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. Cᴀssell 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 appeтιтe, 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