#embodiment of the sea the husband of rán

[studentofetherium]

y'know until I'm looking through the Poetic and Prose Eddas, i forget just how much Arknights took from Norse mythology (particularly for the Ægir)

[broomsick]

Get to know the lesser-known norse Gods & Goddesses,

a quick rundown!

Just a heads up before we start, some of these are extremely obscure and MOST of these have showed no evidence of ever having been worshipped in Scandinavia. Still, I think it’s interesting to learn about them so that their stories, however hazy they may be, might not be forgotten. 

Bragi, the Learned. Wise and prolific in his art, he is the bard who plays his tunes in Óðinn’s hall. He shows extreme skill with words: his name even signifies “poet”. As a symbol of this, he was said to have runes carved on his tongue. He is associated with art, song, but most of all poetry.

Eir, the Healer. Either a Goddess— handmaiden of Frigg, or a Valkyrie, she is said to sit on the healing  mountain Lyfjaberg. For this, she is called upon when one desires for their wounds to be tended, whether they be physical or invisible. She is the patron of physicians and healers, overseeing matters of medicine.

Kvasir, the Wisest. Created by the Æsir and the Vanir at the term of their war, Kvasir was the symbol of their newfound peace. To him, people could ask any question which haunted their minds and he would reply with advice so wise it satisfied all. Some would travel for miles to seek his counsel, before he was slain by two dwarves who sought to collect his holy blood for themselves. He is loosely associated with wisdom, spiritual teachings and peace. 

Ullr, the Hunter. Just like Skaði, Ullr is tightly connected to winter and skying. His most prominent feature is his unparalleled talent for hunting and archery, thanks to which he is now called upon for good luck in hunts. According to some theories, he was said to watch over vows and grant safety in the snow.

Ægir, the Benevolent. Giant husband of Rán, he dwells with her in a great underwater hall. He often appears as a host for divine parties, welcoming the Gods to feast in his palace. While his wife embodies the dangers of the sea, he represents its better aspects: the gains of seafaring, generous winds and the power of waves.

Delling, the Shining One. Personnification of the dawn, he is attested as husband of the Goddess Nótt, Lady Night. The pair have a son of splendant beauty, Dagr, the day. The phrase “Delling’s doors” is used on many instances in skaldic writings to describe sunrise.

[darlington]

@mythsnet mini event | gtkom - godly parents

Rán and her husband Ægir, a jötunn who also personifies the sea, have nine daughters, who personify waves. The goddess is frequently associated with a net, which she uses to capture sea-goers. While Ægir personifies the sea as a friendly power, Rán embodies the sinister side of the sea, at least in the eyes of the late Viking Age Icelandic seafarers.