Much ink has been spilled on Thor’s sons, Móði and Magni– but what can we discuss when it comes to the daughter of Thor and Sif, Þrúðr (also known as Thrudr)?
Her name, fittingly for the offspring of the Thunderer, means strength or power, and while we have no stories about her exploits, there are numerous hints at what we’ve potentially lost. Specifically, in Ragnarsdrápa in the Prose Edda, in which Hrungnir – a jötunn – is called Þrúðar þjófr, the ‘thief of Þrúðr’. Of course, in Skáldskaparmál, Snorri tells the story of the fight between Hrungnir and Thor, and no inciting incident is mentioned there. It’s possible that there is perhaps some confusion between the abduction of Idunn here, though others see this as a story that has since faded into obscurity.
Elsewhere, Þrúðr is mentioned among the valkyries in Grímnismál, serving the einherjar in Valhalla, and is listed among 29 valkyrie names in Nafnaþulur in Skáldskaparmál. Though, to add to the confusion, Þruðr is twice used as a kenning to refer to a valkyrie, with Hildr described as the ‘Curing Thrudr of Bloody Wounds’ and ‘Thrudr of battle’, in much the same manner as her mother (‘the shaking Sif of Rings’).
Þruðr is also mentioned on the 10th century Karlevi runestone, where a notable chieftain is described as the ‘battle/tree of Thrudr’ – tree here is akin to person, perhaps offering some insight into how Þrúðr was honoured in the Viking Age.
Finally, Þruðr is potentially mentioned in Alvíssmál in the Poetic Edda, though she is simply referred to as ‘the daughter of Thor’. As we have no reference to another daughter of Thor, we have assumed this is Þrúðr herself.
Other than that, we have very little else. Which is par for the course. How do you see Þrúðr? What does she mean to you?