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Norse mythology Norse, Nordic, or Scandinavian mythology is the body of myths belonging to the North Germanic peoples, stemming from Old Norse religion and continuing after the Christianization of Scandinavia, and into the Nordic folklore of the modern period ...
, Skírnir (
Old Norse Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and t ...
" ; "bright one"Orchard (1997:149).) is the god
Freyr Freyr (Old Norse: 'Lord'), sometimes anglicized as Frey, is a widely attested god in Norse mythology, associated with kingship, fertility, peace, and weather. Freyr, sometimes referred to as Yngvi-Freyr, was especially associated with Sweden an ...
's messenger and vassal. In the ''
Poetic Edda The ''Poetic Edda'' is the modern name for an untitled collection of Old Norse anonymous narrative poems, which is distinct from the ''Prose Edda'' written by Snorri Sturluson. Several versions exist, all primarily of text from the Icelandic me ...
'' poem ''
Skírnismál ''Skírnismál'' (Old Norse: 'The Lay of Skírnir') is one of the poems of the ''Poetic Edda''. It is preserved in the 13th-century manuscripts Codex Regius and AM 748 I 4to but may have been originally composed in the early 10th century. Many sc ...
'', Skírnir is sent as a messenger to
Jötunheimr The terms Jötunheimr (in Old Norse orthography: Jǫtunheimr ; often anglicised as Jotunheim) or Jötunheimar refer to either a land or multiple lands in Nordic mythology inhabited by the jötnar. are typically, but not exclusively, presented ...
to conduct lovesick Freyr's wooing of the fair goddess
Gerðr In Norse mythology, Gerðr (Old Norse: ; "fenced-in"Orchard (1997:54).) is a jötunn, goddess, and the wife of the god Freyr. Gerðr is attested in the ''Poetic Edda'', compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources; the ''Prose Ed ...
on condition of being given Freyr's powerful
sword A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed ti ...
as a reward. The goddess refuses the advances until Skírnir threatens Gerðr with his ''
gambantein In Norse mythology, Gambanteinn (Old Norse ''gambanteinn'' 'magic wand') appears in two poems in the Poetic Edda. ''Hárbarðsljóð'' In ''Hárbarðsljóð'' stanza 20, Hárbarðr says: A giant hard       was Hlébard, methinks: ...
'', a magic
wand A wand is a thin, light-weight rod that is held with one hand, and is traditionally made of wood, but may also be made of other materials, such as metal or plastic. Long versions of wands are often styled in forms of staves or sceptres, which c ...
. In chapter 34 of the ''
Prose Edda The ''Prose Edda'', also known as the ''Younger Edda'', ''Snorri's Edda'' ( is, Snorra Edda) or, historically, simply as ''Edda'', is an Old Norse textbook written in Iceland during the early 13th century. The work is often assumed to have been t ...
'' poem ''
Gylfaginning ''Gylfaginning'' (Old Norse: 'The Beguiling of Gylfi' or 'The Deluding of Gylfi'; c. 20,000 words; 13th century Old Norse pronunciation ) is the first part of the 13th century ''Prose Edda'' after the Prologue. The ''Gylfaginning'' deals with th ...
'', Skírnir also performs favors for Odin, father of the gods. After the vicious wolf
Fenrir Fenrir (Old Norse: ; "fen-dweller")Orchard (1997:42). or Fenrisúlfr (O.N.: ; "Fenrir's wolf", often translated "Fenris-wolf"),Simek (2007:81). also referred to as Hróðvitnir (O.N.: ; "fame-wolf")Simek (2007:160). and Vánagandr (O.N.: ; " ...
evades capture, Skirnir visits the mountain dwarves, known for their mining and smithing. Together they forge the magical restraint
Gleipnir In Norse mythology, Gleipnir (Old Norse "open one")Orchard (1997:58). is the binding that holds the mighty wolf Fenrir (as attested in chapter 34 of the ''Prose Edda'' book ''Gylfaginning''). The Gods had attempted to bind Fenrir twice before wit ...
for the purpose of binding the wolf. Such undertakings mark Skirnir as a crafty servant.


See also

*
Skirnir Mountains Skirnir Mountains ( da, Skirners Bjerge) is a group of nunataks in the King Frederick VI Coast, Sermersooq municipality, SE Greenland. The range is named after Skírnir, the messenger of god Freyr in Norse mythology. Geography The Skirnir Mounta ...


Notes


References

*Orchard, Andy (1997). ''Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend''. Cassell. * Freyr Servants in Norse mythology {{norse-myth-stub