The strongest giant, with a head and heart of stone. Defeated by Thor in single combat.
Hrungnir (Old Norse Hrungnir) was the strongest of all giants. His head and heart were made of stone, and his shield was likewise of stone. He rode the horse Gullfaxi and challenged Odin to a horse race. Odin won on Sleipnir, but Hrungnir rode into Asgard by momentum and was offered drink, whereupon he threatened to take Freyja and Sif.
Thor challenged Hrungnir to single combat at Grjotunagard. Hrungnir hurled his whetstone at Thor, who swung Mjölnir. The hammer shattered Hrungnir's stone head, but a shard of the whetstone lodged in Thor's forehead. Hrungnir's leg fell across Thor and only his son Magni was strong enough to lift it.
Sources in the Eddas
- Skáldskaparmál 17
- Snorri's detailed account of the horse race, the duel, and Magni's rescue of Thor.
Interpretive traditions
A What we know
Hrungnir was the strongest giant with a stone head, defeated by Thor with Mjölnir, attested in Skáldskaparmál.
B What we think we know
Whether the whetstone shard in Thor's forehead carries cultic or ritual significance is debated.