Þrúðr

In Norse mythology Þrúðr (anglicized as Thrúd or Thrud) is the daughter of the god Thor. Her name means "strength", "power" in Old Norse.

Thor's daughter

In Skáldskaparmál (4), Snorri Sturluson tells that Thor can be referred to by the kenning "father of Þrúðr" ("faðir Þrúðar"). Eysteinn Valdason uses it in his poem about Thor (2). The Skáldskaparmál (21) adds that her mother is Sif.

In Bragi Boddason's Ragnarsdrápa, the giant Hrungnir is called "thief of Þrúðr" (Þrúðar þjófr). But there is no direct reference to this myth in any other source. The Skáldskaparmál (17), in which Snorri relates the fight between Thor and Hrungnir, mentions a very different cause, and Þjóðólfr of Hvinir's Haustlöng only describes the fight without giving the reason for it. This poem depicts two mythological scenes painted on a shield, the first being Iðunn's abduction by the giant Þjazi. Margaret Clunies Ross suggested that the two episodes might be complementary, both dealing with the abduction of a goddess by a giant, its failure and the death of the abductor^[1]. Another kenning may allude to this myth: in Eilífr Goðrúnarson's Þórsdrápa (18), Thor is called "he who longs fiercely for Þrúðr" (þrámóðnir Þrúðar)^[2].

Even if her name is not given, the Eddic poem Alvíssmál, in which Thor's daughter is engaged to a dwarf, Alvíss, may also be related to Þrúðr.

Other mentions

Þrúðr is the name of one of the valkyries who serve ale to the einherjar in Valhalla (Grímnismál, 36). It is not certain that this Þrúðr is the same as Thor's daughter^[3].

Her name could be used in kennings for chieftains as exemplified on the Karlevi Runestone. The name is also used in kennings for women. Ormr Steinþórsson for instance uses in his poem about a woman (4) the kenning "hrosta lúðrs gæi-Þrúðr", which, according to Anthony Faulkes, can be rendered into "keeper of the malt-box (mash-tub) or ale-vessel"^[4].

Modern references

Thrud appears as a major character in the Danish young adult fantasy novel Erik Menneskesøn by Lars-Henrik Olsen.

References

Clunies Ross, Margaret (1994). Prolonged Echoes. Old Norse Myths in medieval Northern Society. Vol. 1: The myths. Odense: Odense University Press. The Viking Collection; vol. 7. ISBN 8778380081.
Faulkes, Anthony (1998), edition of: Snorri Sturluson. Edda. Skáldskaparmál. 2. Glossary and Index of Names. London: Viking Society for Northern Research. ISBN 0-903521-38-5.
Simek, Rudolf (1987). Dictionary of Northern Mythology. Translated by Angela Hall. Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 1996. ISBN 0-85991-513-1.

Citations

[1] Clunies Ross 1994, p. 114.
[3] Simek 1987.
[4] Faulkes 1998, p. 297.

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