Skrymir

Skrymir, in Old Norse Skrýmir (also spelled Skrýmir), is a.jötunn (giant) mentioned in Norse mythology, most prominently in the Prose Edda. He is described as an enormous and powerful figure who travels for a time with Thor and Loki during their journey to the land of the giants. In the narrative, Skrymir appears as a friendly, hospitable giant who offers shelter and aid, but his great size and apparent ease at improvising obstacles serve as a test for the heroes.

The episode involving Skrymir is part of the larger story of Thor’s expedition to Utgard, where the gods and their companions encounter several giants and perform feats that reveal limits to mortal strength and the cunning of giants. While Skrymir’s actions emphasize the giants’ capacity to misdirect and challenge the travelers, the tale is often read as illustrating the contrast between outward might and true prowess. Some later interpretations identify Skrymir with Utgard-Loki, though most scholars treat them as distinct figures, with Utgard-Loki serving as the primary host at the hall in Utgard.

Etymology for Skrymir is uncertain, and scholarly translations vary in rendering the name’s meaning. The character is generally treated as a minor but illustrative example of the jötunn archetype in Norse myth—giants who test gods and heroes, and whose trickery underscores the limits of human strength and cunning.

In literature and scholarship, Skrymir is chiefly discussed in the context of the Thor cycle in the Prose Edda, and is sometimes referenced in discussions of Utgard-Loki and related episodes in the mythic corpus.