Jötunheim
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In Norse cosmology, Jötunheimr (or in Old Norse spelling: Jǫtunheimr [ˈjɔtonˌhɛimz̠]; often anglicised as Jotunheim) is a realm associated with the Jötnar, beings in Norse mythology often translated as "giants."
The Legend of Jötunheim
From Jötunheimr, the Jötnar threaten humans in Midgard and the gods in Asgard. The river Ífingr separates Asgard, the realm of the gods, from Jötunheimr, the land of the giants. Gastropnir, the protective wall for Menglad's home, and Þrymheimr, the home of Þjazi, were both located in Jötunheimr, which was ruled by King Þrymr. Glæsisvellir was a place in Jötunheimr where the giant Gudmund, father of Höfund, lived. Utgard was a fortress surrounding the land of the giants, though in Norse languages, "Jötunheimr" is also simply a name for the realm of giants.
Territories
Gastropnir
The protective wall of Menglöð's dwelling, Menglöð being the beloved of the human hero Svipdagr.
Mímir's Well
Located under the second root of the world tree Yggdrasil in Jötunheimr, Mímir’s Well is guarded by the Jötunn Mímir. The well is the source of Mímir’s wisdom. Odin, in his quest for great knowledge, travels through the land of the giants to gain access to it.
Þrymheimr
Often anglicised as Thrymheim, it was the home of the Jötunn Þjazi. Þjazi once tricked Loki into helping him abduct Iðunn, the goddess who grants the gods magical apples of youth. This act ultimately led to Þjazi’s death.
Útgarðar
Útgarðar (often anglicised as Utgard) is the capital of Jötunheimr and serves as a stronghold for the giants. Útgarða-Loki, also known as Skrýmir, rules over this place. Thor once challenged him but was deceived by the cunning giant and eventually left in defeat.
River Vimur
The river where the giantess Gjálp tried to drown Thor.
Events in Jötunheimr
How Menglöð Was Won
Svipdagr was tasked by his stepmother to court the maiden Menglöð. He called upon his deceased mother Gróa, who was a Völva (seeress), for advice on how to win Menglöð. Gróa cast several protective spells to aid him on his quest. Upon reaching Jötunheimr, Svipdagr was blocked by a castle gate guarded by the Jötunn Fjölsviðr, who refused him entry before asking his name. Svipdagr gave a false name and answered a series of questions, learning about the castle, its inhabitants, and its surroundings. Svipdagr discovered that the gate would only open for one person: himself. Revealing his identity, the gate opened, and he was warmly received by his destined love, Menglöð.
How Thor Killed Geirröd
The popular myth of how Thor killed the Jötunn Geirröd has many variations, but all trace back to the trickster god Loki. Disguised in a falcon-feather suit, Loki visited the Jötunn’s castle. Recognising the falcon as unusual, Geirröd captured Loki, who revealed his identity after being starved. Geirröd released him on the condition that he bring Thor to the castle without his hammer. Loki agreed.
Back in Asgard, Loki convinced Thor to visit Geirröd, claiming the giant wanted to introduce him to his two beautiful daughters, Gjálp and Greip. Gullible, Thor left his hammer behind. On their journey, Thor and Loki stayed with the giantess Gríðr, who warned Thor of Geirröd’s treachery and lent him her belt and staff.
At the river Vimur, Thor saw Gjálp causing the water to rise. Using the staff, he prevented himself from drowning and struck the giantess with a stone, driving her away. At Geirröd’s castle, Thor was placed in a chair, which began rising toward the ceiling. Using Gríðr’s staff, Thor pushed down, crushing Gjálp and Greip beneath the chair.
Confronting Geirröd, Thor caught a hot iron ball thrown at him and hurled it back, killing the giant as it pierced through a pillar, his head, and finally the ground.
How Thor Lost His Hammer
Thor, the god of thunder and storms, once lost his hammer, Mjölnir. Without this powerful weapon, Asgard was vulnerable to the giants. Loki, hearing Thor’s enraged cries, realised he needed to help. Borrowing Freyja’s feather cloak, Loki flew to Jötunheimr, where he encountered the Jötunn king Þrymr, who admitted to stealing Mjölnir and hiding it deep underground. Loki returned to Asgard with the news.
The gods held a council, and Heimdallr suggested a plan: Thor would disguise himself as Freyja in bridal attire and visit Þrymr. Excited by Freyja’s arrival, Þrymr arranged a feast. Thor, disguised as the goddess, astonished Þrymr with his enormous appetite, which Loki explained as nervousness.
When Þrymr tried to kiss his bride, he was startled by Thor’s fiery eyes. Loki claimed that Freyja hadn’t slept for eight nights due to her excitement. Eager to proceed, Þrymr ordered Mjölnir to be placed in Freyja’s lap for the wedding ceremony. Thor seized the hammer and slaughtered every Jötunn in sight.
How Útgarða-Loki Outsmarted Thor
The tale of how Thor was outwitted by the giant Útgarða-Loki is one of the most famous legends in Norse mythology. Thor, eager to visit Utgard, the stronghold of the Jötnar, travelled there with Loki, the trickster god of Asgard. Utgard was guarded by Útgarða-Loki, a master of deception.
Thor and Loki were joined on their journey to Jötunheimr by Þjálfi and his sister Röskva. After traversing a large forest, they continued their journey until nightfall. Seeking shelter, they discovered a massive structure and took refuge in one of its side rooms. During the night, they were shaken by what felt like earthquakes. While the others were terrified, Thor grasped his hammer, ready to defend them. The "earthquakes," however, were caused by the snores of Skrýmir, a giant whose glove they had unknowingly entered and mistaken for a building. The following night, out of fear, they slept beneath an oak tree near Skrýmir.
In the middle of the night, Thor attempted to kill the sleeping Skrýmir with his hammer. However, Skrýmir awoke each time, mistaking the blows for a falling acorn or twigs from the tree above. Skrýmir warned them that if they intended to show arrogance in Útgarðr, they should turn back, as Útgarða-Loki and his followers would not tolerate it. Skrýmir then shouldered his pack and disappeared into the woods. Thor and his companions continued their journey until midday, when they arrived at a massive fortress.
The fortress was so immense that they had to crane their necks to see its top. They found a locked gate at the entrance, which even Thor could not open. The group squeezed through the bars of the gate and entered a great hall where they found Útgarða-Loki seated among his followers.
Útgarða-Loki declared that no visitors could remain unless they could demonstrate a remarkable skill. Loki was the first to speak, claiming he could eat faster than anyone else. He was pitted against a being named Logi, but lost the challenge. Útgarða-Loki then turned to Þjálfi, asking what feat he could perform. Þjálfi volunteered to race anyone chosen by Útgarða-Loki.
Outside, Útgarða-Loki summoned a figure named Hugi to race Þjálfi. In the first race, Þjálfi ran with all his might but was soundly defeated by Hugi, who reached the finish line and returned before Þjálfi arrived. Útgarða-Loki praised Þjálfi’s effort but expressed doubt about his chances in a second race. Once again, Þjálfi lost, this time by an even greater margin. In the third and final race, Hugi defeated Þjálfi decisively.
Thor then accepted a challenge to compete in a drinking contest. Despite taking three massive gulps, he failed to empty the drinking horn. Next, Thor was asked to lift a grey cat in the hall. He managed to lift only one of its paws, though it seemed to rise reluctantly. Finally, Thor demanded to wrestle someone in the hall. Útgarða-Loki summoned Elli, an old woman, to fight Thor. Despite his strength, Thor was gradually overpowered and forced onto one knee.
That evening, Útgarða-Loki offered the group hospitality before they retired for the night.
The Truth Revealed
The next morning, Útgarða-Loki bid the group farewell. Before they left, he asked Thor how he felt about the contests. Thor admitted his disappointment and frustration, fearing that Útgarða-Loki would speak ill of him.
Útgarða-Loki then revealed the truth: nothing in the challenges was as it seemed. Loki had competed against Logi, who was actually the embodiment of fire and consumed both food and the trench itself. Þjálfi raced against Hugi, representing thought, which no one could outrun. The drinking horn Thor attempted to empty was connected to the sea; his efforts had lowered the sea level, creating the tides. The cat Thor tried to lift was in fact the world serpent, Jörmungandr, and the feat of lifting its paw had shocked everyone present. Finally, the old woman Elli represented old age, an unstoppable force that defeats even the strongest.
Útgarða-Loki then revealed that he himself was Skrýmir in disguise. The blows Thor delivered had been so powerful that they created three deep valleys in the landscape. Útgarða-Loki admitted that had Thor’s strikes hit their true target, Skrýmir would have been killed outright.
He concluded by saying it was better for both sides if they never met again. Enraged, Thor raised his hammer to strike Útgarða-Loki, but the giant and his castle vanished, leaving only an open plain behind.
The Abduction of Iðunn
Unlike the Greek gods, the deities of Norse mythology were prone to ageing. One day, the Jötunn Þjazi, disguised as an eagle, descended and coerced Loki into bringing him Iðunn, the goddess who provided the gods and goddesses with magical apples to maintain their youth, in exchange for sparing his life. Fearing the old giant's wrath, Loki reluctantly agreed to the deal.
Upon returning to Asgard, Loki went straight to the orchard tended by Iðunn and her husband, Bragi. He feigned having found apples in Midgard that looked identical to hers. Convincing her to bring her basket of apples to compare the fruits, they ventured into the mortal realm. As they crossed Bifrost, Þjazi swooped down and seized Iðunn, carrying her away to the tallest tower of Þrymheimr, where he imprisoned her.
Deprived of Iðunn’s apples, the gods and goddesses began to age. They convened a meeting, excluding Loki, as they suspected him of foul play. When they found the trickster, Odin commanded him to retrieve Iðunn and her apples, threatening his life if he failed.
Terrified, Loki sought out Freyja and borrowed her falcon feathers. Disguised as a falcon, Loki flew to Þrymheimr and found Iðunn alone and unguarded. Transforming her and her basket of apples into a nut, Loki clutched her in his talons and flew away. Þjazi, noticing the theft, gave chase in his eagle form.
Odin, seeing all, ordered the gods to light a great fire at the gates of Asgard. As Þjazi approached the walls, the flames engulfed his body, causing him to fall to the ground. The gods showed no mercy, slaying him on the spot. With Iðunn freed from her captivity, the gods and goddesses regained their youth.
The Loss of Odin’s Eye
Mimir was an ancient being renowned for his unparalleled wisdom. He resided at Mímisbrunnr ("Mimir’s Well"), a sacred spring located beneath one of the roots of the world tree, Yggdrasil, in Jötunheimr. Odin, in his insatiable quest for knowledge and wisdom, sought answers from every being. Venturing into the land of the giants, he asked Mimir for a sip from the well.
Knowing the value of the water, Mimir refused unless Odin offered one of his eyes in exchange. Determined to gain the wisdom he desired at any cost, Odin agreed to the trade and sacrificed his eye. The eye was then placed in Mímisbrunnr, becoming a part of the well.