in progress
A description of an idol of Þórr and the worship associated with it.
text
[excerpt from] ÓHHkr ch. 112b
112b. [Saga Dala-Guðbrands]
Um kveldið þá spyr konungur son Guðbrands hvernug goð þeirra væri gert. Hann segir að hann var merktur eftir Þór "og hefir hann hamar í hendi og mikill vexti og holur innan og ger undir honum sem hjallur sé og stendur hann þar á ofan er hann er úti. Eigi skortir hann gull og silfur á sér. Fjórir hleifar brauðs eru honum færðir hvern dag og þar við slátur." | In the evening the king asked the son of Guðbrandr how their god was made up. He answered that he was made in the image of Þórr, “and he has a hammer in his hand and is of great size and hollow inside, and he stands on a pedestal when he is outside. He receives four loaves of bread every day and also fresh meat”. |
[status: referenced copy]
commentary
context
This short description occurs within an episode of Ólafs saga Helga which narrates a dispute between King Ólafr and Guðbrandr, whom Ólafr is trying to convert. The following passage is taken from a conversation between King Ólafr and Guðbrandr’s son, whom Ólafr has taken hostage.
commentary
For more, see for example:
Ellis Davidson, H. R, (1990), Gods and Myths of Northern Europe. London: Penguin Books. pp. 73-90
Perkins, R. (2001). Thor the wind-raiser and the Eyrarland image. (Viking Society for Northern Research
Simek, R. (2007), Transl: Angela Hall. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. Cambridge: D.S. Brewer. pp. 317-326.
Steinsland, G. (2005), Norrøn Religion. Myter, Riter, Samfunn. Oslo: Pax Forlag. pp.195-207.
Taggart, D. (2018), How Thor Lost his Thunder. The Changing Faces of an Old Norse God. Routledge Research in Medieval Studies 14. London & New York: Routledge
(Contributed by Anna Millward.)
tags
Main text: Óláfs saga helga (in Heimskringla)
Attributes: Hammer Idol Gold Silver idol worship
Named things: Þórr
Text sections: Hkr ÓHHkr 112bI