The Cup That Broke Against a Head

How did Thor break the unbreakable cup?

In *The Lay of Hymir*, Hymir asks Thor to break a cup after they return from fishing. Rowing a boat with mighty strokes is not enough: Thor must break the cup to prove his strength. Thor hurls it against a stone pillar. The pillar shatters, but the cup is unharmed.

The giant's wife tells him to throw it against Hymir's head, which is harder than the cup. Thor strikes with all his godly strength. The cup breaks, but the head is unharmed. Next, Hymir says Thor may take the great cauldron if he can carry it out of the hall.

Tyr tries 2 times but cannot move it. Thor puts the cauldron over his head and carries it away, its handles clattering around his heels. On the way home, Hymir and a band of many-headed giants give chase. Thor sets down the cauldron and defeats them all with Mjolnir.

Farther along, a goat has collapsed with an injured leg. Loki is to blame. In time, Thor brings Hymir's great cauldron to the gathering of the gods. Now the gods can drink ale in Aegir's hall in autumn.

Read commentaryHide commentary