NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY. 63 
The Giants, who were the natural enemies of the gods, were divided into 
several races, all of which traced their common origin to the Hrimthussir 
(the frost-giants). They were said to be uncouth in form, furnished with a 
number of arms and heads, some having as many as a hundred of each; 
but they were possessed of great riches. They possessed a greater know- 
ledge than most of the Asir of the past, of the wisdom gained from the runes, 
and of witchcraft. Their world was Jotunheim, a region situated near 
the borders of the earth, where they had a kind of capital called Utgard, 
the residence of their king Utgardloke, from whom the above-mentioned 
wicked Loke was distinguished by the epithet Asa Loke. 
The character of this giant-king of Utgard best appears in the myth of 
Thor’s adventures on his journey to Utgard. As soon as the god of 
thunder obtained his wonderful hammer J/jé6/nir, he determined to go out 
in search of adventures, and try the virtues of his new weapon. Accom- 
panied by Zoke and Thialfi, his friend and companion, noted for his 
swiftness in running, he determined to visit Utgardloke. 
As soon as the three reached Jotunheim they entered a large wood, and 
night having come on, looked around for a place to sleep: at last they 
discovered a hut in which they passed the night. But their rest was several 
times disturbed by a noise which they thought was caused by an earthquake. 
When morning came they discovered that what they had taken to be an 
earthquake was only the snoring of an immense giant, who had slept near 
their hut. Just as Thor was about to try the virtue of his hammer upon the 
head of the sleeper he awoke, and looked about for his glove, which he had 
lost the previous day; after a brief search he found it and picked it up. 
Then only did Thor find out that this was the hut, or what they had taken 
for one, in which they had spent the night. The giant now offered them 
his company and services as a guide, which they accepted. The four then 
pursued their journey together. When the evening came again their new 
companion offered them his basket with provisions to supply themselves 
with supper, but requested that they would be careful with the cord wound 
round the basket, for he had no other to fasten it with. After he had given 
this injunction he lay down and was soon fast asleep. When Thor tried to 
open the basket he could not untie a single knot, nor render a single string 
looser than it was before. Seeing that his labor was in vain he became 
wroth, and grasping his mallet with both hands launched it at the giant’s 
head. Skyrmir, for so he had called himself, awoke and merely asked if 
a leaf had not fallen on his head. About midnight he commenced again to 
snore soloud that it sounded like distant thunder. Then Thor arose and 
again took his mallet and launched it with redoubled force on the giant’s 
forehead. Skyrmir awaking, said an acorn must have fallen on his head, 
and then composed himself again to sleep. A little before daybreak when 
the enraged god perceived that the giant was again asleep, he seized for 
the third time the terrible Mjdlnir, and concentrating all his strength, threw 
the mallet with such violence that it forced its way up to the handle into 
the sleeper’s temple. But Skyrmir arose grumbling and said it was not 
pleasant to sleep in this wood, for just now a branch of a tree had fallen on his 
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