Fjörgyn and Fjörgynn

Fjörgyn and Fjörgynn

In Norse mythology, the feminine Fjörgyn (Old Norse "earth"Simek (2007:86).] ) is described as the mother of the god Thor, son of Odin, and the masculine Fjörgynn is described as the father of the goddess Frigg, wife of Odin. Both names appear in the "Poetic Edda", compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the "Prose Edda", written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. A number of theories surround the names, and they have been the subject of scholarly discourse.

Attestations

Fjörgyn is attested in the "Poetic Edda" poem "Hárbarðsljóð" stanza 56 and "Völuspá" stanza 56. Fjörgynn is attested in the "Prose Edda" books "Gylfaginning" chapter 9, and "Skáldskaparmál" chapter 19, and the "Poetic Edda" poem "Lokasenna" stanza 26. The name Fjörgyn also appears in Skaldic poetry at times as a synonym for "earth" or "land."Lindow (2001:117).]

Theories

Divine pair

Hilda Ellis Davidson theorizes that Fjörgyn and Fjörgynn may have represented a divine pair of which little information has survived, along with figures such as the theorized Ullr and Ullin, Njörðr and Nerthus, and the attested Freyr and Freyja. [Davidson (1990:106, 111)]

Fjörgyn and Jörð

Rudolf Simek states that Fjörgyn may simply be another name for Jörð, whose name also means "earth," since she does not appear listed in the Prose Edda as a unique goddess, but that the fact that she does not appear elsewhere in Skaldic poetry "as would be expected of a purely literary alternative to Jörð" may be notable.

Proto-Indo-European basis

Theories have been proposed that Fjörgyn may represent an extension of an earlier Proto-Indo-European thunder or rain god or goddess due to Indo-European linguistic connections between Norse "Fjörgyn", the Hindu rain god Parjanya, the Lithuanian god Perkūnas, and the Slavic god Perun.Mallory (1989:129).]

ee also

*Perkwunos

Notes

References

*Davidson, H. R. Ellis (1990). "Gods and Myths of Northern Europe". Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-013627-4.
*Lindow, John (2001). "Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs". Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515382-0
*Mallory, J.P. (1989). "In Search of the Indo-Europeans: Language, Archaeology and Myth." Thames & Hudson. ISBN 0500276161
*Simek, Rudolf (2007) translated by Angela Hall. "Dictionary of Northern Mythology". D.S. Brewer. ISBN 0859915131----


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Fjörgyn et Fjörgynn — Dans la mythologie nordique, la déesse Fjörgyn (vieux norrois pour terre [1]), parfois associée à une montagne, est décrite comme la mère de Thor, fils d Odin, et le dieu Fjörgynn est considéré comme le père ou parfois l amant [2] de la déesse… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Fjorgyn — Fjörgyn et Fjörgynn Dans la mythologie nordique, la déesse Fjörgyn (vieux norrois pour terre [1]), parfois associée à une montagne, est décrite comme la mère de Thor, fils d Odin, et le dieu Fjörgynn est considéré comme le père ou parfois l amant …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Norðri, Suðri, Austri and Vestri — In Norse mythology, Norðri, Suðri, Austri and Vestri ( Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western ) are four dwarves in the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning who each support one of the four cardinal points. Together, they uphold the heavenly dome,… …   Wikipedia

  • Svartálfar and Svartálfaheimr — In Norse mythology, svartálfar (Old Norse swart elves or black elves , singular svartálfr) are beings who dwell in Svartálfaheimr (Old Norse world of the swart elves or world of the black elves ). Both the svartálfar and Svartálfaheimr are solely …   Wikipedia

  • Árvakr and Alsviðr — In Norse mythology, Árvakr (Old Norse early awake [1]) and Alsviðr (Old Norse very quick [2]) are the horses which pull the sun, or Sol s chariot, across the sky each day.[2] See also Trundholm sun chariot Ashwins Notes …   Wikipedia

  • Fjörgynn —    In Nordic myth the giant mother of Frigg, and wife of Odin and mother of Thor. She was one of the Asynjor.    At some later stage a husband was devised for her with the name Fjorgyn …   Who’s Who in non-classical mythology

  • Mother goddess — Earth Mother redirects here. For other uses, see Mother Earth. Upper Paleolithic, Venus von Willendorf, estimated to have been carved 24,000–22,000 BCE Mother goddess is a term used to refer to a goddess who represents motherhood, fertility,… …   Wikipedia

  • Midgard — For other uses, see Midgard (disambiguation). The runes a:miþkarþi for Old Norse à Miðgarði meaning in Midgard in Middle Earth , on the Fyrby Runestone (Sö 56) in Södermanland, Sweden. Midgard (an Anglicised[ …   Wikipedia

  • Niflheim — This article is about the realm in Norse mythology. For the Black Metal band, see Nifelheim. Niflheim (or Niflheimr) ( Mist Home , the Abode of Mist or Mist World ) is one of the Nine Worlds and is a location in Norse mythology which overlaps… …   Wikipedia

  • Dagr — (1874) by Peter Nicolai Arbo For other uses of Dagr and Dagur, see Dagr (disambiguation). In Norse mythology, Dagr (Old Norse day [1]) is day personified. This personification appears in the …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”