Scandinavian Mythology

Snorri Sturluson: The Prose Edda

13th century, Icelandic: numerous copies in Iceland, Copenhagen.

Thor ventured outside and saw a giant lying on the ground.

Thor travelled east until he came to the sea, then he crossed the deep ocean into Giantland. With him were the god Loki and two other companions.

At nightfall, within a forest, they came upon a large building. It had an entrance at one end as wide as the building itself. They entered and made themselves comfortable for the night. But before morning, while it was still dark, a great earthquake shook the ground, so they ventured into one of the long rooms that led off from the main hall and sought safety there.

Dawn came. Thor ventured outside and saw a giant lying on the ground. Deciding, on this occasion, not to use his hammer against this waking figure, he instead, asked him his name.

‘My name is Skrymir,’ replied the giant. ‘And who are these companions of your's coming out of my glove?’

Story fragment retold from: Byock, Jesse L, 2005. Snorri Sturluson: The Prose Edda, Norse Mythology, translated from Old Norse with an introduction. Penguin Books Limited. Gylfaginning, 45. Thor Encounters Skrymir in the Forest, pp 55–7.

See for yourself

Snorri Sturluson – Wikipedia

Prose Edda (Younger Edda) – Wikipedia

Thor – Wikipedia

Elder Edda and Younger Edda – Project Gutenberg; free out-of-copyright editions, ebooks

Giants

Central Line

megalithic dolmen
standing stone montage

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