#hoenir

Hello :)

So, as I promised to the lovely @briikwall, here's an updated version of my Norse mythology ressources :)

Enjoy and happy reading!

First of all, I must recommend Rudolf Simek’s Dictionnary of Norse mythology. He’s an expert in the domain. A lot of his works are in German, but at least, we’ve got his dictionnary. It’s a must have if you’re interested in Norse myths :)

(He has also written very interesting things about the world of LotR, if you’re into it :p )

@poeticnorth recommended me Andy Orchard’s Dictionnary of North myth and Legend, and it was fantastic and full of interesting information.

John Lindow is another great expert, and his book on Old Norse mythology is a fantastic reference too! :)

Then of course, there are the books by Neil Price.

I'll recommend two of them:

Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings

It will give you a good idea of who the Vikings truly were, as a society, and deconstructs the false ideas you might have.

The Viking Way: Religion and War in Late Iron Age Scandinavia

If you want to learn more about the different sorts of magic that existed in the Viking world: THAT IS THE BOOK for you! There's Seidr, yes, but so much more too. I learnt A LOT :D

Viking friendship, by Jon Vidar Siggurdsson

Then, there is this book on the concept of friendship in Viking society, and along with Neil Price's books, it really allows you to understand more what kind of people they were, what was important for them, and how things changed and evolved with time.

Myths and symbols in Pagan Europe, Early Scandinavian and Celtic religions, by H.R. Ellis Davidson

My lastest read, and truly interesting too, about holy places, feasting and sacrifices, the rites of battles, etc.

There are also A LOT of interesting academic papers on the subject of Norse mythology on the https://www.academia.edu/ website.

One of my favourites is the one about Loki as a Vatte and in Scandinavian fairytales. Some will tell you Loki is evvvviiilll and is a villain. Such people have not made their research and it shows. With this paper, you can see clearly that's not the case :3

The one about the Ardre images was really interesting too!!!

(THEY SHOW LOKI IN A DRESS!!!)

https://www.academia.edu/39542289/Re_Interpretations_of_Gotlandic_Picture_Stones_Based_on_the_Reflectance_Transformation_Imaging_Method_RTI_Some_Examples

And of course, you’ve got Professor Jackson Crawford’s work. He’s amazing and so very knowledgeable on the subject and is an expert in Old Norse. His translations of the Eddas, along with the Volsung saga are on amazon and on Audible, if you prefer.

He also did a lot of videos on youtube on Norse myths and the Old Norse language, etc.

There is also Professor of archeology Howard Williams on Tik Tok who is SUPER interesting and made a series on early Medieval Loki depictions in art and archeology.

If you want to know more about the Norse goddesses/Asynjur, may I recommend you @loptrcoptr 's brilliant master thesis on the subject. A must-read to get to know better all the goddesses from the Norse pantheon!

And of course, if you're into paganism and want to worship Loki & Sigyn, there's Lea Svendsen's book "Loki and Sigyn: Lessons on Chaos, Laughter & Loyalty from the Norse Gods". Really interesting!!

If I find other interesting books/sources, I'll post about them on my blog :)

Maybe Fenrir, bound and waiting for fate, teaches his younger brother how to be a wolf. Not just how to survive but how to exist in a body not meant to be his. Maybe he comforts him in the quiet moments, offers what little advice he can, and reminds him that he is more than what the gods made him.

Then, the day comes when the chains break. Fenrir rises to meet his doom. Vali wants to follow—but Fenrir begs him to stay. He doesn’t. They fight together, side by side, against the gods who shattered their family.

And in the end, as Fenrir falls, he saves Vali one last time, pushing him out of the path of death. Vali is gravely wounded but escapes, carried away by Hoenir, one of the few who still remember what their father stood for and Loki's closest friend.

Lesser known gods. Odin’s Brothers.

I tend to forget about Odin’s bothers. There are very few mentions of them in the sources like the Eddas. I don’t hear much about people honoring them all that much either. There are either 4 or 2 by different names, Vili, Ve, Hoenir, and Lóðurr.Odin’s brothers helped him create the world, after that, they didn’t do much?

Gylfaginning says Borr and Bestla had 3 sons, Odin, Vili, and Vé. With them, Odin killed Ymir and used his dead body to create the universe. They also created people from Ash (Ask) and Embla (Elm) and gave them gifts. The brothers Apparently are in a polyamorous relationship with Frigg. Something Loki called out in the Lokkasenna, Odin was unbothered if memory serves. Vili and Vé ruled in Odin’s stead when he’s wandering.

Vili is Will, desire, joy/delight, “he who consecrates”

Vé is Holiness, set apart, priest, temple. “Filled with power”

There is slightly more on Hoenir. He’s named in the Völuspá. He actually has kennings like “Odin’s table-companion”, “Odin’s confidant”, “The swift Ás” “Long foot”, “Mud/Marsh-king” his name might be bird related, either chicken,(hani/rooster, hæna/hen) swan, or heron/stork (the last matched 2 of the kennings). Dumézil thinks his name means “to sharpen” as in to sharpen wits.

Loki has 2 kennings that involve Hoenir, “Hoenir’s friend” and. “Trier of Hoenir’s mind”

Hoenir was there when Loki killed Ottar and when Loki and Odin met Thjazi, which lead to the kidnapping of Iduna. Hoenir also shows up in Loka Táttur where he tries to save a kid.

In the Voluspa, Hoenir helps create humans and gave us óðr/wod “inspiration” (which is the root of Odin’s name). After the Aesir/Vanir war he becomes hostage to the Vanir where he became a chieftain but refused to give advice without the other hostage, Mimir. Appearently that’s normal for him since he rarely acts or speaks. Ironic considering he’s agiver of wit and after Ragnarok he’ll be the diviner of the gods.

Loðurr is only mentioned in the Voluspa where he helps create mankind. He possibly gave us læti. Læti “manners, bearing, attitude” is a reference to with the body and hamr, a part of the soul. If he was Bor and Bestla 3rd son, he also animated us.

The currant hypothesis is Loðurr is Loki. The name is an alternative to Loki in some Icelandic poems. It fits Icelandic nicknaming conventions and the name Loðurr resembles the Old English Logður “plotting, mischief, crafty” and Middle German Luoder “bait” a reference to seduction?

Others don’t agree citing differences like Loðurr being described as the son of Bor and Bestla and Loki being named Odin’s blood-brother but son of Laufey and Farbauti.

Sources

The Troth

Wikipedia Vili and Vé , Hoenir and Loðurr

Pix: For the Vanir-Aesir War & its results...

A. The comic book version - looks like another Marvel epic.

B. Freaky art & a definition of a volva seeress.

C. Reminds me of the Klingon pain stick ritual for 'celebrating' their children's 'graduating' to adulthood.

D. Spanish Vanaheim art piece.

Translated, the copy reads -

"Realm of the Vanir.

A land of vast greenery & beautiful with many mighty trees.

(Home of) the Gods of the sea, the land & of fertility - as Frey & Freya are.

The leader of these (lands or Gods) is Njord, father of the ocean & master of the seas."

E. Masterful picture of Njord, master of the sea.

F. Freyr, in an act that he'll later regret.

Much later...

G. Freyja, Seidr Goddess & warper of puny men's minds.

H. Techniques & tools for trances, protective songs, soul journeys; plus, retrieval, divination & etcetera - all in the Norse tradition.

It's a "historically based" modern hand book for contemporary 'mystics.'

I. Odin with Mimir's dead head.

J. Mimir, after being embalmed & resurrected back to life...

As a fount of knowledge.

Intro: So, we've seen how life began in an 'almost' void¹; the origins of Giants, Gods & the murder that created the world².

The 'Triple' Gods (Odin, Vili & Ve) built Asgard as a home for the Aesir³.

But, now, things get far more complicated, as conflict enters the divine scene...

Title: "The First War."

Text:

This was a conflict between two tribes of Gods - so, two pantheons⁴.

It was a war started due to the torture & attempted murder (three times!) of a stranger to Asgard.

And, it all ended in the creation of a new being!

To start, Heidth⁵, a wanderer, made her way to Asgard - where she plied her spells to eager Aesir.

This was the practice of Seidr⁶, a magical power that could change fortunes & more.

Odin either knew she was a 'threat'⁷ or realized sorcery was disregarding his laws about honor - as warriors tried to fulfill their own selfish desires.

Accounts vary...

So, Odin called her Gullveig, "Gold Lust" & accused her of stealing the precious belongings of the Aesir.

As punishment, Heidth was pierced thru with spears!

When that didn't kill her, Odin had her burned as a 'witch'⁸ - three times!!

But, she resurrected from her ashes every time!!!

After that, Heidr disappears from the tales - or, I didn't find her afterwards.

The Vanir, another pantheon, get pissed off that their Goddess was so badly treated.

Fear grew to hate & so, the First War begins. But, details on it are skimpy:

• Odin threw Gungnir, his spear, over the Vanir to start the first battle⁹.

• The Aesir used brute force & their weapons to cause destruction thru out Vanaheim.

• And the Vanir used their sorcery to turn the land against Asgard - even breaking thru the protective walls¹⁰ & battling thru the inner fields!

• We know the Vanir - Aesir War lasted for several years, with neither side winning a resounding success.

• Both sides tired of the unending battles &, finally, met to end all of the hostilities.

• A truce was ironed out, with both sides keeping hostages to secure the peace.

• The Aesir sent Hoenir the handsome & Mimir the wise to the Vanir.

• While the Vanir gave Njord (a sea God) & his two kids: Freyja (sorceress) & Freyr (King of the Light 'Elves').

• As further seals of peace, both pantheons spit into a magic cauldron - mixing their oaths together & so creating the composite being, Kvasir (God of Inspiration)!!

• And, 'tribute' was paid by allowing half of dead mortals to go to Freyja's hall¹¹, the other half to Odin's Valhalla.

The story continues, revealing the results of their efforts at peace:

• The Vanir made Hoenir a King but, he was pretty 'useless' without Mimir's sound advice. This made the Vanir feel like they've been cheated!

• So, they cut off Mimir's(!) head & sent it back to Asgard!! Luckily, Odin embalmed it with herbs (to preserve it) & used magic to resurrect the head. What remained of Mimir was placed at a well spring & served Odin as an advisor.

• Njord built Noatun, a port for ships; &, Freyr was either made King of Alfhheim or already ruled there... Both became priests & Diars (Gods).

• Freyja also became a priestess of sacrifices & introduced Seidr to Odin - who wore female clothing to do so!!

She would later have many sexual partners - including Odin.

• Kvasir, poetry itself, was sent to wander thru out Midgard, inspiring skalds (Norse poet/historians) & rulers with his witticisms - his story will be finished later...

Notes:

1. There were two worlds already formed!

Niflheim the frozen & Muspellheim the burning.

Their origin is never explained.

I posit they were survivals of an earlier Age of Existence, since the late Norse myths have resurrections at the end - no doubt due to Christian influences.

2. Ymir, the original Frost Giant, was murdered by the 'Triplets' & his body was torn apart to build Midgard.

3. They took all possible precautions to keep safe from the rightful revenge of Ymir's descendants - even Bifrost had a burning Red Color that helped defend Asgard.

4. If this is from a historical event, then it sounds like the absorption of an older fertility cult into a warrior centered culture.

So, the Aesir might represent the invasion of the Yamnaya pastoralists (from the Russian steppes) onto the Funnelbeaker agriculturalists of early Scandinavia!

There's very little DNA from Funnel- Beaker men in the mixed Corded Ware culture that followed.

Leading historians think that few of these men survived - perhaps only the male children.

But, the dark skinned female farmers that survived have DNA from the Fertile Crescent (mostly in modern Iraq)!!

This all seems to have resulted in the Aesir being worshipped by chiefs & royalty - while the Vanir were followed by the lower classes.

5. Heidth is just another version of Heidr.

The tale says she gains the new name of Heidr, "Bright, Shining or Glorious One."

So, she's 'nameless' before that.

But, she can bewitch minds & is called "a joy to wicked woman!"

Gasp!!

Slandered!

Gullveig/Heidr is thought to be another name for Freyja, as she's associated with gold, Seidr & is a female Vanir.

6. Seidr, "tied, tether, magic" was a form of shamanistic nature magic, with trance states, spirit journeys & the manipulation of fate - usually the power of the female Norns.

It seems to have involved tied strings & could be used to see the future, heal wounds & influence events.

7. Another version has Heimdall (the Watchman of the Gods) discover Vanaheim & Odin leads a large army there to conquer them.

Here, Odin sees Freyja as a threat due to her obvious skills in wielding Seidr.

8. Witch is not a Christian addition, as the Norse described Heidr as a volva (a combination of seer, prophet & a magic wielder") or, as a witch.

Volva, BTW, translates into English as a "wand carrier."

9. This is a ritual act of blessing the battle & claiming the dead - friend or foe - for Odin.

Norse warriors threw spears over their own troops to invoke protection & victory in battle.

Not exactly the same thing...

10. The protective palisade around Asgard becomes all important in the 'next' tale, when a Giant wants a rather high price for fixing it.

To be continued...

11. Freyja's hall is Sessrumnir, "Seat Room" - where half of all dead Norse warriors go.

One world weary Norse woman vowed to never taste food again - until she dined with Freyja!

Sessrumnir, BTW, is located inside of Folkvangr, "field of the warrior host."