Gerðr
The name Gerðr appears in the Poetic Edda, a collection compiled during the 13th century from older oral traditions. Snorri Sturluson wrote about her in two books of the Prose Edda and in Heimskringla, another work from the same era. Skaldic poetry also contains references to this figure. Modern translators sometimes spell her name as Gerd or Gerth. Benjamin Thorpe published his translation of The Elder Edda of Saemund Sigfusson in 1866. Henry Adams Bellows released his version of The Poetic Edda in 1923.
Freyr sat on the high seat Hlidskjalf and looked into all worlds. He saw a beautiful girl walking from the hall of her father Gymir to a storehouse. Her arms gave forth light that shone over all air and water. Freyr became heartsick for this maiden. His servant Skírnir rode a horse over nations and dew-covered mountains until he reached Jötunheimr. Ferocious dogs were tied before the wooden fence surrounding Gerðr's hall. Skírnir offered eleven golden apples to gain her favor. She rejected them and stated she would never be with him while they lived. Skírnir then threatened to cut off her head unless she agreed. He warned that she would sit on an eagle's mound facing Hel forever. Gerðr eventually said they would meet at Barri, a grove of tranquil paths. Nine nights hence, she promised to grant delight to the son of Njörðr.
Chapter 12 of Ynglinga saga presents a prose account where Freyr was a much loved king in what is now Sweden. His wife was named Gerðr and their son was Fjölnir. After Freyr died, their son went on to become king. The family line known as the Ynglings continued through generations. A verse stanza found in chapter 16 of Haralds saga Gráfeldar mentions Gerðr in a kenning for woman. This text describes her as Gerðr-of-gold-rings. Lee Milton Hollander translated Heimskringla: History of the Kings of Norway in 2007.
Scholar John Lindow notes that Gerðr's name has been etymologically associated with earth and enclosures. The wedding of Gerðr and Freyr is commonly seen as the divine coupling of sky and earth or fertility god and representative of soil. Hilda Ellis Davidson comments that Gerðr's role in Skírnismál has parallels with the goddess Persephone from Greek mythology. She states that if Gerðr remains below in the dark kingdom of the underworld there will be nothing to hope for but sterility and famine. Andy Orchard published Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend in 1997. Rudolf Simek released Dictionary of Northern Mythology in 2007.
Small pieces of gold foil featuring engravings dating from the Migration Period into the early Viking Age are known as gullgubber. Almost 2,500 such foils have been found at one location in Scandinavia. These items were discovered largely at sites of buildings rather than graves. The figures sometimes show a man and woman with a leafy bough between them facing or embracing one another. Scholar Hilda Ellis Davidson suggests these figures may represent a divine marriage like that in Skírnismál. Her work on this topic appeared in 1988.
The Danish poet Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger wrote poems referencing Gerðr collected in Nordens Guder during 1819. Esaias Tegnér created an unfinished epic poem titled Gerda between 1782 and 1846. K. Ehrenberg depicted the goddess in his illustration Freyr und Gerda, Skade und Niurd in 1883. Icelandic poet Gerður Kristný retold her story in free verse Blóðhófnir which won the 2010 Icelandic Literature Award. Saturn's moon Gerd bears her name. Björn Þór Sigbjörnsson and Bergsteinn Sigurðsson published Ísland í aldanna rás from 2001 to 2010.
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Common questions
What is the origin of the name Gerðr in Norse mythology?
The name Gerðr appears in the Poetic Edda, a collection compiled during the 13th century from older oral traditions. Snorri Sturluson wrote about her in two books of the Prose Edda and in Heimskringla, another work from the same era.
How did Freyr meet Gerðr according to Skírnismál?
Freyr saw a beautiful girl walking from the hall of her father Gymir to a storehouse while sitting on the high seat Hlidskjalf. His servant Skírnir rode over nations and dew-covered mountains until he reached Jötunheimr to negotiate with her.
Who are the parents of Fjölnir in the Ynglinga saga account of Gerðr?
Chapter 12 of Ynglinga saga presents a prose account where Freyr was a much loved king in what is now Sweden and his wife was named Gerðr. Their son was Fjölnir who went on to become king after Freyr died.
What does scholar John Lindow say about the etymology of Gerðr's name?
Scholar John Lindow notes that Gerðr's name has been etymologically associated with earth and enclosures. The wedding of Gerðr and Freyr is commonly seen as the divine coupling of sky and earth or fertility god and representative of soil.
What archaeological evidence links gullgubber to the story of Gerðr and Freyr?
Almost 2,500 small pieces of gold foil featuring engravings dating from the Migration Period into the early Viking Age are known as gullgubber. These items were discovered largely at sites of buildings rather than graves and sometimes show a man and woman with a leafy bough between them facing or embracing one another.
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1 references cited across the entry
- 1bookCultural Legacies of Old Norse Literature: New PerspectivesBoydell & Brewer Ltd — 2022-08-23