Magni and Modi
Magni is the son of Thor and his Jotun mistress Jarnsaxa. Sevral times in the lore Thor is called “The Father Of Magni” in Thorsdrapa and Harbardsljod, stanzas 9 and 53. In Hollander’s, The Poetic Edda pg. 75 and 82, it also says.
“I should utter my name though outlawed I were,
And that of all my kin: I am Othin’s son,
Meili’s brother, Magni’s father,
A god strong in thews:
‘tis with Thor thou speakest.
This now I ask, what thy name be.”
(Stanza 9)
“Now give heed to my words
and row hither thy boat;
Let mocking be and fetch
Magni’s father over.”
(Stanza 53).
Magni’s name means “The Strong One”. He is even stronger than his father. In Snorri’s Edda, Thor battles with the Giant Hrungnir. And after killing him, Thor becomes trapped under the giants leg. No one was able to left the giants leg off of Thor. Until Thor’s son Magni, who was only three years old came to help. Magni was the only one able to left Hrungnir’s leg off of Thor.
In Young’s, The Prose Edda pg. 105 it says. “What a pity I didn’t come sooner, father; I reckon I’d have struck the giant dead with my bare fist if I had met him”.
Magni was given Hrungnir’s steed Gullfaxi “Golden Mane” as gift a for helping his father. Much to Magni’s Grandfather Odinn’s dismay. Odinn had wanted Gullfaxi for himself and thought that Thor should have given it to his father.
Modi is also a son of Thor. It does not say in the lore who Modi’s mother is. Modi’s mother may possibly be Jarnsaxa. In Larrington’s, The Poetic Edda, stanza 34 pg. 82, it says.
“The father of Modi took it by the rim,
And rolled it along down onto the hall floor.
Sif’s husband lifted the kettle up on his head,
The handle-rings jingled at his heels.”
Modi’s name is translated in various ways. In Simek’s Dictionary of Northern Mythology it is translated as “The Angry One”. And in Lindow’s Norse Mythology it is translated also as ‘The Angry One”. But in Daly’s Norse Mythology A to Z it has his name translated as “Courage”. And then also in Our Troth it translates it as “Bravery”.
When Thor is killed by the poisonous venom of the World Serpent during the battle of Ragnarok. Magni and Modi become the new keepers of Mjollnir. In Hollander’s, The Poetic Edda, in the Vafthrudnismal, stanza 51, it says.
“Vithar and Vali will ward the gods’ fanes,
when Surt’s fire is slaked;
Mothi and Magni will Mjolnir have,
When Thor has thrown it last.”
Robert James Etter July 3, 2007