Tanngnjóstr and Tanngrisnir

Tanngnjóstr ("Teeth-grinder") and Tanngrisnir ("Teeth-barer") are the two he-goats who pull Thor's chariot. This is why he was called Öku-Þor ("Cart Thor"), according to Snorri Sturluson. They are only named in Gylfaginning.

The animals could be slaughtered and eaten in the evening, and resurrected the following morning, provided their bones were unharmed. In one event, found in Gylfaginning, Thor slaughtered the animals while visiting a husbandman's home. He told the family to throw the bones onto the goat skins, but the husbandman's son, Þjálfi, split a thigh-bone with his knife to get at the marrow. When the goats were restored to life the next morning, Thor noticed that one was lame in the hind leg. Angered, he confronted the peasants who begged for his mercy. Thor took from them in settlement their children, Þjálfi and Röskva, and they became his bond-servants. Thor left his goats behind with the husbandman.

In Hymiskviða Thor stalled his goats, which were "splendid of horn," with Egil before continuing to Hymir's hall.

A kenning for Thor is Lord of He-goats.

❧