in progress
In the first chapter of Gylfaginning, Snorri tells of the goddess Gefjun. The story is also found in his Ynglinga saga (5). As a reward from the Swedish ancient king Gylfi, Gefjun is given land to settle, as much as he can plough in one day and night. With the help of a large plough and her four giant-born sons turned into oxen, she ploughs and creates the lands known as Zealand in Denmark and Lake Mälaren in Sweden.
text
Gylf ch. 1b
1b.
Gylfi konungur réð þar löndum... | King Gylfi was ruler in what... |
[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 believed 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
The main focus of the ploughing event is thought to be focused on the creation of the Öresund bay located between Scania and Zealand. In Snorri's Yglinga saga it is told that Oðinn was living in Odense at this time and he sent Gefjun out searching for new lands. Gefjun ploughs the landscape of Sweden down towards Odense and therefore added greatly to the landmass of Denmark.
It is told that Gefjun became the ancestral mother of the ancient Danish kings of the Skjöldungar dynasty who ruled Denmark in the 9th century, which we can read about in the legendary Skjöldunga saga dated to the 12-13th century.
Folke Ström regards Gefjun ("the one who gives") as a fertility goddess, a creater of land with the ideas of fertility connected to ancient ploughing rituals.
For more, see for example:
Simek, Rudolf (2007), Transl: Angela Hall. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. Cambridge: D.S. Brewer. pp. 101-102.
Steinsland, Gro (2005), Norrøn Religion. Myter, Riter, Samfunn. Oslo: Pax Forlag. pp. 239-241.
(Contributed by Liv Marit Aurdal.)
tags
Main text: Gylfaginning
Attributes: Legendary Female Sacral kingship Ritual Landscape Fertility Ox Bull / ox Giants Sea Island Female deity Water Æsir Creation
Named things:
Text sections: SnSt, Gylf ch. 1b