Thors hammer Mjlnir is by far his most important possession, however. WebThors Dwelling in Heaven Trondheim. Such adventures included battling with foul monsters, journeying to distant lands, and even dressing as a woman. Being the son of Odin and the earth goddess Yord, he protected people from evil monsters and giants using his weapon Mjolnir. While Nerthus is said to be linked with Njord in some stories, some scholars debate whether these two figures were simply the male/female counterparts of the same being. He was the son of Bestla and Borr and had two brothers, Vili and V, with who he helped to shape the world that we know. His mother was Frigg, the goddess of wisdom and wife to Odin. In Norse mythology, there are dozens of major gods and many other lesser deities that are mentioned in ancient Scandinavian literature. Thor raised Mjlnir to slay Hrungniras he was wont dobut Hrungnir called him a coward for striking an unarmed man. According to Norse mythology, Baldur is the son of Odin, the Allfather and chief god of the Aesir. The story concluded with Hymir attacking Thor and Thor slaying him in turn. link to Is Valhalla Heaven or Hell? Knowing that the giant Hymir possessed such a beastly cauldron, Thor set out to find him. Norse mythology and Christianity may not seem to have much in common at first glance. The primary gods in Norse mythology were Odin, Thor, Freyr, and Loki. In several Germanic myths that preceded and supplement the Old Norse texts, the names of Odin, Frigga, Freyja, and Freyjas husband deviate and overlap. In Norse mythology derived from most of the information of the god, Odin is associated with wisdom, healing, death, royalty, gallows, knowledge, battle, witchcraft, poetry, frenzy, and rune letters, and is Odin's husband. The encounter was part of a long and rambling story about Thors search for a cauldron large enough to brew beer for all the gods. [21]. Although Thor eventually took the cauldron from Hymirs home, Hymir and a host of giants followed him, and so Thor proceeded to use Mjlnir to slaughter them all. Straightway Thor came into the hall, brandishing his hammer, and he was very wroth, and asked who had advised that these dogs of giants be permitted to drink there.[7]. It is mentioned in the Grimnirs Speeches of the Elder Edda. Yet Odin knew his son was doomed to an early But what is even more intriguing is the way that the nine worlds of the Nordic mythology were created and formed. The first mentions of Thor were found in Roman sources. The Romans were right to note the similarities. Also, Njord is known as a god of the Vanir tribe in later stories he becomes an honorary member of the Aesir tribe following the Aesir-Vanir war, like the other figures in the Vanir tribe on this list. Internet Sacred Text Archive.https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/poe/poe11.htm. View Mobile Site. In some stores, she is described as leaving Njord and later marrying and having several children with Odin. Norse Mythology Accessed January 9, 2018. These gods were believed to have their own personalities and powers, and their stories are still told today. [20]. (or whatever you might call mythic distinction between different kinds of gods.) When Baldur was sent to Hel, the Norse version of the underworld, many other Norse gods attempted to retrieve the beloved Baldurs soul, but their attempts were ultimately unsuccessful. [9]. Njord, known as the god of the sea and sailors, was frequently praised and worshipped by seafarers, who made up a significant portion of Norse society, especially in ancient times. Thor possesses several items that aid him in his hunts. Thor also possesses a magical belt that doubles his incredible strength and special iron gauntlets that allow Thor to grip his hammer. He was the son of Bor and Bestla and rose in fame mostly because of the Vikings admiration. With Mjlnir in hand, Thor lays waste to the giants from his chariot, which is pulled by his goats Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjstr. So too, he was filled with fondness for his hammer and enamored with beer. Odin was the ruler of Asgard and the father of the other gods. USD 22.00. The exact creator of the Norse god Odin is not known, as the Norse mythology and religion that he is a part of predates written history. As a giantess, she is heavily associated with winter and darkness, however, likely because she became a goddess through marriage, Skadi has historically beenhighly veneratedby Norse populace, who potentially saw her as more accessible or merciful than other deities. (Also see Do People Still Believe In Odin?). 1993. The version from Norse mythology stands apart in its way. Gylfaginning 21. [5], Thors hammer could be used to hallow as readily as it could be used to destroy and, in effect, these two properties were one and the same, since any purification necessarily involves the banishing of hostile forces or elements. Not much is known of Laufey, but research has suggested she may have been a goddess or a giantess. To allow him to successfully protect the bridge, Heimdall has several powers including superior eyesight (can see for hundreds of miles), hearing (can hear the sound of wool growing on sheep), energy (sleeps less than a bird), and foresight. As the eleventh-century German historian Adam of Bremen notes, Thor, they say, presides over the air, which governs the thunder and lightning, the winds and rains, fair weather and crops.[7] His seldom-mentioned wife, Sif, is noted for her golden hair above all else, which is surely a symbol for fields of grain. They stand in stark contrast to Thors more homely virtues. c. 1080. While this list of 25 Norse Gods is a great start, theres plenty more information out there about the exploits, conflict, and adventures of these and other Norse gods. On one occasion, Thor woke up to find his hammer missing. Other Important Aesir Gods: Some of the Aesir gods central to the Norse stories were neither clearly indicated to be part of Odins family tree nor tasked with central roles and responsibilities in Asgard or Midgard. The exact creator of the Norse god Odin is not known, as the Norse mythology and religion that he is a part of predates written history. Fire, methinks, from her eyes burns forth.[5]. Loki, seeking to sabotage their work, changed into the form of a fly and bit the dwarf on the arm. While these three items were the ones most associated with the thunder god, Thor also possessed a staff known as Grdarvlr; he seldom used it, however. Although he causes anger, harm, anguish, and even death to other beings in Norse mythology, Loki is not described as outright evil but certainly as cruel. Thrym called to bring in Mjlnir so that they could bless the bride. Beginning the duel, Hrungnir threw his whetstone at Thor as hard as possible, while Thor threw Mjlnir at him. Odin gave them breath and life, Hoenir gave the two understanding and intelligence, and Lodurr gave them their physical senses and appearance. Hrbarslj, stanza 24. They agreed to help Thor in his search, and Loki, borrowing Freyas falcon cloak, flew away to find the missing hammer. Born from the Norse giants, Skadi is known for hunting in the wilderness of the mountains. Thor, in truth, loved fighting and rarely passed on an opportunity to engage in it. He is most well-known for theunwitting parthe plaid in Lokis plan to shoot and kill Baldur with a dart made of mistletoe. In Norse mythology, Thor is indeed the son of Odin, but not the son of Frigg as Marvel would have you think. That honor belongs to Jord, who is tho At a glance, Odin and Thor seem to be remarkably similar. Thor insisted they row out even further, but Hymir grew fearful as he knew the Midgard serpent lurked beneath these waters. He is one of the sons of Odin, the half-brother of Thor, Baldur, Hodr, and Bragi. Who is the true son of Odin? er val falla, During the Once again, Thor was off in the east hunting trolls when a giant approached the gods and offered to build a palace capable of withstanding any attack by the jtnar. Beyond those behaviors, Freyja also controls powerful magical abilities and is thought to be responsible for theseidr, the most organized form of Norse magic.[25], Also see the full article Freya: Norse Goddess of Love and War. Then all the folk of the giants he felled. The Greek Zeus and the Norse Odin. And his mother is a female Jtunn who is generally believed to be a personification of the earth. 1973. Valhalla is an important place in Norse mythology. 137 Likes, 0 Comments - Magic of Pagan shop (@loki_merch) on Instagram: Thor amulet. The Tree of Life was an important symbol in Norse mythology. Between the two main tribes of deity figures in Norse mythology, the Aesir tribe is by far the larger one, at least with respect to the gods and goddesses that are mentioned in central texts like theProse Edda[2] and thePoetic Edda [3]. Thor would take nine steps after felling the serpent before succumbing to the serpents poison and dying: Nine paces fares the son of Fjorgyn, The stone struck Mjlnir in mid-flight, however, and shattered into pieces. The next day, when Thor used his hammer to bring the goats back to life, he noticed one of their legs was lame. Frigg was the wife of Odin, and together with her, he had three sons. The two rode out into the sea, and Hymir caught two whales, much to his delight. However, Loki is also the father of Narfi and Vali, whose mother is Sigyn. Within and beyond the legends contained in the Prose Edda and Poetic Edda, the stories about these figures weave a fascinating tapestry of history and culture. A paragon of strength and masculine virility, the storm god Thor was the fiercest ofNorse deities. His role in Norse mythology is defined as being the defender of Asgard, the stronghold and home of most of the Aesir gods. They constructed a massive clay giant over 30 miles tall and placed the heart of a horse to animate it. Examples of Vanir gods include Freyja and Freyr. Despite her role as Queen, however, there are relatively few mentions of this co-ruler of the Aesir. Loki, on the other hand, loved the idea and ultimately persuaded Thor to go along with it. Follow on IG TikTok Join Fan Lab. Loki is foretold to cause or contribute to several deaths of Norse gods during Ragnarok, and he isthe fatherof the wolf Fenrir, who kills Odin, and the snake Jormungandr, who will poison and kill Thor. Finally, Loki again went as a fly and bit the dwarf on the eyelid hard enough to draw blood. Thor in Norse Mythology Norse God of Thunder, Items Associated with ThorThors Symbols, Thors Tale: The Day Thors Hammer, Mjlnir, Went MissingThor Being a Bride, Odin in Norse Mythology The Norse God of War and Death, The Children of Loki Norse Mythology Explained, The Jtnar (Jtunn) in Norse Mythology The Frost Giants, Loki In Norse Mythology The Norse God of Trickery and Fire. Thor hated many creatures, but none so much as Jrmungandr, the sea serpent of Midgard (one of the Nine Worlds and the home of humans). Stumped, Thor went to the other gods and asked for help. Translated by Angela Hall. The background of this trait is that Baldur was bestowed this immunity when his mother Frigga made a plea to all living things not to harm her son, but in the process, she forgot to include mistletoe. Or Hymir, out of fear for his life, cuts the line himself. No one is better suited for this task than Thor. Thor is the God of thunder in Norse mythology In Gods and Creatures by SkjaldenJune 1, 2011 Thor (In Old Norse rr) is the almighty God of thunder in Norse mythology, he is the son of Odin and Giantess Fjrgyn. The gods were tired of his drunken boasting and called on Thor, who quickly appeared, hammer in hand. There it would join its brother Fenrir, who would set the world aflame while Jrmungandr filled the air with poison. Translated by Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur. Sometimes this created variations in certain tales. One of Thors more embarrassing adventures was precipitated by the theft of Mjlnir. Thor, feeling hungry, ate an entire ox, ate salmon, all the delicacies reserved for the women, as well as three horns of mead. Mighty, loyal, and always willing to defend his home and his people. This makes Thor three-quarter of a Jtunn himself, which is interesting as he is by far the greatest enemy of the Jtnar, and continually defends Asgard from them. His activities on the divine plane were mirrored by his activities on the human plane (Midgard), where he was appealed to by those in need of protection, comfort, and the blessing and hallowing of places, things, and events. He is a half-brother of Thor and the son of Odin and Frigga. Back in Asgard, Heimdall hatched a schemethe gods would dress Thor as Freya and Loki as her servant. With Sif, Thor had a daughter known as Thudr, who may have become a valkyrie. Turville-Petre admirably summarizes: In these [late Viking Age Icelandic] sources Thor appears not only as the chief god of the settlers but also as patron and guardian of the settlement itself, of its stability and law.[16]. See Is the Norse Religion Still Practiced? Norse mythology, and the figures that populate its stories, originate from a variety of sources that at times seem to contradict one another. However, his lack of his fathers wisdom and his ill-temper leads to him being often tricked. During the feast, Hrungnir grew quite drunk and began boasting, saying that he would destroy Asgard and all the gods, save for Freya and Sif, Thors wife, whom he wished to take to his home. There was Draupnir, a golden ring that sprouted eight identical rings every ninth night. [15] Famed Old Norse scholar E.O.G. See The Norse Tree of Life: A Fascinating Viking Symbol to learn more. The next day, Hymir told Thor to fetch some bait for their hooks, and so Thor went into the Jtunns pastures and ripped the head off of one of his bulls to use as bait, angering Hymir even more. In light of this, its unsurprising that Freyr is one of the most often worshipped Norse gods in history. He sought out the dwarf brothers Brokkr and Sindri and taunted them, claiming that they could never craft anything as perfect as the creations of the sons of Ivaldi. Taking the bait, the brothers went to work and came back with three masterworks of their own. The dart, which Hod threw as a jest, was one that Loki had made of mistletoe, knowing it would be able to harm Baldur. McCoy, D. Norse Mythology for Smart People. Upon informing Thor of the situation, Thor went to Freya and told her to put on a bridal dress and come with him to Jtunheimr. Translated by Henry Adams Bellows. WebAnswer (1 of 9): Nope, technically theyre not even the same species. Despite this, they won the bet and went to claim Lokis head. Keep reading to learn more. [8] Ellis-Davidson, Hilda Roderick. Their marriage is therefore an instance of what historians of religion call a hierogamy (divine marriage), which, particularly among Indo-European peoples, generally takes place between a sky god and an earth goddess. Brave, powerful, and righteous, Thor fully embodied the hero archetype. References:[1] Source[2] Source[3] Source[4] Source[5] Source[6] Source[7] Source[8] Source[9] Source[10] Source[11] Source[12] Source[13] Source[14] Source[15] Source[16] Source[17] Source[18] Source[19] Source[20] Source. He was commonly depicted in paintings of the period, and writers and poets ranging from Adam Gottlob Oehlenschlger (a Dane), to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (an American), to Rudyard Kipling (an Englishman) used Thor as a character in their literature. Interestingly, Thors name is something English speakers may unknowingly reference frequently. Skldskaparml.Prose Edda. Either way, the serpent manages to survive the encounter, and Thor pulls the sinking boat back to shore. 10 Facts That Might Surprise You, link to Norse Mythology vs. Christianity: Comparison, Valhalla Heaven or Hell? There, Thor was identified as Jupiter or Jove, the Roman god of strength who hurled lightning bolts (Jupiter was, in turn, based on the Greek godZeus). Known as the wisest of all men, Kvasir technically exists in an in-between space between the Aesir and Vanir tribes according to certain legends. For the heathen Scandinavians, just as thunder was the embodiment of Thor, lightning was the embodiment of his hammer slaying giants as he rode across the sky in his goat-drawn chariot. Who Were the Indo-Europeans and Why Do They Matter? He is regularly associated with wealth and fertility, is married to giantess Skadi, and is the father of twins Freyja and Freyr. The gods soon tired of his taunts: But when his overbearing insolence became tiresome to the sir, they called on the name of Thor. I neer saw a bride with a broader bite, He also wore a belt of strength that doubled his already insane physical strength. Given his ever-vigilant protection of the ordered cosmos of pre-Christian northern Europe against the forces of chaos, destruction, and entropy represented by the giants, its somewhat ironic that Thor is himself three-quarters giant. As many gods in Norse mythology have been known to do, Odin has frequently hidden and disguised himself under a multitude of aliases, including Boverk, Gangnrad, Grimnir, and Harbard, among others. Loki did not return to the gods just yet, however, for he saw an opportunity and concocted a clever plan. Odin (/ o d n /; from Old Norse: inn) is a widely revered god in Germanic paganism. Thor butchered his goats and shared the meat with the farmers family. When Loki discovered that Frigga had failed to ask mistletoe not to harm her son, he made a weapon out of the plant and tricked Hod into shooting it at Baldur, killing him in the process. An interesting fact is that within Norse mythology, gold is known as Aegirs Fire. Although the majority of major figures among Norse gods and goddesses belong to the Aesir tribe, there are still a handful of important figures that come from the Vanir tribe, including Freyja, Freyr, Njord, Nerthus, and Kvasir. WebOdin (Old Norse: inn) is the god of wisdom, poetry, death, divination, and magic in Norse mythology. It is said that no matter what, Thor would strike with Mjlnir, and no matter how hard, the hammer would not break, and if he threw it, it would never miss and would always return to his hand. Mjlnir was created when Loki went to two dwarven brothers and bet his own head that the brothers could not craft more beautiful items than the other dwarves that had crafted some things for the gods, including Odins spear. Loki, in turn, dressed as Thors maidservant and the two headed to Jtunheimr. Thor ate two that night, and Hymir saw that he would quickly run out of food and so declared that they would need to go fishing in the morning to procure more food. At least one of these encounters produced a son, Mdi (courage), though the boys mother was not identified in any surviving Norse texts. Tall enough to be able to stand on the ocean floor. When he is fishing for the Midgard Worm on the far out seas, his feet breaks through the bottom [13]. the giants sister old he slew.[6]. Thor, for example, was always noted to have red hair and a red beard in Norse mythology. While his mother was variously known as Jord (earth), Hldyn, or Fjrgyn, in all cases she was identified as a giant, making Thor half-jtunn. Translated by Francis Joseph Tschan. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for Norse mythology Viking Thor's hammer Odin totem pendant titanium steel necklacY at the best online prices at eBay! WebSponsored by Paramount+. Never one to pass up an opportunity to kill giants, Thor rushed to their aid and smote the builder: And straightway the hammer Mjllnir was raised aloft; he paid the wrights wage, and not with the sun and the moon.[9]. Hoenir (Vili): God of Silence, Spirituality, more. And who better to defend their traditional way of life and worldview from hostile, invading forces than Thor? Odin, with his brothers, made the first man and woman. Thor was the Germanic thunder god. Although Thor would slay the serpent, hes poisoned by its venom. p. 429. Why are so fearful the eyes of Freyja? After Odin, Hoenir, alternatively Among his responsibilities, Forseti is charged with hearing and judging all legal disputes in Glitnir, his legendary palace made of red gold. Proud Thor objected to this plan: Me would the gods unmanly call This article will provide an overview of the god of thunder, his various deeds, and his eventual death during Ragnark. 2022 Wasai LLC. To learn more about Frigga, Freyja, and other Norse goddesses see 10 Goddesses in Norse Mythology That You Need to Know). The gods summoned a healer named Gra, the wife of Aurvandill the Valiant, who successfully began to draw the stone from Thors head. Christian started Scandinavia Facts to explore his family heritage, raise awareness of one of his academic interests as a professor, and civilly promote the region. Additionally, there are several other indications that these two goddesses may have once been regarded as one and the same. Odin is married to the beautiful Goddess Frigg, together they have the sons Baldur and Hod, but Odin also has others sons. Some of the giantesses who live in Jotunheim (the land of the giants) are so beautiful that even Odin could not resist them. So Odin has on many occasions traveled to Jotunheim to be with one of those beautiful giantesses. 1964. See the article, Who Can Lift Thors Hammer? For example, Odin's characterization mostly lacks the trickster and deceitful traits of the god in old stories. However, that doesnt mean that such gods, including Loki, Elli, Gefion, and Heimdall, didnt play important parts in Norse mythology. Aside from him, Odin and Frigg had another son, Baldurs brother Hodr, not to mention the several half-brothers fathered by Odin. WebThe most popular theory suggests that Thor, Odins son, can defeat Odin in a duel. WebIn Norse mythology, Magni is the prodigious son of the Aesir god Thor and his lover, the jtunn Jrnsaxa. This was another extension of his role as a sky god, and one particularly associated with the rain that enables crops to grow. Odin was the foremost deity appealed to by rulers, outcasts, and elite persons of every sort. In fact, despite Lodurr contributing to the brothers joint creation of the first human man and woman, Ask and Embla, his name is only mentionedone timein the Poetic Eda. Another jotunn, Gridr, had a son, Vidarr, with Odin. Norse mythology and Greek mythology are both fascinating. WebLokis three most notable children are those he had with the giantess Angrboda: Fenrir, the wolf, Jormungandr, the World Serpent, and Hel, Goddess of the Dead. Thor is the Norse god of thunder, storms, strength, and fertility. Once all was ready, Thor and Loki traveled to Jtunheimr and gained access to Thryms hall. Web: 000-753 _____ Thor is one of the most famous gods in Norse mythology, known for his sense of justice, wisdom, and wit. Mythopedia. In modern English, this name survives as Thursday.. [2] Turville-Petre, E.O.G. His death is avenged by his son, Vidarr, who kills the great wolf. Wood carved illustration from Olaus Magnus'sA Description of the Northern Peoples(published in Rome, 1555). Apel, T. (2022, December 8). Among them, six are the most important and most powerful, and about whom the most information is mentioned and known via the Old Norse texts. His cult thrived during the Viking Period of northern European history (ca. Compare them here: Norse Mythology vs Greek Mythology: Whats the Difference? The story began when Thor was away in the east slaying trollsone of his favorite pastimes. Were building the worlds most authoritative, online mythology resource, with engaging, accessible content that is both educational and compelling to read. After Odin, Hoenir, alternatively known as Vili in some texts, was the second most well-known of the trio of brothers that became the first Norse gods. The Old Norse Language and How to Learn It, The Swastika Its Ancient Origins and Modern (Mis)use. 1964. He is the son of the god Loki (in the form of a mare) and the stallion Svadilfari who belonged to the jtunn that built the walls of Asgard. According to prophecy, Vidarr, the god of vengeance, would avenge his fathers death during the On one occasion, Thor and Loki were travelling, stopped at the home of a farmer. However, this is only if Odin allows Thor to strike him with Mjolnir and Gungnir at the same time. Heimdall, the watcher, spoke up, saying that they should dress up Thor in a bridal dress and pass him off as Freya. Loki is often portrayed as the antithesis of the other main god of the Aesir in the stories he is involved in. The gods convened to discuss the situation, as Thor needed to get his hammer back to protect Asgard. Among the most important of them are Hel, Skadi, Aegir, and Forseti. Through his father he is the elder half-brother of Mi (referred to in game as "Modi") and rr (referred to in dialogue as "Thrud"), and through his mother is the half-brother of Heimdallr. 1827-1829) by Hermann Ernst Freund. When Christianity first reached Scandinavia and the viking colonies, the people tolerated the cult of the new god just like they tolerated the cult of any other god. The original Old English for Thursday literally means Thors day. [11]. Like Fenrir and Jormundandr, Hel is an offspring of Lokis, and her moth is giantess Angrboda. With his jtunn lover, Thor had a son named Magni (strength). As a supreme warrior and slayer of the ice giants, he is a force to behold. In deliberate contrast to the cross amulets that the Christians wore around their necks, those who continued to follow the old ways started to wear miniature Thors hammers around their necks. He went to Loki, distressed, and told him that it had been stolen. Thors popularity surged in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries with the emergence of the Marvel comic book franchise and the ensuing Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is less well-known that he was Among the most important texts were the Prose Edda, which was thought to have been written by author, scholar, and historian, Snorri Sturluson, and the Poetic Edda, a collection of poetry from the 11th to 14th century. Thrym then fetched Mjlnir and placed it on Freyas lap in order to sanctify the marriage. The Norse gods were powerful deities that played a major role in Norse mythology. As the first day of summer neared and the giants work grew close to completion, Loki transformed himself into a mare and seduced the giants stallion, a magnificently strong beast whose assistance was vital to the giants work. The Prose Edda. 800 to 1100 CE), and his lore survived in the folk traditions of modern Germanic language speakers. The earliest Icelandic settlers implored him to hallow their plot of land before they built buildings or planted crops. [16]. The other prizes Loki divvied up between Odin andFreya. https://mythopedia.com/topics/thor, Thomas Apel is a historian of science and religion who received his PhD in History from Georgetown University. Norse mythologyseldom provided details about the childhoods and early lives of its main deities. Thor was a principal deity within Germanic religions as far back as we have records. Perhaps the most famous of Odins sons, Thor was a warlike god of thunder who nursed a special hatred for the giants. In addition to his many names, Odin has also had a multitude of powers and responsibilities ascribed to him. The world serpent is one of the children of Loki and lives in the great ocean surrounding Midgard, wrapped around the earth. Nerthus is a relatively unknown goddess, but she is frequently associated with the concepts of fertility, peace, and prosperity. Thor. Mythopedia, 8 Dec. 2022. https://mythopedia.com/topics/thor. True to his word, Loki traveled to the home of dwarves and found the sons of Ivaldi, master craftsmen who fashioned new hair for Sif and two other masterworks: the unbreakable ship Skidbladnir, and the deadly spear Gungnir. The building was said to be the largest ever erected and featured a grand total of five hundred and forty rooms. [15] Simek, Rudolf. Above all things, Thor was brave, strong, and fierce. He rode in a chariot pulled by the goats Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjstr. They produced a golden ring for Odin that would multiply itself eight times every ninth night. [19]. Odin (/ o d n /; from Old Norse: inn) is a widely revered god in Germanic paganism. In Old Norse,his nameis thought to mean the wide-ruling one, which is interesting considering that most of his references are solely about his role in Ragnarok. Thor, whose name derives from a word meaning thunder, is the son of Odin. As well as thunderstorms, Thor is associated with oak trees, and is said to protect mankind.