Their story
The gods wanted to feast at Ægir's hall, but he had no cauldron big enough. Tyr said his father, or kinsman, Hymir had one a mile deep, so Thor and Tyr went to fetch it. Hymir took Thor fishing; Thor used an ox head as bait and hooked the Midgard Serpent, until Hymir in terror cut the line. Thor then broke Hymir's unbreakable goblet on the giant's own head and carried off the cauldron.
Best times to give to them
- before fishing
- when brewing for a gathering
What they like being given
- a meal shared with a guest
- sea litter cleared from a beach
How to honour them
- Honour the tale by hosting generously: the whole poem is about getting a cauldron to brew for a feast.
- Brew tea, soup or ale in a large pot for friends, in memory of the cauldron Thor won.
How they can help you
- hospitality
- daring
- tales of the sea
Symbols
- a mile-deep cauldron
- a frozen beard
- a fishing boat
- an ox head bait
Hymiskviða makes Hymir Tyr's father, while Snorri makes Tyr a son of Odin.
Sources
- Poetic Edda, Hymiskviða
- Prose Edda, Gylfaginning 48