Thor Referred to in the Canterbury Runic Charm

Over recent years I have on occasions made reference to the Germanic Gods in Old English literature although such references are hard to find. One such example that I recently discovered is referred to in Runic Amulets and Magic Objects by Mindy MacLeod and Bernard Mees (2006, Boydell Press).

The God Thor using his Norse rather than Anglo-Saxon name is referred to in the 11th century Old English Canterbury Runic Charm where He is invoked for protection against 'blood vessel puss' (poison):

"Gyril wound-cause, go now! You are found. May Thor bless you, lord of ogres! Gyril wound-causer. Against blood-vessel pus."

The 'wound-causer' is personalised as an entity by being given the name 'Gyril'. The charm in Old English Runes was inserted in a manuscript which was completed in 1073, well after the Christianisation of the Anglo-Saxons and this may be attributed to Danish influence although Canterbury was well outside the Danelaw. The authors of the aforementioned book point out that whilst Thor was not especially considered to be a God of healing he never the less had a protective function towards mankind and was in particular an enemy of 'ogres', referred to in the charm as 'thursa'.