The God of War and Thunder. A huge warrior with a dense red beard and terrifying blue eyes, clad in the classic Viking garb of the winged helmet, breastplate, tunic and leg cloths secured with crossed garders. His favorite weapon is a huge hammer.

Despite his prowess in the elimination of giants and monsters he is an honourable warrior and gentle lover, although other women often tempt him to leave the arms of the wife Sif. His hammer is also s symbol of marital ardour.

He is the true warrior’s courage and nobility, but as so often happens these are balance by a certain simplicity which allows him to be tricked or deceived. He accepts men at their fave value and they often betray him.

The sorcerer Utgardaloki once humbled Thor’s martial pride by challenging him and his retinue to a series of contests. Thor’s companion Lokihad to complete with the sorcerer’s servant. Logi, in an eating contest another of
Thor’s men, who could run as fast as the lightning had to race with a giant
named Hugi, while Thor himself had to lift a cat from the gound,drain a horn
of mead, and wrestle with an old woman.

Thor was confident of victory, but when Loki began eating against Logi the
latter comsumed the entire meal before Loki could start, and then polished
off his boots and the eating trough. Thor’s runner could not catch up with
Hugi, and Thor could not lift the cat, drink up the mead, or defeat the old
woman...

The sorcerer then told Thor that there are forces even greater than his mighty power. Logi was Fire, Hugi was Thought the cat was part of the coils of the serpent Midgard which holds the earth together,

Midgard which holds the earth together, the horn contained the sea and the old and the old woman was Old Age.

Thor’s struggle to lift the cat sends earth quakes rumbling through the world, while his gulping at the horn of mead causes the tides to rise and fall. Fire eats faster than any man, no warrior can conquer Old Age, and the speed of Thought is faster than any runner known to god or man.

THUNDER OF THE GODS - THOR GAINS HIS HAMMER

Loki made much trouble for the gods with his evil pranks and his malice. But there was one time his mischief worked for good in the end. Thor might never have owned his wonderful hammer had it not been for Loki. It came about in this way:

Thor had a beautiful wife whose name was Sif. Her hair was long and yellow and shone like gold in the sunlight. Thor was proud of her.

One day, while Sif lay sleeping under the trees where Iduna’s apples grew, Loki cut off all her hair. He did it for a prank. When Sif woke and discovered the loss of her beautiful hair, she went weeping to Thor.

“This is the work of that rascal Loki,” cried Thor angrily. “I’ll break every bone in his body.”

He rushed off to look for Loki. It was not long before he found him, and seized him.

Loki was filled with terror when he saw Thor’s anger. he begged for mercy, but Thor would not let him go.

“Wait O mighty Thor,” begged Loki. “Don’t punish me and I will get new hair for Sif. I will find hair of real gold that will shine in the sunlight and will grow like other hair.”

“How will you do that?” said Thor.

“I will go to the dark elves, to the sons of Ivaldi, and ask them to make the hair for me,” said Loki. “They can make every kind of wondrous thing.”

Thor gave his consent.

“But remember, “ He cried, shaking Loki so that his teeth chattered in his head. “If you don’t bring back hair that will grow like other hair, I will break every bone in your body. And it must be as long and as beautiful as Sif’s own hair. Now go.”

Loki was only too glad to set out. The dwarves lived deep within the mountains and he had a long journey to make.

When Loki came to the dwelling place of the Dark Elves they said that they could perform this task. They made the hair, and they made two other gifts as well. They made the spear Gungnir, which became Odin’s possession, and they made the magick ship, Skidbladnir.

On his way home with the gifts Loki met another dwarf named Brock. Loki was feeling pleased with himself and proud of himself. At once he made a wager with Brock.

‘See what I have,” cried Loki. “I’ll wager my head that your brother Sindri can’t make three gifts as precious as these.”

Sindri was famed amongst the Dwarves and Brock knew how great was his brothers skill.

“I’ll take that wager,” said Brock. “Come with me. We will go to the smithy and we will see what Sindri can make.”

Brock explained the wager to his brother and Sindri started the fire in the forge. The flames lit up the far corners of the dwarves cave. When it was hot enough Sindri laid within fire a pigs hide. He handed the bellows to Brock and told him to work them without ceasing until he should return. Then he left the cave.

As soon as Sindri had gone Loki changed himself into a huge fly. he lit upon Brock’s hand and stung him. But Brock kept the bellows working and did not let go.

When Sindri returned he took the work out of the fire. it was a boar, a wild pig with mane and bristles of gold.

Then Sindri placed gold in the fire and bade Brock work the bellows as before. This time the fly settled on Brocks neck and stung twice as hard. But Brock did not let go of the bellows. When Sindri returned he took out of the fire the golden ring which is called Draupnir.

For the third gift Sindri placed iron in the fire. “Keep the bellows going, Brock, or all will be spoiled.” said Sindri, as he left the smithy.

This was Loki’s last chance and the fly settled between Brock’s eyes and stung his eyelids so hard that the blood ran down. The pain and the blood blinded him. Brock had to pause to sweep the fly away. He let go of the bellows with one hand and only for an instant. But the fire died down.

At that moment Sindri returned and said that what was in the heath had come out near to being spoiled. He took the work out of the fire and it was a hammer.

Sindri gave the three gifts to Brock. “Take these to the Gods,” he said “and see whose gifts win the wager.”

Loki and Brock set off for Asgard, the home of the gods, each bearing his gifts. The gods were called together and met in the great council hall named Gladsheim. They took their places on the high seats. It was agreed that Odin and Thor and Frey should decide whose gifts were best.

Loki presented his gifts first. He gave Thor the golden hair for Sif, Odin he gave the spear Gungnir, and to Frey the ship Skidbladnir, telling the virtues of each. As soon as it was placed upon Sif’s head the hair would grow like other hair. The spear Gungnir would never fall short of it’s mark; and the ship Skidbladnir would always find favouring winds, no matter in what direction it was set. yet it could be folded like a napkin and plaed in Frey’s pocket if he so wished.

Then Brock offered his gifts. He gave to Odin the Golden ring which is called Draupnir.

“Every ninth night eight other rings like itself will drop from it.” Said Brock.

He gave the Boar, which was called Gold-Mane, to Frey.

“No horse can run through the sir or over the sea with such swiftness.” Said Brock. “And you can always find your way by the light which shines from it’s mane and bristles of gold, no matter how black and dark the night may be.”

Brock gave the hammer to Thor.

“The name of the hammer is Mjollnir,” he told thor. “With it you can strike as hard a blow as you please at whatever comes in your way. You can hurl it as far as you like, and it will always find it’s mark and return to your hand. Yet, if you wish, you can make the hammer small and put it in your pocket.”

The hammer had only one fault, though Brock did not mention that. The handle was a little short. that was because Loki had caused Brock to drop the bellows.

Odin, and Thor, and Frey held a council. They decided that Brock’s gifts were best, for Thor’s hammer was the most valuable gift of all. This was just the weapon the Gods needed in their wars against the Frost-Giants. The Giants had better beware. Now Thor could hurl his mighty hammer at them and catch it again in his hand.

Odin rose to his feet and announced to all that Brock had won the wager.

Brock immediately demanded Loki’s head.

“What good is my head to you?” cried Loki. “I will give you a great sum of gold for ransom. You will be the richest of all Dwarves.”

Dwarves Love gold, but Brock would have none of it, and said that Loki must keep the terms of his bargain.

“Then catch me if you can!” cried Loki.

In an instant he was far off, for he had on the shoes which would carry him through air and over water in the twinkling of an eye.

Brock begged Thor to catch Loki. Thor was still angry with Loki and willingly enough to do so. Thor asked Frey to lend him the boar Gold-Mane. He lept on the boars back and away he went through the air. Before long he had brought Loki back to Asgard.

Brock was ready to cut off his head, but Loki cried: “My head yes, but not an inch of my neck. I did not wager my neck.”

How could Brock cut off Loki’s head without touching his neck? Brock had to let it go at that.

“If I had my brother’s awl I would sew your mischief-speaking lips together,” he cried out in anger.

No sooner had he spoken than the awl was there and of itself pierced Loki’s lips. Then Brock sewed then together with a thing. Not that it troubled Loki much, for when Brock was gone he ripped out the things.

Loki, as usual, got off with little punishment. But the Gods were much richer for their new gifts.

Home Next