Ink Pen by Phil Dunlap for March 30, 2014

Only two people from midgard, others would be Thor’s twins and Balder returning from Hel.

Thor had 3 children, 2 boys 1 girl but no twins. In Norse mythology, largely recorded in Iceland from traditional material stemming from Scandinavia, numerous tales and information about Thor are provided. In these sources, Thor bears at least fourteen names, is the husband of the golden-haired goddess Sif, is the lover of the jötunn Járnsaxa, and is generally described as fierce-eyed, red-haired and red-bearded. With Sif, Thor fathered the goddess (and possible valkyrie) Þrúðr; with Járnsaxa, he fathered Magni; with a mother whose name is not recorded, he fathered Móði, and he is the stepfather of the god Ullr. The same sources list Thor as the son of the god Odin and the personified earth, Fjörgyn, and by way of Odin, Thor has numerous brothers. Thor has two servants, Þjálfi and Röskva, rides in a cart or chariot pulled by two goats, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr (that he eats and resurrects), and is ascribed three dwellings (Bilskirnir, Þrúðheimr, and Þrúðvangr). Thor wields the mountain-crushing hammer, Mjölnir, wears the belt Megingjörð and the iron gloves Járngreipr, and owns the staff Gríðarvölr. Thor’s exploits, including his relentless slaughter of his foes and fierce battles with the monstrous serpent Jörmungandr—and their foretold mutual deaths during the events of Ragnarök—are recorded throughout sources for Norse mythology.

I have a problem with the world serpent there. I’d always understood Jörmungandr was a serpent, an immense snake which encircles the world and is able to grasp his own tail in his mouth as he encircles the world. That thing looks like some dinosaur from Flintstones or Barney, or something out of a Godzilla movie rather than a serpent.

Watch History Channel’s great series “Vikings” for a wonderfully bloody and lusty take on the conflict between Christianity and Norse paganism. The story is currently at the point where the Vikings are deciding to settle in the fertile soil of Britain, and negotiations have begun with King Ecbert of Wessex.

I’ve never heard of “Imyself”. New legend?

Really regret not having magnification available here.