The thunder god, Thor was the son of Odin and Fjorgyn, the goddess of earth. He was large for a god, immensely strong, and a big eater (a cow could be a single meal). He loved contests of strength and was the main champion of the gods against their enemies, the frost giants. Farmers who appreciated his simple honesty and revulsion of evil worshiped him, rather than Odin, who was more attractive to those with the raiding spirit. Thor’s weapon was a magic war hammer (bolts of lightning) with a huge head and short handle that never missed its target. He wore magic iron gauntlets to handle the white-hot hammer shaft and a belt that doubled his strength. Thor enjoyed the company of Loki despite the trickster’s penchant for getting them both in trouble. The tales of their adventures are some of the richest in Norse mythology. In the Norse pantheon, Thor was the destroyer of evil. At Ragnarok, Thor was aligned against his friend Loki who had gone over to the side of the evil frost giants. Thor was destined to kill the grim serpent Jormungand, spawn of Loki, but die in the struggle. Anglo-Saxons gave Thor’s name to the fifth day of their week, Thursday.
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