Learnings: Thor, God of Thunder
Son of the god Odin and the giantess Jörð, Thor presided over strength, both physical and mental. He was a paragon of honour, courage and luck. While recent pop culture has sometimes depicted Thor as more brawn than brains, this does not align with his characterization in Norse myths. The truth is that Thor, like his father Odin, was allegedly well-versed in poetry, especially the heiti, an Old Norse poetic device similar to the kenning.
Thor was also the protector of the people. His hammer, which is depicted here, was worn as a talisman around the neck to promote good fortune, prosperity, and to protect its wearer. His role as a defender and his exemplary social values helped to make him the most popular deity of the North. This can be seen in the large number of toponyms and surnames containing the prefix "thorthur," as well as in the name of our Norse hero of the Discovery Tour, Thorsteinn.