Thor is of course the God of Thunder. He is the guardian of the world - both of gods and men. His mighty hammer Mjollnir is a short-handled weapon (the dwarf who forged it was interrupted in his work by a gnat stinging him on the eyelid). Named after lightning, or literally 'a thunderbolt' it can be swung or thrown, and will always return to his hand like a boomerang. It is with this weapon that Thor maintains the stability of the world and keeps forces of chaos in check. Thor's name is the basis for our modern day Thursday (Thorsdag).