Thor facts for kids
Thor is a famous god in Norse mythology. He is known as the god of thunder and lightning. People believed he brought strength, storms, and good harvests. Thor is the son of Odin, the chief god, and Jörð, who represents the Earth. He is known for being very strong, with red hair and a full beard. Thor could get angry quickly and had a huge appetite!
His name comes from an old word meaning "thunder." In Old English, he was called Þunor, and in Old High German, Donar. The English weekday Thursday actually means "Thor's day."
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Who is Thor's Family?
Thor is the oldest son of Odin, the leader of the gods called the Æsir. His mother is Jörð, the spirit of the Earth. He has several half-brothers, including Baldr, Höðr, Víðarr, and Váli.
Thor is married to the beautiful goddess Sif, who has golden hair. They have a daughter named Þrúðr. Thor also has two sons, Móði and Magni, with a giantess named Járnsaxa. Sif had a son before marrying Thor, named Ullr, who is Thor's stepson.
What Special Items Did Thor Have?
Thor had some amazing possessions that made him very powerful.
Thor's Chariot and Goats
Thor traveled across the sky in a special chariot. This chariot was pulled by two magical goats named Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr.
Mjölnir: Thor's Hammer
Thor's most famous item was his short-handled war hammer, Mjölnir. Two dwarf brothers, Eitri and Brokkr, made this hammer for him. It was said to be the strongest weapon in all the Nine Worlds, powerful enough to smash mountains! What's even cooler is that when Thor threw Mjölnir, it would always fly back to his hand.
Other Powerful Gear
To use Mjölnir, Thor needed special iron gloves called Járngreipr. He also had a belt called Megingjörð, which doubled his already incredible strength when he wore it. Another item was a staff, Gríðarvölr, which was given to him by a giantess named Gríðr.
Thor in Popular Culture
Thor is a very popular character today, especially in comics and movies.
Marvel Comics and Movies
In Marvel Comics, Thor is known as Thor Odinson. He is the son of Odin and Frigga, and he is a founding member of the superhero team, the Avengers. His main enemy is Loki, who is his younger adopted brother and the god of trickery. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Australian actor Chris Hemsworth plays Thor. He has appeared as Thor in many movies, including Thor (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). He is also expected to be in future Marvel movies.
Places Named After Thor
Many places around the world are named after Thor, showing how important he was in old times.
In countries like Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, you can find many place names that include Thor's name. For example, Thorsager in Denmark means "Thor's Acre." In Norway, you might see Þórshof, meaning "Thor's Temple." On the Swedish west coast, there's an island called Torsö, which means "Thor's Island."
Places in England and Germany
In England, there are fewer places directly named after Thor, but some exist, like Thundersley. In Germany, some places are called Donnersberg ("Donner's mountain"), which might be named after Thor, as "Donner" is the German form of his name.
Other Mentions of Thor
Even animals and natural objects were sometimes linked to Thor. In Iceland, a type of fox with a red coat was called holtaþórr ("Thor of the holt"). In Sweden, smooth, wedge-shaped stones found in the earth were called Thorwiggar ("Thor's wedges"). People believed Thor had thrown these stones at trolls. Even meteorites were sometimes seen as memorials to Thor because of how heavy they are. On the Swedish island of Gotland, a type of beetle was named Thorbagge. People believed that if you found this beetle upside down and flipped it over, you could gain Thor's favor!
In northwest Spain, there's a river called Torío in the area of León, which also takes its name from the god Thor.
Images for kids
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The Teutoburg Forest in northwestern Germany
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Boniface with his crucifix after felling Thor's Oak in Bonifacius (1905) by Emil Doepler
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16th-century picture of Norse gods from Olaus Magnus's A Description of the Northern Peoples; from left to right, Frigg, Thor and Odin
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Sun Shines in the Hall (1908) by W.G. Collingwood: Thor laughs with his daughter and the "all-wise" dwarf
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Medieval pictures of Saint Olaf looked like Thor. This wooden statue is from Sankt Olofs kyrka in Scania.
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The Altuna stone from Sweden, showing Thor's fishing trip
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The Gosforth depiction, showing Thor's fishing trip
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A bronze statue from about AD 1000, found in Iceland.
See also
In Spanish: Thor para niños
