How Thor Got His Hammer Back

Norse (or Scandinavian) mythology, and especially Thor, doesn’t need an introduction as the recent films have made him as popular as Batman or Spider-Man. Here’s a story you probably didn’t know.

Thor was the god of thunder who protected Asgard, the land of the gods. He had a magic hammer called Mjolnir, which could cause lightning. Thor wielded it to great effect against the Jotuns, the giants from Jotunheim, who attacked Asgard constantly.

One morning Thor woke up and found his hammer missing. He went looking for his brother Loki, the god of fire. If anybody had stolen it, it would be Loki, the trickster. ‘No, no, why would I take it?’ said Loki ‘Do I want to be hammered? Ha, ha, ha!’ He broke into uncontrollable laughter. Now Thor was huge man, with flaming red hair and a beard. Looking at his blazing red eyes, Loki knew he should not tempt fate. ‘Those Jotuns must have stolen it for sure. Fret not, dear brother, I have a plan.’ Loki took Thor to meet Freyja, the most beautiful of goddesses. ‘Freyja, we need your magic cloak. Thor’s hammer is lost and I need to go find it. I have a pretty good idea where it might be too,’ said Loki.

Freyja gave Loki her falcon-feathered cloak. He put it on and was promptly turned into a hawk. Off he flew across the worlds, all the way to Jotunheim.

On a burial mound in Jotunheim he spotted Thrym, the king of giants. The giants were not clever but they knew magic. So when Loki flew above, Thrym immediately recognized him. ‘Hey Loki, all well at Asgard?’ he asked.

‘Terrible . . . terrible . . . someone’s stolen Thor’s hammer,’ hollered Loki from the sky.

Thrym began to laugh loudly. ‘I have hidden that hammer eight leagues under the earth. If you want it, bring me Freyja as my bride!’ Loki flew back swiftly with the news to Thor.

‘Freyja as his bride, imagine!’ guffawed Loki. ‘Brother, she’s never going to agree!’ Thor looked as if he could happily kill Loki right then.

‘Ah, I have an even better idea! Why don’t you dress as Freyja and go get your hammer?’ asked Loki, dancing with merriment at the very thought. Thor looked darkly at him.

‘Don’t be mad . . . I’ll dress as the bridesmaid if you like,’ said Loki grinning. Thor thought awhile and finally had to agree to the plan.

So the two of them set off in their bridal finery. When Thrym heard the roar of thunder, he knew his bride was coming. Delighted, he ordered a grand feast to be prepared for his wedding: four oxen were roasted, sixteen whole salmon boiled and twenty barrels of ale prepared. Soon, the veiled ‘bride’ arrived. Thrym escorted her to the hall but the bride remained silent.

‘Why doesn’t she speak?’ Thrym asked Loki, who could change shapes and so looked like a bridesmaid. ‘Oh, she was so excited at the thought of being married to you that she shouted for joy all these eight days and now her voice is so hoarse that she can’t say a word!’

Thrym was pleased to hear that. (I told you that the giants were not exactly smart people.) Eager to see her face, he took a peek under the veil and was shocked to see red eyes. ‘Why does she have such flaming eyes?’ he asked. ‘Well, she hasn’t slept in eight days—ever since she found out she was to be married to you. That’s why!’ said Loki with a smile.

When the feast began, the bride ate and drank heartily—one whole oxen, eight whole salmon and four barrels of ale! Thrym was taken aback. What was he in for? ‘How can a woman eat so much?’ he asked.

‘She has not eaten a morsel for the last eight days, I guess she’s making up for it,’ said Loki slyly.

‘Let’s not wait any longer then, let us get married. Right away!’ cried an excited Thrym.

‘But the hammer, remember?’ said Loki softly.

Thrym brought the hammer and placed it on the bride’s knees. Gripping it at once, Thor struck a blow on Thrym’s head, killing him instantly. He began to attack the rest of the giants, who fell one by one. A lucky few ran away. ‘Thanks, brother! That was a master plan.’ Thor smiled as he ripped off the ridiculous bridal costume. Together, they flew off to Asgard with the hammer rightfully restored to Thor.