In Norse mythology, Thor is known as the god of thunder who wields the mighty hammer Mjolnir. He is the son of Odin and protector of both Asgard and Midgard, the realms of gods and humans. Thor is powerfully built and known for his heroic deeds in battling giants and other enemies of the gods. He rides across the sky in a chariot drawn by two goats and unleashes thunder and lightning from his hammer. Though immensely strong, Thor often relies as much on guile as brute force to overcome foes much larger than himself.
In Greek mythology, Zeus is the king of the gods who rules from Mount Olympus. He is the god of the sky and lightning and maintains order and justice in the cosmos. Zeus is strong and courageous in battle but also wise and calculating. He dispenses justice from his high throne on Mount Olympus. Zeus is a powerful god but does not exert absolute control over fate, sharing his rule with the Fates. He upholds cosmic order by imposing his will and meting out rewards and punishments as necessary.
Though coming from different mythological traditions, Zeus and Thor can be considered counterparts as mighty sky gods associated with thunder and lightning. They are both known for their strength and valor but also cunning intelligence. So what would happen if the Greek and Norse pantheons intersected and Zeus set his sights on the Norse thunder god Thor? Who might Zeus send after the mighty Thor to target the god of thunder on his own turf?
Loki – The Trickster God
If Zeus wanted to send someone after Thor, one of the most obvious choices would be Loki, the notorious trickster god of Norse myth. Loki is Thor’s brother in many accounts and constantly gets Thor into and out of trouble with his tricks and mischief. Loki is cunning, shifty, and unpredictable. He can change form and disguise himself as needed for his schemes. While not as physically powerful as Thor, Loki is extremely crafty and can outwit those stronger than himself. If Zeus needed someone who could match wits with Thor and exploit any weaknesses, Loki would be a prime candidate for the job.
As a master of magic and illusion, Loki would be able to confound Thor and pull tricks to distract his half-brother. His ability to shapeshift could also allow him to catch Thor off guard or sneak into places the thunder god would not expect. And as Thor’s own brother, Loki would know Thor’s mental and physical vulnerabilities better than most. Of course, the risk with sending Loki is his uncertain loyalty. Loki is just as likely to betray Zeus or pursue his own agenda as faithfully carry out the king of the Greek gods’ orders. But if Zeus could somehow bind Loki to follow his commands, the Norse trickster would be an optimal choice to match up with Thor.
Loki’s Strengths Against Thor:
- Cunning and trickery
- Shapeshifting abilities
- Familiarity with Thor’s weaknesses
- Magic and illusion powers
Typhon – The Monstrous Giant
Another prime candidate Zeus could dispatch to confront Thor is Typhon, the most fearsome and monstrous giant in Greek mythology. Typhon is a colossal giant said to stand as tall as the stars. He has one hundred snake heads that can breathe fire and has an arsenal of rock-throwing hands. In some accounts, Typhon is called the “father of all monsters” and even challenged Zeus for control of the cosmos. Though eventually subdued by Zeus, Typhon remained an ominous threat harbored beneath Mount Etna. So if Zeus needed a brute force to match Thor’s physical might, unleashing Typhon would definitely be an option.
Unlike Loki, Typhon would not be able to match wits with Thor. But in a purely physical battle, Typhon could go toe-to-toe with the Norse thunder god and overwhelm him through sheer size and power. His barrage of rock-throwing hands could batter Thor from a hundred directions at once. And Thor’s hammer might have difficulty parrying the flames unleashed from Typhon’s myriad snake heads. Typhon battled Zeus himself and shook the cosmos, so he would have experience fighting strong thunder gods. Unleashing the monstrous Typhon against Thor would demonstrate Zeus’s ability to ward off the Norse god through devastating brute force if needed.
Typhon’s Strengths Against Thor:
- Colossal size and strength
- Multiple rock-throwing hands
- Snake heads that breathe fire
- Experience battling chief gods like Zeus
Ares – The God of War
As the Greek god of war, Ares is a more straightforward choice to send into battle with Thor. In the Iliad, Ares was rebuked by Zeus himself for his lust for violence and havoc. But Zeus would likely have fewer qualms about unleashing Ares against a foreign interloper like Thor. In appearance and temperament, Ares is similar to Thor – a mighty warrior who delights in combat and willingly charges into any skirmish. With his spear and shield, Ares could engage Thor directly in hand-to-hand combat and match his physical strength.
Though not adept at Loki’s tricks or possessing Typhon’s raw might, Ares still represents a formidable foe. His skill in weaponry and martial arts could allow him to hold his own against the hammer-wielding Thor. Ares also has experience fighting other thunder gods like Zeus, so he would not be rattled by Thor’s lightning and thunder. Unlike the sometimes chaotic Loki or purely monstrous Typhon, Ares could be relied on by Zeus to directly fight Thor as a fellow warrior-deity on equal footing. A matchup between the two gods of war would be a legendary divine clash for the ages.
Ares Strengths Against Thor:
- Physical strength and combat skill
- Proficiency with weapons like spears
- Tactical battle skills
- Experience fighting divine thunder gods
Hercules – The Champion of Zeus
As Zeus’s own mortal son, Hercules would be an interesting choice to send against Thor. Though only half divine, Hercules possesses legendary strength and completed 12 impossible labors. His godlike heritage from Zeus granted him immense power that augments his already formidable mortal abilities. With his club, bow, and lion skin armor, Hercules was able to accomplish fantastic feats of myth like slaying the monstrous Nemean Lion and the multi-headed Hydra.
Against Thor, Hercules could wage war just as well as Ares but with greater cunning. While not a full god, Hercules has divine blood and has tangled with the mightiest beasts of myth. Thor would present just another challenge on par with the Nemean Lion or other epic adversaries. And as a demigod champion allied with Zeus rather than a rival like Ares, Hercules’s loyalty could be relied upon in confronting Thor. Like Thor defending humanity, Hercules is known for aiding men in danger, so the two could find common ground as godly protectors.
Hercules Strengths Against Thor:
- Demigod strength and endurance
- Unmatched skill with club and bow
- Twelve labors worth of experience defeating mighty beasts
- Loyalty as champion warrior of Zeus
Athena – The Goddess of Wisdom and War
As the goddess of both wisdom and war, Athena would be uniquely suited to confront the mighty Thor. Athena could match Thor’s physical power as a warrior goddess and rival his intelligence with her divine wisdom. She is peerless in her strategic ability and would likely seek to outmaneuver Thor instead of simply overpowering him. Where Thor relies on his hammer and lightning, Athena would predict his movements and turning his own strength against him.
Athena could blind Thor’s senses to sow confusion and create openings. She wields the unblockable Aegis shield and peerless spear, allowing her to defend against Thor’s hammer blows while seeking a weak point in his guard. With the ability to grant inspiration and empowerment, Athena could also boost allies like Hercules or Ares. And as one of Zeus’s most trusted advisors, Athena would loyally follow directives to confront the foreign thunder god Thor on behalf of Olympus.
Athena’s Strengths Against Thor
- Divine wisdom and strategic intellect
- Warrior skills and magic abilities
- Aegis shield and spear for defense/offense
- Power to inspire allies like Hercules
Hades – Lord of the Underworld
Though not usually intervening directly in affairs outside his realm, Hades controls vast powers as Greek god of the underworld. If Zeus were to sanction Hades leaving Hades to battle Thor, the dark lord could bring terrifying powers to bear against the thunder god. Hades epitomizes death, harvesting mortal souls to his grim realm. His helm of invisibility allows him to attack unseen, while his bident saps his foes’ life force.
Against the straightforward attacks of Thor’s hammer, Hades could wage psychological warfare. Materializing from invisibility to sap Thor’s vitality before vanishing, Hades could wear the thunder god down through stealthy harassment. He commands legions of undead souls that could rise up to assist him. And Hades could threaten a fate literally worse than death by seeking to imprison the Norse god in gloomy Tartarus if Thor fell to him. Though not an overtly martial god like Ares, a rare direct intervention by death incarnate Hades would be a frightening prospect for even the mighty Thor.
Hades’s Strengths Against Thor:
- Powers of invisibility and stealth
- Life force-draining bident as a weapon
- Hordes of undead souls at his command
- Ability to imprison Thor in the underworld
Conclusion
In the end, if Zeus did decide for whatever reason to send one of his divine servants after Thor, he has several dangerous options to choose from. Loki would use trickery and cunning to outfox his half-brother. Typhon could match Thor’s might blow for blow. Ares would offer straightforward martial skill while Hercules provides loyalty and well-honed heroic strength. Athena and Hades provide magic, stealth, strategy and psychological terror. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses against the Norse thunder god.
But Thor would likely also have allies like Odin and the other Aesir gods to aid him against any Greek attackers. And the devious Loki is just as likely to betray Zeus as faithfully serve him. In the end, such a direct divine clash between pantheons would create chaos and destruction, likely requiring intervention to maintain cosmic order. Whether through a temporary truce or external balance, the gods of two traditions would need to curb unchecked conflict for the good of mortal worshippers caught in between.