The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A-Z for the Entire Magical World - Judika Illes 2005

Hyrrokkin
The Hag

When the Norse god Baldur died, a grand funeral was planned including a traditional boat burial. The boat built for the occasion was the largest ship in existence, so large that no one could launch it, not even Thor. The gods then sent for the giantess Hyrrokkin, who arrived on the shore riding a gigantic wolf and using snakes for her reins.

All it takes is one touch and she sends the vessel into the sea, but in the process the rollers catch fire. It’s an ambiguous story: the gods either become angry with her or wish to sacrifice her. Berserkers, Odin’s shaman warriors, kill her wolf; Thor threatens to kill Hyrrokkin with his hammer but is persuaded not to by the other gods.

Some scholars believe Hyrrokkin is yet another name for Angerboda.

See Angerboda, Giants, Thokk; ANIMALS: Bears, Snakes, Wolves and Werewolves; DICTIONARY: Valkyrie; DIVINE WITCH: Angerboda, Hella.