Editing Thor (section)

{{Short description|Hammer-wielding Germanic god associated with thunder}}
{{Other uses}}
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[[File:Mårten Eskil Winge - Tor's Fight with the Giants - Google Art Project.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.3|''[[Thor's Fight with the Giants]]'' (''Tors strid med jättarna'')  by {{lang|sv|[[Mårten Eskil Winge]]|italic=no}} (1872).]]
'''Thor''' (from {{langx|non|Þórr}}) is a prominent [[list of thunder gods|god]] in [[Germanic paganism]]. In [[Norse mythology]], he is a hammer-wielding [[æsir|god]] associated with [[lightning]], [[thunder]], [[storm]]s, [[sacred trees and groves in Germanic paganism and mythology|sacred groves and trees]], [[Physical strength|strength]], the protection of humankind, [[hallow]]ing, and [[fertility]]. Besides [[Old Norse]] {{lang|non|Þórr}}, the deity occurs in [[Old English]] as '''{{lang|ang|Thunor}}''', in [[Old Frisian]] as '''''{{lang|ofs|Thuner}}''''', in [[Old Saxon]] as '''''{{lang|osx|Thunar}}''''', and in [[Old High German]] as '''{{lang|goh|Donar}}''', all ultimately stemming from the [[Proto-Germanic]] [[theonym]] '''{{lang|gem-x-proto|Þun(a)raz}}''', meaning 'Thunder'.

Thor is a prominently mentioned god throughout the [[recorded history]] of the [[Germanic peoples]], from the [[Roman Empire|Roman occupation]] of regions of {{lang|la|[[Germania]]|italic=no}}, to the Germanic expansions of the [[Migration Period]], to his high popularity during the [[Viking Age]], when, in the face of the process of the [[Christianization of Scandinavia]], emblems of his hammer, {{lang|is|[[Mjölnir]]|italic=no}}, were worn and [[Norse paganism|Norse pagan]] [[personal name]]s containing the name of the god bear witness to his popularity.

Narratives featuring Thor are most prominently attested in Old Norse, where Thor appears throughout [[Norse mythology]]. In stories recorded in medieval [[Iceland]], Thor bears at least [[List of names of Thor|fifteen names]], is the husband of the golden-haired goddess {{lang|non|[[Sif]]|italic=no}} and the lover of the {{lang|non|[[jötunn]] [[Járnsaxa]]|italic=no}}. With {{lang|non|Sif|italic=no}}, Thor fathered the goddess (and possible [[valkyrie]]) {{lang|non|[[Þrúðr]]|italic=no}}; with {{lang|non|Járnsaxa|italic=no}}, he fathered {{lang|non|[[Móði and Magni|Magni]]|italic=no}}; with a mother whose name is not recorded, he fathered {{lang|non|[[Móði and Magni|Móði]]|italic=no}}, and he is the stepfather of the god {{lang|non|[[Ullr]]|italic=no}}. Thor is the son of [[Odin]] and [[Jörð]],{{sfn|Lindow|2002|p=205}} by way of his father Odin, he has [[sons of Odin|numerous brothers]], including {{lang|non|[[Baldr]]|italic=no}}. Thor has two servants, [[Þjálfi and Röskva|{{lang|non|Þjálfi|nocat=y|italic=no}} and {{lang|non|Röskva|nocat=y|italic=no}}]], rides in a cart or chariot pulled by two goats, [[Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr|{{lang|non|Tanngrisnir|nocat=y|italic=no}} and {{lang|non|Tanngnjóstr|nocat=y|italic=no}}]] (whom he eats and resurrects), and is ascribed three dwellings ({{lang|non|[[Bilskirnir]]|italic=no}}, {{lang|non|[[Þrúðheimr]]|italic=no}}, and {{lang|non|[[Þrúðvangr]]|italic=no}}). Thor wields the hammer {{lang|is|[[Mjölnir]]|italic=no}}, wears the belt {{lang|non|[[Megingjörð]]|italic=no}} and the iron gloves {{lang|non|[[Járngreipr]]|italic=no}}, and owns the staff {{lang|non|[[Gríðr#Prose Edda|Gríðarvölr]]|italic=no}}. Thor's exploits, including his relentless slaughter of his foes and fierce battles with the monstrous serpent {{lang|non|[[Jörmungandr]]|italic=no}}—and their foretold mutual deaths during the events of {{lang|non|[[Ragnarök]]|italic=no}}—are recorded throughout sources for Norse mythology.

Into the modern period, Thor continued to be acknowledged in folklore throughout [[Germanic-speaking Europe]]. Thor is frequently referred to in place names, the day of the week [[Thursday]] bears his name (modern English ''Thursday'' derives from Old English {{lang|ang|thunresdaeġ}}, 'Thunor's day'), and names stemming from the pagan period containing his own continue to be used today, particularly in Scandinavia. Thor has inspired numerous works of art and references to Thor appear in modern popular culture. Like other Germanic deities, veneration of Thor is revived in the modern period in [[Heathenry (new religious movement)|Heathenry]].