Sif's Hair: The Origin of Mjolnir
retold by me
Notes
Sif is the wife of Thor, and most known for her beautiful golden hair. It is said she spins her spells by twirling it in her fingers; most likely an allusion to seduction and manipulation, despite her known demeanor of sweetness and well-intent. Thor is the mighty thunder god, most celebrated of the Norse gods and defender of humanity from trolls, giants, and other monsters. He is most associated with his hammer, Mjolnir, but in earlier depictions, he is shown with an axe. Loki is Thor's adopted brother, the orphaned son of a frost-giant named Laufey. Loki is the trickster god, always playing pranks on the gods and being punished for it.
This tale is retold as a mixing of two different versions of 'Sif's Hair', found in Prose Edda (sometimes titled Snorra Edda), by Snorri Sturlsson. In one version, only the hair, the ship, and the spear are made, and Thor is seen to already have a hammer. This version contains Sif threatening Loki herself. In the version where the hammer is first forged, Thor threatens to break every bone in Loki's body. Opting to mix the two is the result of my own liking for a warrior act on Sif's part. I found the visual of Sif with a blade enticing.
The Tale
Sif wakes up one bright morning to discover her famed golden hair is on the floor. Immediately, she knows Loki is to blame. She dons her cloak and unsheathed her sword, ready to slay the trickster. Once in the hall, Sif spotted Loki and questioned him. Loki proclaims cutting her hair was merely a joke; one that Sif makes known was not humorous! Having backed Loki against the wall, Sif demanded compensation, her blade to his face. Once more, Loki absolves himself that he is not at fault, for she cannot see the humor in this deed, and once more, Sif presses the blade of her well-oiled sword to his face, demanding compensation. Trying to escape, Loki accidentally cuts himself on Sif's blade. Inspired by his new wound, Loki promises to visit the dwarves and gain replacement for Sif's lost hair. He then leaves, mumbling to himself, trying to figure out how he will keep his promises.
Once in the dark and wet caves of the dwarven forges, Loki's spirits have returned and he resolves to not mention his own part in the deed he came to fix. The two dwarves, sons of Ivaldi, could indeed spin new golden hair for Sif, but could see now reason why they should do this for Loki. In his mind, Loki could see the anger in Sif's eye, and pleaded with the dwarves to do this task. He told them of the thanks they would receive from Sif, Thor, himself, and the payment of favor he would give them.
The dwarves noticed the trickster's discomfort, and realized what bargaining hold they could have over him, should threat of retelling this event be wagered. The dwarves then agreed to take on this task, and threw fire onto the furnace to warm the forge. One worked the bellows of the forge while the other hammered the gold and spun it. Together, the sons of Ivaldi created beautiful, shimmering strands of gold, chanting incantations and spells. Once complete, the gold draped across Loki's arm, rippling and gleaming, changing color and glistening like an autumnal field of ripe corn. Loki smiled wide. The dwarves also then made a magic ship and a magic spear as gifts for the Aesir gods.
Convinced that none could match the workmanship of the sons of Ivaldi, Loki challenged the dwarf named Eitri to top these things. Eitri, and his assistant Brokk, forged a gold ring, a golden boar, and a hammer. To sabotage their work, Loki turned into a fly and bit Brokk, who was working the forge, while Eitri hammered, distracting him. Brokk left the bellows, and the third item, the hammer, was made with a short handle.
The six golden workings were brough to the gods in Asgard for judgement. The gods were all in agreement, the hammer was the best of these treasures. Brokk then presented the hammer, Mjolnir, to Thor, the thunder god, and spoke of its powers. It could not break, it would always return to his hand after being thrown, and it could shrink to fit concealed within Thor's shirt. From that time forth, Thor would no longer be depicted with an axe; always now, he had his hammer.
Notes
Sif is the wife of Thor, and most known for her beautiful golden hair. It is said she spins her spells by twirling it in her fingers; most likely an allusion to seduction and manipulation, despite her known demeanor of sweetness and well-intent. Thor is the mighty thunder god, most celebrated of the Norse gods and defender of humanity from trolls, giants, and other monsters. He is most associated with his hammer, Mjolnir, but in earlier depictions, he is shown with an axe. Loki is Thor's adopted brother, the orphaned son of a frost-giant named Laufey. Loki is the trickster god, always playing pranks on the gods and being punished for it.
This tale is retold as a mixing of two different versions of 'Sif's Hair', found in Prose Edda (sometimes titled Snorra Edda), by Snorri Sturlsson. In one version, only the hair, the ship, and the spear are made, and Thor is seen to already have a hammer. This version contains Sif threatening Loki herself. In the version where the hammer is first forged, Thor threatens to break every bone in Loki's body. Opting to mix the two is the result of my own liking for a warrior act on Sif's part. I found the visual of Sif with a blade enticing.
The Tale
Sif wakes up one bright morning to discover her famed golden hair is on the floor. Immediately, she knows Loki is to blame. She dons her cloak and unsheathed her sword, ready to slay the trickster. Once in the hall, Sif spotted Loki and questioned him. Loki proclaims cutting her hair was merely a joke; one that Sif makes known was not humorous! Having backed Loki against the wall, Sif demanded compensation, her blade to his face. Once more, Loki absolves himself that he is not at fault, for she cannot see the humor in this deed, and once more, Sif presses the blade of her well-oiled sword to his face, demanding compensation. Trying to escape, Loki accidentally cuts himself on Sif's blade. Inspired by his new wound, Loki promises to visit the dwarves and gain replacement for Sif's lost hair. He then leaves, mumbling to himself, trying to figure out how he will keep his promises.
Once in the dark and wet caves of the dwarven forges, Loki's spirits have returned and he resolves to not mention his own part in the deed he came to fix. The two dwarves, sons of Ivaldi, could indeed spin new golden hair for Sif, but could see now reason why they should do this for Loki. In his mind, Loki could see the anger in Sif's eye, and pleaded with the dwarves to do this task. He told them of the thanks they would receive from Sif, Thor, himself, and the payment of favor he would give them.
The dwarves noticed the trickster's discomfort, and realized what bargaining hold they could have over him, should threat of retelling this event be wagered. The dwarves then agreed to take on this task, and threw fire onto the furnace to warm the forge. One worked the bellows of the forge while the other hammered the gold and spun it. Together, the sons of Ivaldi created beautiful, shimmering strands of gold, chanting incantations and spells. Once complete, the gold draped across Loki's arm, rippling and gleaming, changing color and glistening like an autumnal field of ripe corn. Loki smiled wide. The dwarves also then made a magic ship and a magic spear as gifts for the Aesir gods.
Convinced that none could match the workmanship of the sons of Ivaldi, Loki challenged the dwarf named Eitri to top these things. Eitri, and his assistant Brokk, forged a gold ring, a golden boar, and a hammer. To sabotage their work, Loki turned into a fly and bit Brokk, who was working the forge, while Eitri hammered, distracting him. Brokk left the bellows, and the third item, the hammer, was made with a short handle.
The six golden workings were brough to the gods in Asgard for judgement. The gods were all in agreement, the hammer was the best of these treasures. Brokk then presented the hammer, Mjolnir, to Thor, the thunder god, and spoke of its powers. It could not break, it would always return to his hand after being thrown, and it could shrink to fit concealed within Thor's shirt. From that time forth, Thor would no longer be depicted with an axe; always now, he had his hammer.