Who was Thor?
In short: Thor is the thunder god of Norse mythology and the strongest fighter among the Æsir. Son of Odin and Jörð, the earth, he defends the gods against the giants with his hammer Mjölnir.
Profile
- Role: God of thunder, defender of the Æsir
- Gear: The hammer Mjölnir, the belt Megingjörð, iron gloves
- Chariot: Drawn by the goats Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr
- Parents: Odin and Jörð
- Wife: Sif
- Children: Magni, Móði, Þrúðr
- Realm and hall: Þrúðvangr, with the hall Bilskirnir
5 facts about Thor
- Thor wears iron gloves to wield the hammer Mjölnir, and the belt Megingjörð adds to his strength.
- His chariot is drawn by two goats, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr.
- His wife is the golden-haired Sif, and their daughter is Þrúðr; he also has the sons Magni and Móði.
- At Ragnarök Thor kills the world serpent — then takes nine steps and dies of its venom.
- Thursday is named after him.
Protector of the gods
In the stories of the Edda, Thor is above all the one who fights: he goes out against the giants who threaten the order of the gods, and his hammer is the Æsir's most effective weapon.
His feud with the world serpent links two branches of the family tree: the serpent is a child of Loki — and in the end Thor and the serpent kill each other.
Frequently asked questions
Who were Thor's parents?
Thor is the son of Odin and Jörð, the personification of the earth.
What is Thor's hammer called?
Thor's hammer is called Mjölnir. He wears iron gloves to wield it.
How does Thor die?
At Ragnarök, the end of the world, Thor kills the world serpent. He then takes nine steps and dies of its venom.
Sources
- Wikipedia – Thor – accessed 14 October 2026
- Wikipedia – Thor (German) – accessed 14 October 2026
More from Norse mythology
Thor is a son of Odin and the adversary of Loki's children. Open the example tree to explore his parents, his wife and his children generation by generation.