fated to face his great enemy, the World Serpent Jormungandr, in a final battle: he kills the serpent, but, poisoned by its venom, walks only nine steps before falling dead himself.
Worship
Thor was one of the most widely and popularly worshipped of the Norse gods, especially among farmers and seafarers who depended on his protection, and Thursday ("Thor's day") is named for him in English and other Germanic languages. Miniature Mjolnir pendants, worn as protective amulets, are among the most common archaeological finds from the Viking Age.