The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Thor

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > Supernatural Beings.

• attestation: Thor is Woden's son and the strongest of gods or men; he was patron of Starcad.

  ""Thunder", or "Thor", is Woden's son, strongest of gods or men, patron of Starcad"

• attestation: Thor transformed Starcad from a monster to a man by pulling off four of his arms.

  "whom he turned, by pulling off four arms, from a monster to a man"

• attestation: Thor journeyed to the haunt of the giant Geirrod and his three daughters, hurling an iron bloom and crushing the giantesses.

  "Saxo knows of Thor's journey to the haunt of giant Garfred (Geirrod) and his three daughters, and of the hurling of the iron "bloom", and of the crushing of the giantesses"

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > "T.M.").

• attestation: Thor-Brache gave Halfdan's young avengers Hadding and Guthorm into the care of two giant brothers: Wainhead took Hadding, Hafle took Guthorm.

  "Thor-Brache gives them in charge of two giant brothers. Wainhead took care of Hadding, Hafle of Guthorm"

The Danish History, > Book Three.

• attestation: Thor swung his club with devastating might, shattering all shields and killing all he struck

  "Thor was swinging his club with marvellous might, and shattered all interposing shields"

The Danish History, > Book Six.

• attribution: Saxo described Thor and Odin as mortal sorcerers who falsely claimed divine status and deceived the Scandinavian peoples

  "there were of old certain men versed in sorcery, Thor, namely, and Odin, and many others, who were cunning in contriving marvellous sleights; and they, winning the minds of the simple, began to claim the rank of gods"

• comparison: Saxo noted that the weekday names Thors-day and Odins-day correspond to the Roman days of Jove and Mercury

  "the days, called among our countrymen Thors-day or Odins-day, the ancients termed severally the holy day of Jove or of Mercury"

• comparison: Saxo observed that if Thor equals Jove and Odin equals Mercury, then Jove was son of Mercury, reversing the Roman genealogy

  "If, therefore, according to the distinction implied in the interpretation I have quoted, we take it that Thor is Jove and Odin Mercury, it follows that Jove was the son of Mercury"