Þrymr

Þrymr is a jötunn (giant) in Norse mythology, best known as the thief of Thor’s hammer Mjölnir. The tale of his theft and the hammer’s recovery is preserved in Þrymskviða, a poem in the Poetic Edda, and is commonly cited as a key myth explaining how Thor regains his weapon and power.

In the poem, Thrymr steals Mjölnir and demands a bride-price from the gods in exchange for its return. He declares that Freyja must be given to him in marriage, threatening death or ruin if the hammer is not produced. The gods consult and decide to deceive Thrymr rather than risk war. Thor and Loki travel to Thrymr’s hall disguised as a bride and her maid, with Thor wearing bridal attire and a veil to appear as Freyja.

At a wedding feast, Thrymr marvels at the supposed bride’s beauty. When he requests that Freyja be shown, Thor grips Mjölnir, reveals his true identity, and uses the hammer to kill Thrymr and the gathered giants. With the weapon reclaimed, Thor returns to Asgard, restoring order and protection for the gods and their realm.

Etymology of the name Þrymr is uncertain; it is treated as a proper name in the sources, with some scholars proposing a linguistic link to words meaning noise or thunder. The Þrymskviða narrative remains a prominent example of the jötnar’s interactions with the Æsir and the central symbol of Mjölnir in Norse myth.