Part II – The Trials of Skrymir’s Hall
This is part 2 of 2, of the classic tale of Thor and Loki’s journey through the land of Giants and their meeting with the enormous Jotun Skrymir, who offered to guide them through Jötunheim. Part 1 can be found here.
Morning in Jötunheim arrived slowly and a pale gray light spread across the mountains, as Thor and Loki awoke beneath the giant oak. Nearby, Skrymir still slept, his snores shaking leaves from the branches above.
Thor, still hungry from the night before, was already in a foul mood. The giant’s food bag still lay unopened beside them.
“By the hammer,” Thor muttered, “I could break mountains, yet I cannot open a simple knot.”
Loki crouched beside the bag again, studying it carefully. “Nothing about this journey is simple,” he replied.
Thor’s Frustration
Thor had not forgotten the previous night’s humiliation. While Skrymir slept, Thor had attempted to strike him again. Three times the Mighty God of Thunder struck the giant with Mjölnir. Each time, the hammer struck the giant’s skull with enough force to flatten a hill. Yet Skrymir merely stirred.
The first time he murmured, “Did an acorn fall?”
The second time he asked sleepily, “Did a twig land on my head?”
The third time he opened one eye and said, “Strange weather tonight.”
Thor had never been so confused in his life.
Come morning the giant finally awoke, stretching like a mountain coming to life. “Good morning, little travellers,” Skrymir said casually.
Thor crossed his arms. “You are a difficult giant to wake.”
Skrymir chuckled. “Oh? I slept very well.”
Loki watched the exchange silently. He had already begun to suspect something important: Skrymir was using powerful magic, but revealing this too early would only anger Thor further.
Arrival at the Mansion
By midday, the unlikely group reached a towering fortress in the distance. Its walls were taller than cliffs, and its gates were made from enormous slabs of iron.
“This,” said Skrymir, “is my hall.”
Thor stared upward, stunned by the sheer size of the fortress. Even the doors were so tall that they resembled city gates.
Inside, the hall stretched wider than any palace in Asgard and giants filled the room, each one massive and imposing, but strangely, none seemed concerned by Thor’s presence.
At the far end of the hall stood Skrymir’s great chair, carved from a single stone. “Welcome,” the giant said as he sat. “You wished for challenges, Thor of Asgard. Here they are, for I do not allow to dwelve in my halls those who are not masters of a craft or a pastime.”
The First Challenge: Drinking
A horn was brought forward—long and curved like a serpent. “If you are as strong as you claim,” Skrymir said, “empty this horn.”
Thor laughed, such a challenge seemed trivial, but nonetheless the God of Thunder accepted.
He lifted the horn and drank deeply, but after a long gulp, the liquid level barely changed. Thor frowned and drank again. Still the horn remained nearly full. A third attempt left Thor gasping for breath, yet the horn was far from empty.
The giants laughed softly and Thor’s face burned with anger.
Loki stepped forward and spoke calmly. “Perhaps the horn is enchanted.”
Skrymir smiled slightly but said nothing.
Loki’s Observation
While Thor recovered his breath, Loki walked slowly around the hall. He examined the walls, the floor, and the objects scattered across the room.
Loki, blood brother to Odin (Loki was never Thor adoptive brother as Marvel comics depicts him) was not the strongest of the Gods, but he was one of the most observant. He noticed something strange. The far wall of the hall shimmered faintly, as though hiding a hidden connection to something beyond.
Loki returned quietly to Thor. “None of these challenges are what they seem,” he whispered.
Thor gripped his hammer. “Then I will break the illusions.”
“Not yet,” Loki replied. “Watch carefully.”
The Second Challenge: Lifting the Cat
Skrymir gestured again. “If drinking is too difficult, try a simpler task: Lift my cat from the floor.”
As Thor snorted, a gray cat wandered into the hall.
Thor reached down and grabbed the animal, but the cat’s body stretched strangely as Thor lifted it. The more Thor pulled, the longer the cat seemed to grow.
Finally Thor managed to lift one paw off the floor.
Only one.
Thor stepped back, stunned. Never before had he failed such a simple feat.
Loki leaned closer. “The cat is not a cat,” he whispered.
Thor glared at him. “What do you mean?”
“Look at the way its body bends.”
Thor stared again, and the cat’s shape seemed to ripple slightly, like a reflection on water.
Loki was certain now: This entire hall was built on illusion.
The Final Challenge: Wrestling
Skrymir stood again. “One last challenge. If you cannot defeat my cat,” Skrymir said, “perhaps you can wrestle this old woman.”
He summoned an old woman named Elli. Her hair was white, and her back was bent with age.
Thor hesitated. Wrestling an elderly figure seemed almost insulting, but his pride demanded victory.
They began wrestling immediately. At first Thor pushed forward easily, but suddenly Elli’s grip tightened like iron.
Thor struggled as his feet slid backward and, slowly, painfully, Thor was forced down onto one knee.
The giants erupted in laughter.
Thor released his hold, breathing heavily. He had lost.
Loki Reveals the Truth
Thor was furious, but Loki finally stepped forward. “Enough,” he said. “Show us the truth.”
The hall fell silent and Skrymir smiled slowly, finally dissolving the illusion. The enormous hall faded away. The walls vanished like mist, and suddenly Thor and Loki stood outside among the mountains of Jötunheim.
Yet Skrymir himself appeared even larger. “You are clever, Loki,” the giant admitted. He pointed toward the horizon.
“The drinking horn was connected to the ocean. You drank so deeply that the sea itself lowered.”
Thor blinked in disbelief.
“The cat,” Skrymir continued, “was actually the Midgard Serpent disguised by magic. Lifting even one paw shook the world.”
Thor’s jaw tightened.
“And the old woman?”
“Elli is Old Age,” Skrymir said calmly. “No one defeats her.”
Thor stood silent. For once, the thunder God had nothing to say.
But Loki only smiled. “Strength alone cannot defeat every challenge.”
Skrymir nodded. “Yet Thor performed better than any being I have ever tested.”
The giant stepped back toward the mountains.“Return to Asgard, thunder God. You have earned respect.” And with that he vanished onto the horizon.
Thor and Loki began their journey home. Thor walked quietly for a long time. Finally he spoke. “Next time,” he said, gripping Mjölnir, “I will be ready for their tricks.”
Loki laughed softly and, with a sly smile only nodded.
There is another version of this story, in which Thor and Loki are also accompanied by two mortals. In this version, Loki takes part in an eating challenge against the Giant Logi (Old Norse for fire), while the mortal Thialfi tries to outrun the giant Hugi (Old Norse for thought). This version can be found here part 1 and here part 2.
Bibliographical References
Crossley-Holland, Kevin. The Norse Myths: A Guide to the Gods and Heroes. ISBN: 978-0140258697
Lindow, John. Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. ISBN: 978-0195153824
Sturluson, Snorri. The Prose Edda. ISBN: 978-0140447558
