We are simple unassuming folk at Godchecker, trying our best against all the odds to unravel Godmade complications. Some times the odds are almost too much and we are left stumbling and stupefied.

In this instance we are left trying to come to grips as to why Thor should hurl the toe of some unfortunate minor God called Aurvandil into the sky to become a star. It is true that Thor had been hit on the head after a battle with the giant Hrungnir and had fragments of whetstone embedded therein. This is where Groa becomes involved.

As a seeress with healing powers she had been summoned to charm the fragments from Thor’s head. Also she had been the wife of Aurvandil. We are now no longer at a total loss. According to a report by an onlooker at the time, Thor was telling Groa how he knew her old man, and once when they were stranded in the Kingdom of the Frost Giants he had to carry poor old Aurvandil home in a basket because he had frostbite in his toes. Sadly the toes had to be amputated, and to cheer up his old mate, Thor hurled them into the sky to become stars.

Groa, who had never heard this story, was so excited and enthralled she stopped her incantations, and then could not remember the spells, so some fragments remained forever in Thor’s head. Which all goes to prove she was a pretty useless seeress — why hadn’t she consulted hubby or an oracle? She was not much good as a nurse either.

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Article last revised on August 06, 2018 by Rowan Allen.
Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders

References: Coming soon.

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