# Of Thor and the Other Gods explained — Bulfinch’s Mythology > Chapter companion for Bulfinch’s Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch. ## What happens This chapter introduces Thor, the thunderer and Odin's eldest son, along with his three precious possessions: a hammer that returns to his hand, a belt of strength that doubles his might, and iron gloves for wielding his mallet. It also describes other Norse gods including Frey, who presides over rain and sunshine; Freya, the goddess of love and beauty; Bragi, the god of poetry; Iduna, keeper of the apples of youth; and Heimdall, the watchman of the gods with extraordinary senses. ## Themes in this chapter ### Mortality and Immortality Iduna's apples of youth allow the gods to remain young, highlighting the theme of immortality and the fear of aging. ### Heroism and the Quest Thor's role as the defender against giants with his powerful hammer embodies the heroic quest to protect the divine realm. ## Character check-ins ### Thor Thor, the thunderer and Odin's eldest son, is the strongest of gods and men. He possesses a hammer that returns to his hand, a belt of strength that doubles his divine might, and iron gloves for wielding his mallet. ### Odin Odin is mentioned as the father of Thor, the thunderer. ### Baldur Baldur is referenced indirectly as one of the gods, but the chapter focuses on other deities. ## Key lines > Thor, the thunderer, Odin’s eldest son, is the strongest of gods and men, and possesses three very precious things. Thor, Odin's firstborn and the god of thunder, is the mightiest among both gods and humans, and he owns three highly valuable items. _Introduces Thor's status and his three treasures._ > The first is a hammer, which both the Frost and the Mountain giants know to their cost, when they see it hurled against them in the air, for it has split many a skull of their fathers and kindred. His first treasure is a hammer that the Frost and Mountain giants have learned to fear, as it has been thrown to shatter the skulls of their ancestors and relatives. _Describes the hammer's fearsome reputation._ > When thrown, it returns to his hand of its own accord. After being thrown, the hammer automatically comes back to his hand. _Highlights the magical property of Thor's hammer._ > The second rare thing he possesses is called the belt of strength. When he girds it about him his divine might is doubled. His second rare possession is a belt of strength that, when worn, doubles his divine power. _Explains the function of the belt of strength._ > The third, also very precious, is his iron gloves, which he puts on whenever he would use his mallet efficiently. The third precious item is a pair of iron gloves that he wears to wield his hammer effectively. _Describes the iron gloves' purpose._ > From Thor’s name is derived our word Thursday. The English day of the week Thursday comes from Thor's name. _Connects Thor to modern language._ > Frey is one of the most celebrated of the gods. He presides over rain and sunshine and all the fruits of the earth. Frey is a highly honored god who controls rain, sunshine, and all earthly crops. _Introduces Frey's domain._ > His sister Freya is the most propitious of the goddesses. She loves music, spring, and flowers, and is particularly fond of the Elves (fairies). Freya, his sister, is the most favorable goddess, delighting in music, spring, flowers, and especially fairies. _Describes Freya's attributes._ > She is very fond of love ditties, and all lovers would do well to invoke her. She enjoys love songs, and lovers should call upon her for favor. _Highlights Freya's association with love._ > Bragi is the god of poetry, and his song records the deeds of warriors. Bragi is the god of poetry, and his songs commemorate the achievements of warriors. _Introduces Bragi's role._ > His wife, Iduna, keeps in a box the apples which the gods, when they feel old age approaching, have only to taste of to become young again. Iduna, Bragi's wife, keeps apples in a box that restore youth to the gods when they eat them upon feeling old age. _Describes Iduna's apples of youth._ > Heimdall is the watchman of the gods, and is therefore placed on the borders of heaven to prevent the giants from forcing their way over the bridge Bifrost (the rainbow). Heimdall serves as the gods' watchman, stationed at heaven's border to stop giants from crossing the rainbow bridge Bifrost. _Explains Heimdall's duty._ > He requires less sleep than a bird, and sees by night as well as by day a hundred miles around him. He needs less sleep than a bird and can see a hundred miles in any direction both day and night. _Describes Heimdall's extraordinary senses._ > So acute is his ear that no sound escapes him, for he can even hear the grass grow and the wool on a sheep’s back. His hearing is so sharp that he can hear grass growing and wool on a sheep's back, missing no sound. _Emphasizes Heimdall's acute hearing._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/of-thor-and-the-other-gods - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters