Who Is Aurvandil?
Aurvandil is a lesser-known but striking figure in Norse tradition, remembered most for a single vivid image: his frozen toe thrown into the sky to become a star. He is closely linked with Thor and with the harsh borderlands near the realm of the giants.
According to later sources, Thor rescued Aurvandil from the dangerous regions near Jotunheim, carrying him in a basket through snow and bitter cold. During this perilous journey one of Aurvandil's toes froze solid, and Thor broke it off and cast it into the heavens, where it shines as a star.
Though only fragments of his story survive, Aurvandil stands at the crossroads of hero legend, cosmic symbolism, and the wild frontier between gods, giants, and the mortal world.
Character and Nature
Wanderer of Harsh Lands
Aurvandil is tied to the cold frontier regions near Jotunheim, where only the hardiest travellers dare to go.
Linked to Giants' Border
His rescue by Thor takes place in lands associated with the giants and their dangerous, frozen domains.
From Mortal to Star
The transformation of his toe into a star gives Aurvandil a lasting place in the night sky.
The Star of Aurvandil
The key tale about Aurvandil comes through Thor's own words in later tradition. After returning from the frozen borderlands, Thor points to a star in the sky and declares that it is Aurvandil's toe, preserved forever above the world.
This brief story captures several classic Norse themes: hazardous journeys through giant-haunted country, the loyalty of Thor to those under his protection, and the idea that parts of the cosmos are formed from the bodies and struggles of living beings.
Aurvandil's tale may be short, but it bridges the human scale of hardship and the vast scale of the stars themselves.
Quick Facts
Star Symbolism
Associated Realms
Aurvandil in the Sky
Different traditions link Aurvandil's star with different points in the sky, but all agree that a part of him remains shining above the worlds as a sign of his journey.