Thor And Tyr Journey To Hymir’s Hall To Steal Huge Cauldron – In Norse Mythology
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - In Norse mythology, Hymir is a fierce giant, husband of Hrod, father of Tyr, the ancient god of war, the lawgiver of the gods, and the bravest of the gods.
Hymir rushed forward and cut through the line. Image credit: Rackham, Arthur (ed.) (1907). "The Land of Enchantment" Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Cassell and Company.
Hymir owned a large magical cauldron (Hymir's kettle), acquired for him by Thor ('Asa-Thor' or 'Ouka Thor'), a brave and righteous god.
The Aesir - one of the two prominent dynasties of the Norse gods - wanted to brew beer in this magical kettle, so Thor and Tyr made a fascinating expedition to Hymir's hall to steal the cauldron.
Thor's journey was also the fishing trip where he caught Jormungand's snake.
The myth of the fishing expedition of Thor and the giant Hymir and Thor's battle with the Midgard Serpent, Jormungand, was retold many times in Scandinavia and England.
The Aesir gods loved to eat and drink. No sooner was one feast over than they were preparing the next.
One evening they cast runes that told them that their next gathering should be at the dwelling of the great Aegir, the Jotun lord of the sea. Aegir lived under the waves with his wife, Ran. Aegir grumbled that he did not possess a large cauldron to brew ale for all the gods.
Tyr, the one-handed god, the one who gave Viking warriors courage and self-confidence in battle, announced that he knew where he could find a mile-deep cauldron. Accompanied by Thor, the two set off to find Hymir, who lived east of Elivagar in Jotunheim, the land of giants.
It wasn't easy to meet Hymir because a huge ogress, a monster known to eat humans, blocked the way to Hymir's home. Fortunately, there was another Jotun, beautiful and kind, and she welcomed Tyr as her son, and she also welcomed Thor. She told them to hide underneath the immense cauldron in the hall.
And yet, Hymir immediately sensed the presence of strangers in his home. Still, the Jotun woman explained that Tyr had come to visit and had brought a friend and that they were hiding under the cauldron, being a little anxious about Hymir. Hymir's eyes swept the hall. Thor and Tyr crawled out unharmed. Their appearance made Hymir surprised when he was a handsome redheaded god Thor with a beard.
The giant invited the guests for their supper. , and quickly ordered three large oxen killed. Known for his tremendous appetite, Thor ate two of the oxen, and Hymir wanted to go hunting with his guests for the next meal.
The god Thor had another plan and suggested that they fish for it instead. He took the head of a mighty black ox, Himibrioter (Skybellower), for bait.
During their fishing trip, Thor had much luck.
Almost at once, the terrible head of Jormungand, the Midgard Serpent, appeared above the waves with the ox's head in its mouth. Hymir was scared, but Thor bravely held the line and flung his hammer, Mjölnir, at the frightening head that appeared.
Seeing Thor pulling Jormungand's monstrous body onto the boat, he cut the line, and the bloodied serpent sank beneath the waves and rowed back to the shore as fast as he could.
Thor and Hymir Fishing by Charles E Brock, 1930. Public Domain
Now, he wanted to test Thor's true strength. Once safely on land, he decided to try Thor's power. He asked him to haul the boat and tackle or carry the two whales up the cliff to the house. At once, Thor took hold of the boat, dragged it out of the water, and brought it, whales, and all directly to Hymir's house.
But it was still not enough for Hymir, so he handed Thor his goblet and asked him to try to break it. Also, Thor's strength was impressive this time when he threw the goblet repeatedly. Hymi's hall was now in ruins, but the goblet remained unbroken.
Altuna runestone at Altuna church, Enköpings municipality, Uppland, Sweden depicts the Old Norse god Thor getting the Midgard Serpent Jörmungandr on the hook, and aiming with his hammer Mjolnir to slay the Midgard Serpent. Credit: Gunnar Creutz - Public Domain
The wife of Hymir gave Thor yet another third piece of advice to throw the goblet at Hymir's head. His head was known to be the most challenging object. When the goblet hit Hymir's stony head, it shattered into pieces, though the giant's head remained without a dent. Then Hymir said Thor could have the cauldron if he could carry it. Tyr tried to lift the kettle but could not.
Gosforth Cross showing, among other things, Thor's fishing trip, Credit: Public Domain
Mighty Thor quickly picked up the huge kettle and wore it like a helmet. Then he and Tyr set off for home. On the way, Hymir and many-headed Jotuns attacked them, but Thor wielded his magic hammer and ended Hymir and his ugly followers. For many nights, the Aesir gods drank deep from Hymir's cauldron in Aegir's halls.
Updated on February 4, 2024
Written by – A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without thexpress written permission of AncientPages.com
More From Ancient Pages
-
Robots Guarded Buddha’s Relics In Ancient India – Legend Tells
Featured Stories | Jun 28, 2019
-
Mysterious Devil’s Footprints In Maine – An Ancient Mystery That Will Never Be Solved
Featured Stories | Jul 9, 2017
-
Mysterious Mummified Woman With A Christian Cross On Her Chest Dashes Hopes Of Finding First Russian Fortress In Yakutia
Archaeology | Dec 12, 2019
-
Giant Mimir And The Well Of Wisdom In Norse Beliefs
Featured Stories | Apr 11, 2018
-
Varggrottan: Mysterious ‘Wolf Cave’ Was Home To Neanderthals 130,000 Years Ago – Oldest Human Dwelling In Scandinavia
Featured Stories | May 15, 2023
-
Clay Tablets Of Assyrian ‘King Of The World’ Esarhaddon Found Beneath Biblical Tomb Of Jonah
Archaeology | Mar 1, 2018
-
Discovery Of Queen Nefertiti’s Mummy Will Be Announced Next Month – Zahi Hawass Says
Archaeology | Sep 16, 2022
-
Unique Study Of Skeletal Remains Reveals Grave Health Of Australian Pioneer Settlers
Archaeology | Apr 7, 2022
-
Next Discovery In Tepe Ashraf, Isfahan – Archaeologists May Have Stumbled Upon Ancient Necropolis
Archaeology | Aug 16, 2020
-
Lost City Of Irisagrig Comes To Life In Ancient Stolen Tablets
Archaeology | Jun 5, 2018
-
2,000-Year-Old Rare Sarcophagus With Human Remains Discovered In Rock-Cut Cave In India
Archaeology | Jan 18, 2018
-
Unexplained Visions Of Airmen – Strange Presence And Disturbances – Part 1
Featured Stories | Feb 6, 2020
-
Forgotten Ancient Kingdom Of Tuwana Is Hidden Among Ruins In Cappadocia
Civilizations | Mar 12, 2016
-
Victory Tower – An Imposing Victory Monument In Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India
Civilizations | Jul 28, 2015
-
Enormous And Impressive Derawar Fort, Bahawalpur, Pakistan Will Be Restored
News | Sep 14, 2015
-
Secret Passageways And Caves Beneath UK’s City Of Nottingham
Featured Stories | Feb 14, 2023
-
Exceptional Collection Of Well-Preserved Stucco Masks Of The Mayan Kingdom Reveal Their Secrets
Archaeology | Dec 5, 2022
-
Ancient Mystery Of The Oghars – An Unusual And Little-Known Lost Race
Civilizations | Mar 19, 2019
-
Anomalous Ancient Structures In The South West Pacific Remain Unexplained
Civilizations | May 19, 2018
-
Aldworth Giants: Knights Who People Tried To Erase From History
Featured Stories | Jul 2, 2015