Gríðr, Thor’s Giantess Host

Overview

Gríðr is the giantess who hosts Thor overnight before his visit to Geirröðr. In the prose of Skáldskaparmál XVIII she is explicitly the mother of Víðarr the Silent. She warns Thor that Geirröðr is cunning and difficult to deal with, then lends her own strength-belt, iron gloves and staff. Her practical intervention compensates for Loki’s promise that Thor will arrive without his usual equipment. The narrative does not identify her with Geirröðr’s daughters or make her participate in their ambush.

The borrowed staff braces Thor against the current of Vimur and later against the rafters when Gjálp and Greip raise his chair. The gloves allow him to catch Geirröðr’s heated iron projectile. Gríðr is not shown travelling with him or recovering the equipment afterwards. The quoted Þórsdrápa also names her staff during the crossing and later fighting. Brodeur calls it Grídr’s Rod; Anderson’s selected translation uses the form Gríðarvölr. The prose gives no description of her face, size, clothing or transformations, so her role here is that of a warning host and provider of protective tools.

Origins & earliest records

Snorri’s Edda, Skáldskaparmál XVIII, selected through Brodeur 1916, pp. 121–129; Anderson 1901, Thor’s Journey to Geirrod’s, pp. 176–183.

Records & interpretation

The located prose explicitly identifies Gríðr as Víðarr’s mother and Thor’s host; both the prose and accompanying verse refer to her staff. The texts supply her help and tools rather than a physical portrait.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   The Prose Edda: Skáldskaparmál XVIII, pp. 121–129

   Snorri Sturluson; Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur, translator · 1916

   Complete journey prose and accompanying translated Þórsdrápa. Gríðr’s own encounter is on p. 122; staff use continues through the chapter.

2. 02

   The Younger Edda: Thor’s Journey to Geirrod’s, pp. 176–183

   Snorri Sturluson; Rasmus B. Anderson, translator · 1901 selected edition; translation first published 1879

   Previously inspected English witness retained for the equipment-name comparison.

Family, evolution & connections

Grídr and Víðarr — Skáldskaparmál XVIII

Brodeur’s complete XVIII account of Thor’s visit to Geirrödr, pp.121–129; the parentage sentence is p.122.

Explicit mother of Vídarr the Silent designation in the prose introduction. No father or additional children are supplied by this episode. Grídr’s help to Thor is not a maternal relationship. Prose Loki and verse Thjálfi companion differences are not kinship and are not harmonised here.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Primary text in historical English translationBrodeur 1916: Thor’s visit to GeirröðrResearch access: 2026-10-05
2. Primary text in historical English translationAnderson 1901: Thor’s Journey to Geirrod’sResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.