Thor

Thor is the son of Odin and a member of the Aesir, the name for the collection of Norse gods. He is a god of thunder and the primary enemy of the giants. He would cave their heads with his mighty axe-hammer, 'Mjolnir'. To wield this awesome weapon he had to be wearing iron gloves and a belt of strength. Mjolnir would return to Thor's hand after being thrown and is a symbol of lightning. Thor rode around middle-earth in his wagon drawn by two goats. He was very well-known for his quick and hot temper, which was often vented on the giants, the main enemies of the gods.

Left: Mjolnir was used by Thor in times of battle to smash peoples heads.

He was foremost of the gods to the common man, who would call on him to obtain fertility, and was widely worshiped. Hammer-shaped amulets were popular, the hammer being symbolic of Thor because it was his weapon. There are molds from that time which consist of both crosses and hammers, side by side. His name is found in numerous places, and it was his statue which was central in the great temple at Uppsala. The day of the week, Thursday, is named after him. Donar was an early version of Thor among the early Germans. The Anglo-Saxons worshiped a thunder god named Thunor.

Information from: "Thor"

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