Thor’s mighty battle with Hrungnir had long-term effects. Almost all of Thor’s wounds healed in time. A chunk of Hrungnir’s whetstone, however, remained stuck in his head, causing him great pain. No one could remove it until the seeress Groa arrived in Thrudvangar.
Groa lived alone, mourning the disappearance of her husband, Aurvandil the Bold. She came to Thor and sang her songs of healing to him.
Thor felt the whetstone loosen and move. Believing the would was all but healed and feeling gratitude for the seeress healing, Thor wanted to please her with news of her husband.
Thor had been in the north when he came to the raging river, Elivagar. There, he met Aurvandil who could not cross the river. Thor put Aurvandil into a basket and carried him southwards and across the river.
Unfortunately, one of Aurvandil’s toes hung out of the basket and became frostbitten. Thor broke the toe from Aurvandil’s foot and threw it to the heavens creating the star known as Aurvandil’s Toe. Thor assured Groa that Aurvandil would soon be home.
Groa was elated at the news that her husband was still alive and on his way home. Her joy overwhelmed her memory, and she forgot the healing songs she was singing. The whetstone remained lodged in Thor’s head.
We are warned not to throw a whetstone across the floor because it causes the whetstone in Thor’s head to move. None of us would wish Thor ill or want to face his anger.
Snorri Sturluson says Thjodolf of Hvin tells this story in the poem “Haustlong.” Aurvandil is the equivalent of Earendell and means “the morning star.’
Sources:
The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson, Penguin Classics (2005).
The Definitive Guide to Norse Mythology: The Gods Heroes, Monsters, and Legends of Viking Culture by Finn D. Moore (2022).
