The "Scots" that wis uised in this airticle wis written bi a body that haesna a guid grip on the leid. Pleasemak this airticle mair better gin ye can.(Januar 2021)
In Norse meethologie, lairgely recordit inIceland frae tradeetional material stemmin frae Scandinavie, numerous tales an information aboot Thor are providit. In these soorces, Thor beirs at leastfifteen names, is the husband o the gowden-haired goddessSif, is the luver o thejötunnJárnsaxa, an is generally descrived as fierce eed,reid haired an reid beardit.[1] Wi Sif, Thor faithert the goddess (an possibleValkyrie)Þrúðr; wi Járnsaxa, he faithertMagni; wi a mither that's name is nae recorded, he faitheredMóði, an he is the stepfaither o the godUllr. Bi wey oOdin, Thor haesnumerous brithers, includinBaldr. Thor haes twa servants,Þjálfi an Röskva, rides in a cart or chariot pulled bi twa gaits,Tanngrisnir an Tanngnjóstr (that he eats an resurrects), an is ascribit three dwellins (Bilskirnir,Þrúðheimr, anÞrúðvangr). Thor walds the moontain-crushin haimer,Mjölnir, weirs the beltMegingjörð an the airn gluvesJárngreipr, an awns the staffGríðarvölr. Thor's exploits, includin his relentless slauchter o his foes an fierce battles wi the monstrous serpentJörmungandr—an thair foretauld mutual daiths in the events oRagnarök—are recordit ootthrou soorces for Norse meethologie.
Intae the modren period, Thor conteena'd tae be acknawledged in rural fowklair ootthrouGermanic regions. Thor is frequently referred tae in place names, the day o the weekFuirsday ("Thor's day" derived fraeAuld InglisÞūnresdæg- "Thunor's day"; oreeginallyÞorsdagr inAuld Norse) beirs his name, an names stemmin frae the pagan period conteenin his awn conteena tae be uised the day. Thor haes inspired numerous warks o airt an references tae Thor appear in modren popular cultur. Lik ither Germanic deities, veneration o Thor is revived in the modren period inHeathenry.
The name o the god is the oreegin o the weekday nameFuirsday. Bi employin a practice kent asinterpretatio germanica in theRoman Empire period, the Germanic fowks adoptit the Roman weekly calendar, an replaced the names o Roman gods wi thair own. Laitindies Iovis ('day o Jupiter') wis convertit intae Proto-Germanic *Þonares dagaz ("Thor's day"), frae which stems modren Scots "Fuirsday" an ither Germanic weekday cognates.[3]
Boniface bears his crucifix efter fellin Thor's Oak inBonifacius (1905) biEmil Doepler
The first recordit instance o the name o the god appears in theMigration Period, whaur a piece o jewelry (afibula), theNordendorf fibula, datin frae the 7t century AD an foond inBavarie, beirs anElder Futhark inscription that conteens the name "Þonar", i.e. "Donar", the soothren Germanic form o the god's name.[4]
A 9t-century AD codex fraeMainz, Germany, kent as theAuld Saxon Bapteesmal Vou, records the name o three Auld Saxon gods, UUôden (Auld Saxon "Wodan"),Saxnôte, an Thunaer, bi wey o thair renunciation as demons in a formula tae be repeatit bi Germanic pagans formallyconvertin tae Christianity.[5]
In the 11t century, chroniclerAdam o Bremen records in hisGesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesiae Pontificum that a statue o Thor, that Adam descrives as "michtiest", sits in theTemple at Uppsala in the centre o a treeple throne (flanked biWoden an "Fricco") locatit inGamla Uppsala,Swaden. Adam details that the fowk o Uppsala haed appyntitpriests tae ilk o the gods, an that the priests war tae offer upsaicrifeeces. In Thor's case, he conteenas, thir saicrifeeces war duin whan plague or faimin threitent.[6] Earlier in the same wark, Adam relays that in 1030 an Inglis preacher, Wulfred, wislynched bi assembled Germanic pagans for "profanin" a representation o Thor.[7]
In the 12t century, mair nor a century efter Norawa wis "offeecially" Christianised, Thor wis still bein invoked bi the population, as evidenced bi a stick beirin a runic message foond amang theBryggen inscriptions inBergen,Norawa. On the stick, baith Thor an Odin are cried upon for help; Thor is askit tae "receive" the reader, an Odin tae "awn" them.[8] Aroond the 12t century, iconografie o the Christianisin 11t-century KingOlaf II o Norawa (Saunt Olaf) absorbed elements o the native Thor; Olaf II haed becam a familiarly reid-beardit, haimer-waldin feegur.[9]
In the poemVöluspá, a deidvölva recoonts the history o the universe an foretells the futur tae the disguised god Odin, includin the daith o Thor. Thor, she foretells, will dae battle wi thegreat serpent in the immense meethic war waged atRagnarök, an thare he will slay the monstrous snake, yet efter he will anly be able tae tak nine steps afore neevin tae the venom o the beast. Efterwart, says the völva, the sky will turn black afore fire engulfs the warld, the starns will disappear, flams will dance afore the sky, steam will rise, the warld will be kivert in watter an then it will be raised again, green an fertile.[11]
In the poemGrímnismál, the god Odin, in guise asGrímnir, an torturt, stairvit an thirsty, impairts in the youngAgnar cosmological lore, includin that Thor resides inÞrúðheimr, an that, ivery day, Thor wades throu the riversKörmt an Örmt, an the twaKerlaugar. Thare, Grímnir says, Thor sits as juidge at the immense cosmological warld tree,Yggdrasil.[12]
InSkírnismál, the godFreyr's messenger,Skírnir, threitens the fairGerðr, wi that Freyr is smitten, wi numerous threits an curses, includin that Thor, Freyr, an Odin will be angry wi her, an that she risks thair "potent wraith".[13]
Thor is the main chairacter oHárbarðsljóð, whaur, efter traivelin "frae the east", he comes tae an inlet whaur he encoonters a ferryman that gies his name asHárbarðr (Odin, again in disguise), an attempts tae hail a ride frae him. The ferryman, shootin frae the inlet, is immediately rude an obnoxious tae Thor an refuises tae ferry him. At first, Thor hauds his tongue, but Hárbarðr anerly becomes mair aggressive, an the poem suin becomes aflytin match atween Thor an Hárbarðr, aw the while revealin lore aboot the twa, includin Thor's killin o several jötnar in "the east" an berzerk weemen on Hlesey (nou the Dens island oLæsø). In the end, Thor ends up walkin insteid.[14]
Thor is again the main chairacter in the poemHymiskviða, whaur, efter the gods hae been huntin an hae eaten thair prey, thay hae an urge tae drink. Thay "sh[ak] the twigs" an interpret whit thay say. The gods decide that thay wad find suitable caudrons atÆgir's hame. Thor arrives at Ægir's hame an finds him tae be cheerfu, leuks intae his een, an tells him that he maun prepare feasts for the gods. Annoyed, Ægir tells Thor that the gods maun first bring tae him a suitable caudron tae brew yill in. The gods sairch but find na sic caudron onywhaur. Houiver, Týr tells Thor that he mey hae a solution; east oÉlivágar lives Hymir, an he awns sich deep kettle.[15]
Efter alacuna in the manuscript o the poem,Hymiskviða abruptly picks up again wi Thor an Hymir in a boat, oot at sea. Hymir catches a fewwhauls at ance, an Thor baits his line wi the heid o the ox. Thor casts his line an the monstrous serpent Jörmungandr bites. Thor pulls the serpent on buird, an veeolently slams him in the heid wi his haimer. Jörmungandr shrieks, an a noisy commotion is heard frae unnerwatter afore anither lacuna appears in the manuscript.[16]
Efter the seicont lacuna, Hymir is sittin in the boat, unhappy an totally seelent, as thay rowe back tae shore. On shore, Hymir suggests that Thor shoud help him cairy a whaul back tae his ferm. Thor picks baith the boat an the whauls up, an cairies it aw back tae Hymir's ferm. Efter Thor successfully smashes a creestal goblet bi thrawin it at Hymir's heid on Týr's mither's suggestion, Thor an Týr are gien the caudron. Týr canna lift it, but Thor manages tae row it, an so wi it they lea. Some distance frae Hymir's hame, an airmy o mony-heidit beins led bi Hymir attacks the twa, but are killt bi the haimer o Thor. Awtho ane ohis gaits is lame in the leg, the twa manage tae bring the caudron back, hae plenty o yill, an sae, frae then on, return tae Ægir's for mair ivery winter.[17]
Thor raises his haimer as Loki leasÆgir's haw, bi Frølich (1895)
In the poemLokasenna, the hauf-godLoki angrilyflyts wi the gods in the sea entityÆgir's haw. Thor daes nae attend the event, houiver, as he is awey in the east for unspecifee'd purposes. Taewart the end o the poem, the flytin turns taeSif, Thor's wife, that Loki then claims tae hae sleepit wi. The godFreyr's servantBeyla interjects, an says that, syne aw o the moontains are shakin, she thinks that Thor is on his wey hame. Beyla adds that Thor will bring peace tae the quarrel, tae that Loki responds wi insults.[18]
Thor arrives an tells Loki tae be seelent, an threitens tae rip Loki's heid frae his bouk wi his haimer. Loki asks Thor why he is sae angry, an comments that Thor will nae be so darin tae ficht "the wouf" (Fenrir) whan it eats Odin (a reference tae the foretauld events oRagnarök). Thor again tells him tae be seelent, an threatens tae thraw him intae the sky, whaur he will niver be seen again. Loki says that Thor shoud nae brag o his time in the east, as he ance crooched in fear in the thumb o a gluve (a story involvin deception bi the magic oÚtgarða-Loki, recoonted in theProse Edda beukGylfaginning)—that, he comments, "wis haurdly lik Thor". Thor again tells him tae be seelent, threitenin tae brak ivery bane in Loki's bouk. Loki responds that he intends tae live a while yet, an again insults Thor wi references tae his encoonter wi Útgarða-Loki. Thor responds wi a fowert cry tae be silent, an threitens tae send Loki taeHel. At Thor's feenal threat, Loki gies in, commentin that anly for Thor will he lea the haw, for "A ken alsne that ye dae strick", an the poem conteenas.[19]
Ah, what a lovely maid it is! (1902) biElmer Boyd Smith: Thor is unhappily dressed bi the goddessFreyja an her attendants as hersel
In the comedic poemÞrymskviða, Thor again plays a central role. In the poem, Thor wakes an finds that his pouerfu hammer,Mjöllnir, is missin. Thor turns tae Loki, an tells him that naebody kens that the haimer has been stolen. The twa gae tae the dwallin o the goddessFreyja, an so that he mey attempt tae find Mjöllnir, Thor asks her if he mey borrae her faither claik. Freyja grees, an says she wad lend it tae Thor even gin it war made o siller or gowd, an Loki flees aff, the faither claik whistlin.[20]
InJötunheimr, the jötunnÞrymr sits on abarrae, plaitin gowden collars for his female dugs, an trimmin the manes o his horse. Þrymr sees Loki, an asks whit coud be amiss amang theÆsir an theelfs; why is Loki alane in Jötunheimr? Loki responds that he haes bad news for baith the elfs an the Æsir—that Thor's hammer, Mjöllnir, is gane. Þrymr says that he has hidden Mjöllnir aicht leagues aneath the yird, frae which it will be retrieved, but anly if Freyja is brocht tae him as his wife. Loki flees aff, the faither claik whistlin, awey frae Jötunheimr an back tae the coort o the gods.[21]
Thor asks Loki if his efforts war successfu, an that Loki shoud tell him while he is still in the air as "tales eften escape a sittin man, an the man leein doun eften bairks oot lies." Loki states that it wis indeed an effort, an a success an aw, for he haes diskivert that Þrymr haes the haimer, but that it canna be retrieved unless Freyja is brocht tae Þrymr as his wife. The twa return tae Freyja an tell her tae put on a bridal heid dress, as they will drive her tae Jötunheimr. Freyja, angry, gaes intae a rage, causin aw o the haws o the Æsir tae tremmle in her anger, an her necklace, the famedBrísingamen, faws frae her. Freyja pyntitly refuises.[22]
As a result, the gods an goddesses meet an haud athing tae discuss an debate the maiter. At the thing, the godHeimdallr puts forth the suggestion that, in place o Freyja, Thor shoud be dressed as the bride, complete wi jewels, weemen's cleidin doun tae his knees, a bridal heid-dress, an the necklace Brísingamen. Thor rejects the idea, yet Loki interjects that this will be the anly wey tae get back Mjöllnir. Loki pynts oot that, withoot Mjöllnir, the jötnar will be able tae invade an settle inAsgard. The gods dress Thor as a bride, an Loki states that he will gae wi Thor as his maid, an that the twa shall drive tae Jötunheimr thegither.[23]
Efter ridin thegither in Thor'sgait-driven chariot, the twa, guised, arrive in Jötunheimr. Þrymr commands the jötnar in his haw tae spread strae on the benches, for Freyja haes arrived tae be his wife. Þrymr recoonts his treisurt ainimals an objects, statin that Freyja wis aw that he wis missin in his walth.[24]
Early in the even, the guised Loki an Thor meet wi Þrymr an the assemmled jötnar. Thor eats an drinks ferociously, consumin entire ainimals an three casks omead. Þrymr finds the behaviour at odds wi his impression o Freyja, an Loki, sittin afore Þrymr an appearin as a "verra shrewd maid", maks the excuse that "Freyja's" behaviour is due tae her haein nae consumed onything for aicht entire days afore arrivin due tae her eagerness tae arrive. Þrymr then lifts "Freyja's" veil an wants tae kiss "her". Terrifeein een stare back at him, seeminly birnin wi fire. Loki says that this is acause "Freyja" haesnae slept for aicht nichts in her eagerness.[24]
The "wretched sister" o the jötnar appears, asks for a bridal gift frae "Freyja", an the jötnar bring oot Mjöllnir tae "sanctifee the bride", tae lay it on her lap, an mairy the twa bi "the haund" o the goddessVár. Thor lauchs internally whan he sees the haimer, taks haud o it, strikes Þrymr, beats aw o the jötnar, kills thair "aulder sister", an sae gets his haimer back.[25]
Sun Shines in the Hall (1908) biW.G. Collingwood: Thor clesps his dauchter's haund an chuckles at the "aw-wice" dwarf, that he haes ootwittit
In the poemAlvíssmál, Thor tricks adwarf,Alvíss, tae his duim upon findin that he seeks tae wad his dauchter (unnamed, possiblyÞrúðr). As the poem stairts, Thor meets a dwarf that talks aboot gettin mairied. Thor finds the dwarf repulsive an, apparently, realises that the bride is his dauchter. Thor comments that the waddin agreement wis made amang the gods while Thor wis gane, an that the dwarf maun seek his consent. Tae dae sae, Thor says, Alvíss maun tell him whit he wants tae ken abootaw o the warlds that the dwarf haes veesitit. In a lang quaisten an answer session, Alvíss daes exactly that; he descrives naitural featurs as thay are kent in the leids o various races o beins in the warld, an gies an amoint o cosmological lore.[26]
Houiver, the quaisten an answer session turns oot tae be a ploy bi Thor, as, awtho Thor comments that he haes truly niver seen onyane wi mair wiceheid in thair breist, Thor haes managed tae delay the dwarf eneuch for the Sun tae turn him tae stone; "day dawns on ye nou, dwarf, nou sun shines on the haw".[27]
In the poemHyndluljóð, Freyja offers tae the jötunn wummanHyndla taeblót (saicrifeece) tae Thor sae that she mey be pertectit, an comments that Thor daes nae care muckle for jötunn weemen.[28]
In the prologue tae hisProse Edda,Snorri Sturlusoneuhemerises Thor as a prince oTroy, an the son o kingMemnon bi Troana, a dauchter oPriam. Thor, kent asTror forby, is said tae hae mairied the prophetessSibyl (identifee'd wiSif). Thor is forder said here tae hae been raised inThrace bi a chieftain namedLorikus, that he later slew tae assume the teetle o "King o Thrace", tae hae haed hair "fairer nor gowd", an tae hae been strang eneuch tae lift ten beirskins.
The name o theaesir is explained as "men fraeAsie,"Asgard bein the "Asie ceity" (i.e., Troy). Alternatively, Troy is inTyrkland (Turkey, i.e., Asie Minor), anAsialand isScythia, whaur Thor foondit a new ceity named Asgard. Odin is a remote descendant o Thor, remuived bi twal generations, that led an expedeetion athort Germany, Denmark an Swaden tae Noarwa.
InHeimskringla, componed in the 13t century biSnorri Sturluson, Thor or statues o Thor are mentioned inYnglinga saga,Hákonar saga góða,Ólafs saga Tryggvasonar, anÓláfs saga helga. InYnglinga saga chaipter 5, a hivily euhemerised accoont o the gods is providit, whaur Thor is descrived as haein been agothi—a pagan priest—that wis gien bi Odin (that himsel is explained awey as haein been an exceedinly pouerfu magic-wieldin chieftain frae the east) a dwallin in the meethical location oÞrúðvangr, in whit is nou Swaden. The saga narrative adds that numerous names—at the time o the narrative, popularly in uise—war derived fraeThor.[29]
