in progress
A description of the vanir god Njörðr found in Gylfaginning.
text
Gylf ch. 23b
23b. Njörðr
Hinn þriðji ás er sá er kalla... | The third As is the one calle... |
[status: unverified copy]
commentary
context
Gylfaginning, which is part of Snorra Edda, was composed in Iceland in the 13th century, and holds the stories of many of the Pre-Christian myths of northern Europe. It is believe to have been composed by the Icelander Snorri Sturlusson. Snorra Edda consists of three separate parts, Gylfaginning, Skaldskápamáland Háttatal, all functioning together as a greater work and guide for the aspiring medieval poet and storyteller.
commentary
| Njörðr is part of the Vanir family and the father of Freyr and Freyja. His home is in Nóatún ("the place for ships") and he is married to Skaði, the daughter of the jötun Þjazi. Njörðr is a god of the sea and the winds. It has been argued that Njörðr and his central role in fertility cult by being one of the Vanir links him to the older germanic deity known as Nerþuz, the fertility goddess attested by Tacitus in the 1st century AD.
For more, see: Ellis Davidson, H. R, (1990), Gods and Myths of Northern Europe. London: Penguin Books. pp. 124-127, 132-138. Simek, Rudolf (2007), Transl: Angela Hall. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. Cambridge: D.S. Brewer. pp. 233-235. Steinsland, Gro (2005), Norrøn Religion. Myter, Riter, Samfunn. Oslo: Pax Forlag. pp. 144-151. |
(Contributed by Liv Marit Aurdal.)
tags
Main text: Gylfaginning
Attributes: Ship Landscape Mountain Fertility storms, bad weather Æsir-Vanir War Vanir invoking a god by calling name Giantess marriage between god and giantess Fire Weather Travel Travel Sea Wolf Nine Water
Named things:
Text sections: SnSt, Gylf ch. 23b