Thor facts for kids
Thor (Old Norse: Þórr) is the god of thunder and lightning in Norse mythology, associated with strength, storms, hallowing and fertility. He is the son of Odin and Jörð, the personification of the Earth, and is physically the strongest of the Æsir. Thor is described as being fierce eyed, with red hair and a full beard, and he is quick to anger and has an enormous appetite.
The champion of Asgard, Thor is said to protect both it and Midgard from the likes of the jǫtnar, a race of beings native to Jötunheimr. He is known in Old English as Þunor (Thunor) and in Old High German as Donar (runic þonar ᚦᛟᚾᚨᚱ), all of which stem from the Proto-Germanic *Þunraz, meaning "thunder".
The modern English weekday Thursday (from Old English Þūnresdæg, “Thunor’s [Thor’s] day”) bears the god's name.
Family
Thor is the son of Odin, chief of the Æsir, and Jörð, the living personification of the Earth. He is the eldest of Odin's sons and is the half-brother of Baldr, Höðr, Víðarr, and Váli.
He is married to the golden-haired goddess Sif, with whom he has a daughter, Þrúðr. With his jötunn lover Járnsaxa, Thor has two sons, Móði and Magni. He has a stepson, Ullr, who is Sif's son by a previous marriage.
Possessions
Thor was believed to travel in a chariot drawn by two goats named Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr. According to writings known as sagas, Thor wielded a short-handled war hammer, Mjölnir.
It was fashioned for him by the dwarven brothers Eitri and Brokkr, and is said to be the most powerful weapon in all the Nine Worlds, capable of crushing even mountains. When Thor threw the hammer, it magically returned to the god's hand.
Other attributes of Thor include a pair of gauntlets known as Járngreipr, which he is required to wear in order to wield Mjölnir, a belt, Megingjörð, which doubles his strength when he wears it, and a staff, Gríðarvölr, which, along with Járngreipr, was given to him by the jötunn Gríðr.
Popular culture
Thor is a character in Marvel Comics, his full name being Thor Odinson; son of Odin and Frigga, he is the god of thunder and a founding member of the Avengers. His archenemy is Loki, god of trickery and mischief as well as Thor's younger adopted brother. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Australian actor Chris Hemsworth (plays the role of Th5). He once again features as Thor in Thor (2017) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and reprised his role in Avengers: End game, which was released in April 2019. He is also scheduled to be in the next 'Guardians of the Galaxy' film by Marvel, scheduled for release in 2021, but may be delayed due to covid restrictions.
Eponymy and toponymy
Numerous place names in Scandinavia contain the Old Norse name Þórr. The place name Þórslundr is recorded with particular frequency in Denmark (and has direct cognates in Norse settlements in Ireland, such as Coill Tomair), whereas Þórshof appears particularly often in southern Norway. Torsö (Thor's Island) appears on the Swedish west coast. Thor also appears in many place names in Uppland.
In English place names, Old English Thunor (in contrast with the Old Norse form of the name, later introduced to the Danelaw) left comparatively few traces. Examples include Thundersley, from *Thunores hlæw and Thurstable (Old English "Thunor's pillar").
In what is now Germany, locations named after Thor are sparsely recorded, but a number of locations called Donnersberg (German "Donner's mountain") may derive their name from the deity Donner, the southern Germanic form of the god's name.
In as late as the 19th century in Iceland, a specific breed of fox was known as holtaþórr ("Thor of the holt"), likely due to the red coat of the breed. In Sweden in the 19th century, smooth, wedge-shaped stones found in the earth were called Thorwiggar ("Thor's wedges"), according to a folk belief that they were once hurled at a troll by the god Thor. (Compare Thunderstones.) Similarly, meteorites may be considered memorials to Thor in folk tradition due to their sheer weight. On the Swedish island of Gotland, a species of beetle (Scarabæus stercorarius) was named after the god; the Thorbagge. When the beetle is found turned upside down and one flips it over, Thor's favor may be gained. In other regions of Sweden the insect came to be known as Thordedjefvul or Thordyfvel (both meaning "Thor-devil").
In the northwest of Spain, there is a river called Torío in the municipality of Cármenes (León) that take name from the god Thor.
Images for kids
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The Teutoburg Forest in northwestern Germany
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Boniface bears his crucifix after felling Thor's Oak in Bonifacius (1905) by Emil Doepler
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16th-century depiction of Norse gods from Olaus Magnus's A Description of the Northern Peoples; from left to right, Frigg, Thor and Odin
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Sun Shines in the Hall (1908) by W.G. Collingwood: Thor clasps his daughter's hand and chuckles at the "all-wise" dwarf, whom he has outwitted
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Medieval depictions of Saint Olaf adopted features from Thor. This wooden statue is from Sankt Olofs kyrka in Scania.
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The Altuna stone from Sweden, one of four stones depicting Thor's fishing trip
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The Gosforth depiction, one of four stones depicting Thor's fishing trip
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A bronze statue of a seated figure from about AD 1000 that was recovered at the Eyrarland farm in the area of Akureyri, Iceland.
See also
In Spanish: Thor para niños
