þunor

Þunor is the Old Norse name for the thunder god in Germanic and Norse mythology, most closely identifying with the deity known in English as Thor. The name derives from Proto-Germanic *þunraz-, meaning “thunder.” In Old Norse literature and poetry, Þunor is the principal hammer-wielding god associated with storms and protection, and is commonly equated with Thor in later interpretations.

In the mythology, Þunor is a son of Odin and Jörð (the earth) and serves as a defender of gods and humans against giants. He embodies strength, courage, and the force of nature. Thor’s chief symbol is his hammer, Mjölnir, which is used to strike down foes and bless gatherings. He is also described as wearing a magical belt that increases his strength and iron gloves needed to handle Mjölnir. Thor travels in a chariot drawn by two goats, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr, and he is famed for his ability to redraw the hammer when it returns to him after being thrown.

Þunor is a central figure in the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, as well as in skaldic poetry and various runic inscriptions. The name and the figure have had lasting influence on later European mythologies and modern popular culture, where the character is most often rendered as Thor in English. The Old Norse tradition presents Þunor as a powerful, protective deity whose myths emphasize thunder, resilience, and the safeguarding of communities.