On Sunday night, Game of Thrones fans were re-introduced to a gigantic man known simply as "the Mountain." The Mountain is massive, incredibly strong, and has the ability to destroy lesser men: he'll be Cersei Lannister's champion in the trial-by-combat of her brother Tyrion.

You might have already known the story, but what you probably didn't know is that the new actor who plays the Mountain is also pretty fearsome in real life.

Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, or more casually known as Thor Bjornsson, is only 25 years old, standing at 6'9", he weighs more than 400 pounds, bends steel bars for fun, and was almost named 2014 World's Strongest Man (he finished second in the competition). Bjornsson is from Iceland, and he's the third actor to take a turn playing the Mountain.

This Reddit AMA from March indicates that Bjornsson is a really nice guy - but his superhuman strength is intimidating.

In the video below, Bjornsson uses his neck to bend four cast iron bars in the span of just 30 seconds — while painted green and dressed as the Incredible Hulk.



In this one, he throws a freaking washing machine!



If Hafthor Bjornsson's large size and superhuman strength is as impressive as it is rare, get this: He's not the only larger-than-life person in Iceland. The island nation of just 320,000 people is a strongman powerhouse, as you'll see in this video by Vice which finds out more about these "Giants of Iceland," in which Bjornsson is featured:



Here's Bjornsson and actress Lena Headey — on the Game of Thrones set, taken from Bjornsson's Instagram page: