From the Oak: Let’s hear it for the God!
Many are those that focus on female divinities, leaving male divinities in the shadows if they get mentioned at all. This is a shame. Here I will share my thoughts, stories and prayers on male divinities. Currently focusing on divinities placed in an atheist "graveyard".
Name that God - The Answer
(Still on vacation this week! Hopefully my travel mates are still on speaking terms with me!)
The god of the guessing game is Thor!
Too easy? It wouldn't have been for me as I know very little of the Norse pantheon. I can, however, now tell my son the differences between Marvel’s Thor and Thor of the Norsemen.
Strength of the North – He was known as the strongest of the Aesir
Lord of the Place of Might – His hall is Bliskinir, located in Thrudheim, the place of might
Husband of Golden Hair – Sif, whose hair was of gold thanks to Loki
Beloved of Iron-Cutlass – mistress, the Giantess Jarnsaxa
Red of beard – typically depicted with a red beard and long hair
Lightning Eyes – flashing eyes
Hearty of Appetite – known for his prodigious appetite
Fierce of Temper – also known to have a short, hot temper
Protector of Gods and mortals – protected the gods from the giants and mortals from their fears
Beloved by the common man – a favored divinity, his hammer symbolized protection
Giant Killer – many stories tell of his prowess in warring on the giants
Storm Lord – controlled the winds, rain, thunder and lightning
Giver of Fair Weather – propagated for good weather
Patron of Farmers – propagated for good crops
Driver of Gap-tooth and Tooth-grinder – two goats, Tanngrisni and Tanngnost, pulled his chariot
Wielder of That-smashes, Iron Hands, Strong Belt – his tools: Mjollnir, Iron gloves and belt Megingjard
Lady Disguise – disguised himself as Freya in order to retrieve his hammer from the giants
Fisher of Snake – an early Norse myth tells the tale of Thor fishing with Hymir’s giant ox as bait. He caught Jormungand causing them to become bitter enemies.
Challenger of Jesus – so this one might be considered a cheat…stumbled across a poem by Longfellow where Thor challenges the “Galilean”
The Challenge of Thor
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I AM the God Thor,
I am the War God,
I am the Thunderer!
Here in my Northland,
My fastness and fortress,
Reign I forever!
Here amid icebergs
Rule I the nations;
This is my hammer,
Miölner the mighty;
Giants and sorcerers
Cannot withstand it!
These are the gauntlets
Wherewith I wield it,
And hurl it afar off;
This is my girdle;
Whenever I brace it,
Strength is redoubled!
The light thou beholdest
Stream through the heavens,
In flashes of crimson,
Is but my red beard
Blown by the night-wind,
Affrighting the nations!
Jove is my brother;
Mine eyes are the lightning;
The wheels of my chariot
Roll in the thunder,
The blows of my hammer
Ring in the earthquake!
Force rules the world still,
Has ruled it, shall rule it;
Meekness is weakness,
Strength is triumphant,
Over the whole earth
Still is it Thor's-Day!
Thou art a God too,
O Galilean!
And thus singled-handed
Unto the combat,
Gauntlet or Gospel,
Here I defy thee!
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