Religious Studies
Presenter(s): Haley Jimenez
Advisor(s): Dr. Eileen Jankowski
Norse mythology contained the spiritual beliefs of the pre-Christian Scandinavian people; these myths were viewed as the ancestral history prior to Christianity. A particularly well-known, and favorite of the Vikings, was the Norse god Thor. He’s son to the almighty chief of gods, Odin, and protector of man. Thor is known for his strength, endurance, honesty, and quest for battle. In modern society, he is widely regarded through Marvel’s depiction in Avengers’ film “Thor”. There, he is often viewed carrying a hammer, and is similarly loved and appraised among the mortals. Thor’s hammer was forged by dwarfs and is one of the most frightening weapons, it can send out lightning bolts and is capable of tearing down mountains. It also had the ability to revive animals, as well as people. Thor was the characteristic hero of the stormy world of the Vikings; he embodied all the traits the vikings aspired to have. Thor’s significance to the early Scandinavian people was that he acted as a source of hope for mankind. They believed the thunder in the sky was Thor protecting them and would often pray to him and Odin. Evidence of Thor’s popularity can be seen clearly in Iceland, where more than a quarter of the founding population contains some form of his name in theirs. Descendants of this religion and mythology still continued to wear hammer amulets even after converting to Christianity, indicating that Thor's role as a hero and protecting influence has not diminished. In this research, Thor’s widespread popularity will be examined in the age of the Vikings in contrast with his modern day significance.