Hammer / Weapon
Mjølner
Thor's hammer — the gods' mightiest weapon, always returns to the thrower's hand.
Mjölnir (Old Norse: Mjǫllnir) is the hammer of Thor, god of thunder, forged by the dwarf brothers Brokkr and Sindri in Svartalfheim. It is the most feared weapon in all the nine worlds and the gods' greatest defense against the giants.
The hammer was made as part of a wager. Loki had bet his own head that the dwarves could not craft three treasures finer than those already made by the sons of Ivaldi. Brokkr and Sindri agreed to the challenge. While Sindri worked the forge, Brokkr pumped the bellows without stopping. Loki — knowing what was at stake — transformed into a fly and bit Brokkr on the hand, hoping to ruin the work. The bellows slipped for a moment. When the hammer emerged from the forge, its handle was shorter than intended. Despite this flaw, the gods judged Mjölnir the greatest of all the treasures.
Mjölnir can level mountains. When thrown, it always strikes its target and always returns to Thor's hand. It can be shrunk small enough to tuck inside a cloak — a property Thrym discovered when Thor retrieved it disguised as a bride. Thor uses it not only in battle but to hallow weddings, births, and the dead, making it a symbol of both destruction and sacred protection.
During Ragnarök, Thor kills Jörmungandr with Mjölnir, then takes nine steps and falls, overwhelmed by the serpent's venom.
The hammer was made as part of a wager. Loki had bet his own head that the dwarves could not craft three treasures finer than those already made by the sons of Ivaldi. Brokkr and Sindri agreed to the challenge. While Sindri worked the forge, Brokkr pumped the bellows without stopping. Loki — knowing what was at stake — transformed into a fly and bit Brokkr on the hand, hoping to ruin the work. The bellows slipped for a moment. When the hammer emerged from the forge, its handle was shorter than intended. Despite this flaw, the gods judged Mjölnir the greatest of all the treasures.
Mjölnir can level mountains. When thrown, it always strikes its target and always returns to Thor's hand. It can be shrunk small enough to tuck inside a cloak — a property Thrym discovered when Thor retrieved it disguised as a bride. Thor uses it not only in battle but to hallow weddings, births, and the dead, making it a symbol of both destruction and sacred protection.
During Ragnarök, Thor kills Jörmungandr with Mjölnir, then takes nine steps and falls, overwhelmed by the serpent's venom.
Owner / associated beings
Myths featuring this artefact
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Ragnarök
The doom of the gods — the great battle between divine and dark forces that cleanses the world for a new beginning.
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Thor's Hammer is Stolen
The giant king Thrym stole Mjölnir and demanded Freyja as his bride — Thor solved it disguised as a bride.