Gríðr

Gríðr (or Gríd) is a jötunn in Norse mythology. She is the mother of Víðarr the silent and the consort of Oðinn.[1]

Characters of Gesta Danorum
Danish kings
Foreign rulers
Other men
Women

Name

The poetic Old Norse name Gríðr has been translated as "vehemence, violence, or impetuosity".[2][3][4] Its etymology is unclear.[2]

Attestations

Prose Edda

In Skáldskaparmál (The Language of Poetry), Gríðr is portrayed as equipping the thunder-god Thor with her belt of strength, her iron glove, and her staff Gríðarvöl (Gríðr's-staff) on Thor's journey to the abode of Geirröðr.[1]

Thor lodged for the night with a giantess called Grid. She was Víðarr the silent's mother. She told Thor the truth about Geirrod, that he was a cunning giant and awkward to deal with. She lent him a girdle of might and some iron gauntlets of hers, and her staff, called Grid's pole.

— Snorri Sturluson, Skáldskaparmál, 18, trans. A. Faulkes, 1987.

Gríðr is also mentioned in a list of troll-wives ("I shall list the names of troll-wives. Grid and Gnissa, Gryla...").[5]

Viking Age

Gríðarvöl (Gríðr's staff) is also mentioned in the poem Þórsdrápa by the late-10th-century skald Eilífr Goðrúnarson.[6]

The feller of the dolphins of the steeps [giants] advanced with violent temper with Grid's pole.

— Eilífr Goðrúnarson, Þórsdrápa, trans. A. Faulkes, 1987.

Gríðr appears in 10th-century kennings for 'wolf' (the steed of troll-wife) and for 'axe' (that which is dangerous to the life-protector, i.e. shield or helmet).[7]

Battle raged when the feeder of Grid's steed [wolf], he who waged war, advanced with ringing Gaut's [Odin's] fire. Weird rose from the well.

— Kormákr Ögmundarson, Skáldskaparmál 49, trans. A. Faulkes, 1987.

Riders [seafarers] of Ræfil's land's [sea's] horses [ships] can see how beautifully engraved dragons lie just by the brow of the Grid of the life-protector.

— Einarr Skúlason, Skáldskaparmál 49, trans. A. Faulkes, 1987.

Other texts

Saxo Grammaticus refers to her as Grytha, the wife of the legendary king Dan I of Denmark, "a lady whom the Teutons accorded the highest honour".[8] A witch of the same name appears in Illuga saga Gríðarfóstra.[9]

Theory

Her role as the donor of information and necessary items to the hero has been analyzed by folklorists as a commonplace of folk narrative.[1]

Notes
  1. Lindow 2002, p. 149.
  2. de Vries 1962, p. 188.
  3. Simek 1996, p. 117.
  4. Orchard 1997, p. 61.
  5. Faulkes 1987, p. 156.
  6. Faulkes 1987, p. 84.
  7. Faulkes 1987, pp. 121, 238.
  8. Fisher 1999, pp. 1:14, 2:26.
  9. Lavender 2015, p. v.

References

Bibliography
  • de Vries, Jan (1962). Altnordisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch (in German) (1977 ed.). Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-05436-3.
  • Faulkes, Anthony, trans. (1987). Edda (1995 ed.). Everyman. ISBN 0-460-87616-3.
  • Fisher, Peter, trans. Davidson, Hilda Ellis (ed.). Saxo Grammaticus: The History of the Danes (1999 ed.). D.S. Brewer. ISBN 085991-502-6.
  • Lavender, Philip, ed. and trans. (2015). Illuga Saga Gríðarfóstra: The Saga of Illugi, Gríður's Foster-Son (PDF). Viking Society for Northern Research, University College, London. ISBN 978-0-903521-91-8.
  • Lindow, John (2002). Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-983969-8.
  • Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 978-0-304-34520-5.
  • Simek, Rudolf (1996). Dictionary of Northern Mythology. D.S. Brewer. ISBN 978-0-85991-513-7.


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