Northern mythology

23 NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY.
Thor, &c., and sometimes Aukii-Thor, Oku-Tlior (Car-Thor),
because he drives in a chariot with two he-goats_, Tanngniost
and Tanngrisnir. He is the constant enemy of the giants
and trolls. He possesses three precious things^ viz. 1. the
hammer Miolnir^ which the frost- and mountain-giants
know but too well^ when he swings it in the air ; 2. his
belt of power (]\IegingjarJ>ar)j when girded with which his
strength is doubled; 3. his iron gloves^ which he requires
when he grasps the haft of Miolnir. As the jarls (men
of rank^ whence our earls) that fall in battle belong to
Odin, in like manner Thor has the race of thralls. Thorns
sons are Magni and Modi (^I6)?i). By his wdfe Sif he has
a daughter named Thrud (pru^r). He is foster-father to
Vingnir and Hlora. On his travels he is attended by
Thialfi and Roskva^
Baldur is Odin^s second son (by Frigg) ; he is the best
and is praised by all. He is so fair of aspect, and so bright,
that light issues from him ; and there is a plant, that of
all plants is the w^hitest, which is compared to Baldur^s
brow^^.
Hence an idea may be formed of his beauty both
of hair and person. He is the wisest, and most eloquent,
^ Gylf. 21. Yoluspa, Str. 56. Lokaglepsa, Str. 55, 57, 58. Haraarsh.
Str. 1, 9. Grimnism. Str. 4, 24. Harbarb^slj. Str. 24, 54. Alvism. Str. 6.
Hvndlulj. Str. 40. Skaldskap.. 4, 21. and p. 211.
The aconite (wolfsbane, monkshood) is in Norway called Thorhjalm
(Thori galea), Thorhat (Thori pileus) ; Swed. Dan. stormhat. May not
its denomination of wolfsbane bear allusion to Thor's combat with the
wolf? It is also called Tyrihjalm (Tyris galea). See Grimm, D. M. p.
1145.
2 In Denmark, Baldur's brow is the anthemis cotnia ; in Iceland, the
matricaria marithna inodora ; in Sweden, a plant called hvitatoja (white
eye) or hvitapiya (white lass). In Skania, the anthemis cotula bears the
name of halsensbro. On the right hand side of the road leading from Copenhagen
to Roeskilde there is a well called Baldur's Briind, which he is
said to have opened after a battle with Ilodur, to refresh his men suffering
from heat and fatigue. The tradition among the country-people is,
that it was produced by a stroke of the hoof of Baldur's horse. See Saxo,
p. 120, and Bp. Miiller's note; also Thiele, Danske Folkesagn, i. 5.