Giant king who stole Mjölnir and demanded Freyja as bride. Slain by Thor.
Thrym (Old Norse Þrymr) is the giant king in Þrymskviða who steals Thor's hammer Mjölnir and hides it eight leagues underground. As ransom he demands the goddess Freyja as his wife. Freyja refuses in fury, and the gods must find another solution.
Heimdall suggests that Thor be dressed as a bride. Thor travels to Jotunheim disguised in a bridal veil with Loki as his handmaid. At the wedding Thor reveals himself when Mjölnir is placed in his lap as bridal custom, and he slays Thrym and his entire retinue. The poem is one of the most humorous in the Poetic Edda.
Sources in the Eddas
- Þrymskviða 1-32
- The entire Þrymskviða tells of the theft of Mjölnir, Thor's disguise, and Thrym's slaying.
Interpretive traditions
A What we know
Thrym stole Mjölnir and was slain by Thor disguised as a bride, attested in Þrymskviða.
B What we think we know
Whether Þrymskviða is an older myth or a late composition with parodic elements is debated.