Page:The Mythology of the Aryan Nations.djvu/229

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THOR'S HAMMER.

197

CHAP. I.

mighty club which, when hurled from his hand, comes back to him again after doing its deadly errand. As wielding this weapon, he is Miolnir or Tydeus, the pounder and crusher, the father of the Aloadai and the Molionids;^[1] but the word hamar meant not only a mallet, but a rock, and thus carries us to the weapons employed by the giants and the Titans.^[2] When this hammer is stolen, Loki, in the Lay of Thrym, asks Freyja if she will lend him her feather-garment, that he may go and find it. With this dress Loki, as the god of light, flies to the abode of Thrym the giant, who has hidden the weapon in the depths of the earth, and will not give it up unless, like Hades, he has the maiden as his wife. When Loki returns to Asgard with this message, Freyja refuses to go.

Then said Heimdall of Æsir brightest,
He well foresaw, Like other Vanir,
“Let us clothe Thor With bridal raiment,
Let him have the famed Brisinga necklace.

“Let by his side Keys jingle,
And woman’s weeds Fall down his knees;
But on his heart Place precious stones,
And a neat coif Set on his head.”

He is now Dionysos, Achilleus, or Theseus in their womanly forms; and like Theseus, he speedily avenges himself on those who take liberties with him. Having come to Jötunheim, he astonishes Thrym by devouring an ox and eight salmon, but the serving-maid lulls his fears.

Then said Thrym, The Thursar’s lord,
“Bring the hammer in, The Bride to consecrate:
Lay Miölnir On the maiden’s knee,
Unite us with each other By the hand of Vör.”

↑ This club is found in the hands of the Slavonic Perun, or Perkunas. "White-Russian traditions, says Afana- siaf, describe Perun as tall and well- shaped, with black hair and a long golden beard. He rides on a flaming car, grasping in his left hand a quiver full of arrows, and in his right a fiery bow. Sometimes he flies abroad on a great millstone, which is supported by the mountain-spirits, who are in sub- jection to him, and who by their flight give rise to storms. Perun, in many respects, corresponds with Thor, and one of the points of similarity is the mace which he bears, answering to Thor's hammer, Mjölnir, the name of which may be compared with the Russian words for hammer and for lightning, molst and molniye.”—Ralston, Songs of the Russian People, 73.
↑ This hammer is said to have been stolen by a giant who hid it eight miles beneath the surface of the earth. In as many years it ascended into heaven again, accomplishing one mile in each year; and thus it was restored to Thor by Thrym, which however is only an- other name for thunder, and answers to Thrumketill, the proper name, as Thor- ketyll, Thurketil, answers to Thor. It is scarcely necessary to say that the thunder god has given his name to a vast number of places, the forms Don- nersberg, Thorrsberg, and Torslunde representing the three varieties under which they may be classed. Our Thurs- day is an abbreviation of Thunresdäg; but we have to remember the identity of Thunor, Donar, and Thor. A long list of such names is given by Grimm, D. M. 169.

[1] This club is found in the hands of the Slavonic Perun, or Perkunas. "White-Russian traditions, says Afana- siaf, describe Perun as tall and well- shaped, with black hair and a long golden beard. He rides on a flaming car, grasping in his left hand a quiver full of arrows, and in his right a fiery bow. Sometimes he flies abroad on a great millstone, which is supported by the mountain-spirits, who are in sub- jection to him, and who by their flight give rise to storms. Perun, in many respects, corresponds with Thor, and one of the points of similarity is the mace which he bears, answering to Thor's hammer, Mjölnir, the name of which may be compared with the Russian words for hammer and for lightning, molst and molniye.”—Ralston, Songs of the Russian People, 73.

[2] This hammer is said to have been stolen by a giant who hid it eight miles beneath the surface of the earth. In as many years it ascended into heaven again, accomplishing one mile in each year; and thus it was restored to Thor by Thrym, which however is only an- other name for thunder, and answers to Thrumketill, the proper name, as Thor- ketyll, Thurketil, answers to Thor. It is scarcely necessary to say that the thunder god has given his name to a vast number of places, the forms Don- nersberg, Thorrsberg, and Torslunde representing the three varieties under which they may be classed. Our Thurs- day is an abbreviation of Thunresdäg; but we have to remember the identity of Thunor, Donar, and Thor. A long list of such names is given by Grimm, D. M. 169.

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