Thryms

Thryms is the anglicized form of the Old Norse name Þrymr, a jötunn (giant) who figures in Norse mythology as the thief of Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir. The tale is best known from the poem Þrymskviða (The Lay of Thrym) in the Poetic Edda, and the form of the name varies in translations and editions (Thrym, Þrymr, and related spellings appear in different texts).

In the myth, Þrymr steals Mjölnir and demands that the gods present Freyja as his wife in exchange for the hammer’s return. The gods refuse, and Thor, aided by Loki, devises a plan: Thor dresses as the goddess Freyja and travels to Jötunheim, accompanied by Loki. At the giant’s hall, Þrymr eagerly awaits the wedding, and the guests feast while the disguised Thor keeps his true identity hidden. When Þrymr places Mjölnir on the altar to bless the marriage, Thor reveals the hammer and uses it to slay Þrymr and the assembled giants, then regains Mjölnir and restores divine order.

The tale emphasizes the central role of Mjölnir as Thor’s weapon and symbol of protection and power. It also showcases themes of cunning, disguise, and the uneasy dynamics between gods and giants in Norse myth. Scholarly discussion notes that the name Þrymr and its variants reflect transliteration differences, with Þrymr being the most common scholarly form for the character in the original sources. Modern retellings occasionally adapt or reinterpret the episode, but the Þrymr story remains a core part of the Norse mythic corpus.