One of the most curious elements of Norse mythology is the legend of Thor’s hammer, carried by the invincible god of thunder. If you are a lover of Viking culture or have been hooked on the many superhero movies that exist today, this text is made for you. In it you will discover many curiosities of this powerful weapon and you will find answers to some questions. Do you know what Thor’s hammer is called? What was its main source of magic or if anyone could lift it? Clear all these questions!
What is Thor’s hammer called?
The weapon of the Norse god Thor is called Mjolnir. It is characterized by having an incredible resistance due to the fact that it was made with the Uru metal, of Asgardian origin. It was made by the god Odin, who is the father of Thor, who he used a dying star as a power source to give the weapon magical power.
Due to its characteristics and its power, it quickly became Thor’s favorite weapon and the element that identifies him in many of his stories. One of the curiosities of Mjolnir is that it can only be lifted or carried by those with unblemished morals and good integrity. That results in several Marvel characters having managed to lift it, in addition to Thor.
Curiosities of the hammer Mjolnir
The legend of Thor’s hammer covers a series of events that lead to its creation and that become quite curious. Some have to do with its meaning, others about its origin, so here we will discover the most outstanding.
1. Hammer of Thor: meaning of his name
It’s funny, but the name of Thor’s hammer describes it perfectly. In Scandinavian languages, the word Mjolnir literally means “demolisher”.. Experts originally thought the name referred to the destructive nature of this wonderful hammer. However, some theories defend that the name refers to Thor’s relationship with agriculture, since some Vikings associated him with nature.
In addition to these two theories about the etymology of Mjolnir, there is a third that believes that the word means lightning, since this deity was associated with thunder and lightning. All of these stories only magnify the legend of Thor’s hammer as one of the greatest weapons in Norse mythology.
2. Was Mjolnir a hammer?
This question may seem contradictory at first, but the truth is that it is still not entirely clear if Thor carried a hammer or another weapon. In many representations, Thor wielded a club or an ax.
Be that as it may, this tool appears in all the Nordic legends, it could be thrown since it always knew how to find its way back and special iron gloves were always necessary to be able to lift it. Innumerable properties were attributed to him, he could throw lightning and thunder and it was said that his strength could destroy entire mountains.
3. Who built the hammer Mjolnir?
In addition to knowing what Thor’s hammer was called, one of the most important curiosities lies in who made this wonderful weapon possible. One of the most famous legends assures that the creators of Mjolnir were the dwarf brothers named Sindri and Brokk..
They were provoked by Loki, the god of deception, who challenged them saying that they would not be able to build such a powerful tool. Although Loki tried to stop the dwarves from creating this hammer by disguising himself as a fly and delaying their work, they were able to finish the job for him. Sindri and Brokk assured the god of thunder that the hammer was the best work they had ever done. and this was demonstrated by Thor taking him with him on numerous adventures in which he ended up being victorious.
4. The legend of Thor’s hammer as an amulet and symbol
One of the curiosities about the legend of Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, is that in addition to being one of the most powerful weapons in all of Norse mythology, It was also a popular amulet and symbol used in sacred ceremonies in most northern countries.
Thor’s hammer could be found represented in jewelry as earrings and served to rebel against the invasion of Christian religious symbols. Another of the uses of these amulets was for protection, where the bearer trusted that the famous hammer would protect him from all evil.
also arose in Iceland a movement called Thórsfrónvé that defended High Icelandic and the purity of the language, whose symbol was the Mjolnir. It’s funny how the weapon of a mythological being can have such an influence on the lives of people throughout history, right?
5. Thor’s Hammer Powers
According to the legend of Thor’s hammer, this weapon has different abilities that grant a repertoire of powers to its wielder. Among them, the ability to fly by spinning at high speed or being able to summon dangerous lightning instantly. But, in essence, there are three uses given to Mjolnir, which are:
- Invocation: Beyond its immense destructive power, the hammer Mjolnir can be summoned from the hand of its wielder. It is an incredible force of attraction that is capable of going through anything to reach its destination.
- Flight: The god of thunder gains the ability to move through the air by spinning his hammer at high speed and throwing it while holding on to the handle. This is a sample of the incredible versatility of this weapon.
- lightning control: Mjolnir is capable of adapting to its wearer’s abilities which, in Thor’s case, helps him channel the energy of thunder and lightning. He also allows him to cause incredible storms in a short time which serves as a display of his incredible power.
In addition to learn what Thor’s hammer is called, you will also have been able to verify when reading this article that the weapon carried by the god of thunder has become much more than a symbol. Now we would be interested in knowing your opinion about the legend of Thor’s hammer and the curiosities you have discovered. Did you know the etymological origin of the word? Did you know that the dwarfs who created Mjolnir did so on a gamble? Have you been surprised by the deep meaning that Thor’s hammer has for some Icelanders? Leave us your comments, we are looking forward to reading them!