Beyla

Beyla is one of Freyr's servants along with her husband, Byggvir, in Norse mythology. Beyla is mentioned in stanzas 55, 66, and the prose introduction to the Poetic Edda poem Lokasenna. Since this is the only mention of Beyla, scholars have turned to the etymology of Beyla's name for additional information about her.[1] Beyla’s husband Byggvir was the god of barley and his wife Beyla the goddess of Bees. They, as a pair, were to depict the two favorite fermented drinks of the Norse culture mead and ale. As the servants of Freyr they were to tend to the crops of barley and bees.

For the city in Guinea, see Beyla, Guinea. For the prefecture, see Beyla Prefecture.

Lokasenna

In the prose introduction to Lokasenna, Beyla and Byggvir are cited as attending In stanza 55 of Lokasenna, after his verses with Sif, Loki accuses Beyla of being filthy but the reason for this is unclear.[1]

Stanza 55:

Beyla qvaþ:
«Fioll a/ll scialfa,
hygg ec a for vera
heiman Hlorriþa;
hann reþr ró
þeim er rogir her
goð a/ll oc gvma.»
Beyla spake:
"The mountains shake,
and surely I think
From his home comes Hlorrithi now;
He will silence the man
who is slandering here
Together both gods and men."[2]

Stanza 56:

Loci qvaþ:
«Þegi þv, Beyla!
þv ert Byggviss qven
oc meini blandin mioc;
okynian meira
coma meþ asa sonom,
a/ll ertv, deigia! dritin.»
Loki spake:
"Be silent, Beyla!
thou art Byggvir's wife,
And deep art thou steeped in sin;
A greater shame
to the gods came ne'er,
Befouled thou art with thy filth."[2]

In relation to Loki's comments in Lokasenna, proposals have been made that Beyla and her husband are personifications of agriculture associated with Freyr: Beyla as the manure that softens the earth and develops the seed, Byggvir as the refuse of the mill, chaff.[3]

Notes
  1. Lindow (2001:78).
  2. Henry Adams Bellows' 1936 translation of Lokasenna. Available online:
  3. Thorpe (1851:198-199.)

References
  • Lindow, John (2001). Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515382-0
  • Thorpe, Benjamin (1851). Northern Mythology Vol. I. London: Edward Lumley
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