Norse mythology part 4 - Thor the thundergod
Please remember that all the stories got layers of interpretation just like the bible. The first and obvious layer is “the story for campfire”,
the next layer usually reflect or tells something about human behavior. Yet another layer links the gods and giants to natural powers such as thunder,
comets and volcanoes. The deeper layer’s is knowledge of technological or scientific value, these layers is hard to reach unless you understand the
society of that time and speak old norse. In this episode I’ll introduce you to one of the deeper layers in part 3. There’s a lot of names in this
text, it is not important to catch them all, the important will be mentioned again.
Part 1: Introduction
Thor is the son of Odin and Jord, the earth goddess. And was the strongest of the Aesir. Thor married the golden haired Sif and had a mistress named
Jarnsaxa (the “iron cutlass”), with whom he has two sons Magni and Modi and he’s daughter Trud.
Thor is usually portayed as a large, powerful man with a red beard, flowing hair and a hearty enjoyment of food and drink. Despite he’s ferocious
appearance, he was very popular as the protector of the gods and the humans against the forces of evil. He was foremost of the gods to common man, who
would call on him to ensure fertility.
Thor was well known for he’s quick and hot temper. This was often vented on the giants. He’s main weapon was he’s mighty hammer Mjøllnir which
could create lightning and would return to Thor’s hand when thrown much like a boomerang. To use he’s hammer Thor needed he’s power belt and
iron gloves.
The Norse believed that during a thunderstorm Thor rode through the heavens in he’s chariot pulled by the flying magical goats Tanngrisni
(“Gap-tooth”) and Tanngnost (“tooth grinder”). These goats had more uses than pulling the chariot across the heaven. Now and then Thor would
slay the goats and make a feast from the meat, then he would pack all the unbroken bones into the goats fur and the next day the goats would be
resurrected. There’s a story about Loki and how he tricks a boy into breaking one of the goats legs to get some marrow, making the goat limb the
next day which off cause ignite Thor’s fury.
Part 2: Stories & legends
There’s loads of myth’s about Thor and he’s bad temper, I’ll represent two here and maybe add some more later in the thread unless other beats
me to it. First one is a story about Thor and a Giant who goes fishing, the second is a great story about how Thor got he’s hammer, that one on
video.
Thor Goes Fishing
Thor had many adventures and one of them involved a fishing trip with the giant named Hymir. Thor had disguised himself as a young lad.
He asked Hymir if he could accompany him on his fishing trip. Hymir was not exactly overjoyed, but agreed to let him tag along.
He warned Thor that he could get scared in the boat at sea. Thor still insisted on coming.
When Thor asked Hymir about getting bait, Hymir got cranky. He told Thor to get his own fishing bait.
Thor went out to Hymir’s pasture. He grabbed a huge black ox and quickly killed the ox and snaps off the head. Thor took the head to use as bait.
Hymir and Thor started to row out to sea. Every time Hymir wanted to stop, Thor insisted they row even further from land, continuing into darker and
less known waters.
Finally Thor was satisfied and started fishing using the ox head as bait. Almost immediately Thor felt a mighty force pulling fiercely on his fishing
line. Thor used all his strength and started to haul in the line.
The catch was enormous. It was none other than the Midgard Serpent (Jormungand) who had taken the bait.
By this time Hymir was terrified.
The Midgard Serpent was the most dreaded creature to any fisherman.
Thor kept pulling, the serpent roared and waters of the ocean foamed.
Thor was by now back to being the thunder god and had grown in size and strength.
Hymir was now scared out of his wits. He grapped his knife and cut Thor’s fishing line off.
The Midgard Serpent sank back into the ocean very much alive. Thor smacked Hymir hard for what he had done. Hymir fell overboard. Thor himself waded
ashore.
How Thor got he's hammer
Part 3: Did Vikings know about electricity and Earth’s magnetic field?
This is an interesting interpret from an insightful girl who Link Thor to Earth’s magnetic field and explain how the vikings may have known about
the concept of electricity.
According to her Thor means thunder or “Son of the Earth”.
Thor is the masculine god of Asgard and is married to Sif which means lightning. They live inside something called Drurdvanger “The power
field”.
Thor’s mission or main occupation is protecting the Earth from Utgartr (out-yard or the outside world). Normally Thor use he’s great hammer
Mjøllnir which she interpret into “the grinder”.
So the thunder and lightning in the power field protects the Earth from outside forces according to the interpretation. Did the Vikings know about
Earth’s magnetic field?
Part 4: Questions about the Vikings for Ancient Aliens.
Was Thor’s chariot some kind of spaceship? (created loud thunder and lightning in the sky)
What about the goat’s, did the god’s have a regenerating salve for severe damage/death?
…was the goats chimera’s (like the middle earth worm)?
Was Thor’s hammer a Alien weapon?
Did the Vikings know about Earth’s magnetic field?
Next interesting idea is that maybe the Vikings discovered electricity. Thor need he’s iron power belt and iron gloves to control he’s hammer and
generate ligning?
You need two polar opposites to generate electricity, did the Vikings know this?
The Ship that can shrink into a pocket is kind of interesting too, do they use a "dimensional bag" or do they shrink/inflate the ship?
Norse mythology part 1 - The creation of the world and universe
Norse Mythology part 2 – The races, gods and their home
Norse mythology part 3 - Odin the allfather
pitt.edu
Thor - norse god of thunder
Norse mythology.com
edit on 10-10-2011 by Mimir because: I posted a wrong video initially :s