Fjörgyn (or Jörð; Old Norse 'earth') is a personification of earth in Norse mythology, and the mother of the thunder godThor, the son of Odin. The masculine form Fjörgynn is portrayed as the father of the goddess Frigg, the wife of Odin.[1]
Both names appear in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. A number of theories surround the names and they have been the subject of scholarly discourse.
The Old Norse name Fjörgyn is used as a poetic synonym for 'land' or 'the earth' in skaldic poems.[2][1][3] It stems from Proto-Germanic*fergunja, meaning 'mountain', perhaps 'mountainous forest', which may ultimately derive from Proto-Indo-European*per-kwun-iyā ('the realm of Perkwunos'; i.e., the wooden mountains).[4][5]Fjörgyn is cognate with the Gothicfairguni (𐍆𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌲𐌿𐌽𐌹), the Old Englishfirgen, both meaning 'mountain', and with the Old High GermanFirgunnea, the Ore Mountains.[5] Alternatively, the name may be a feminine equivalent of *ferga, meaning 'god'.[5]
Alternative names
Scholars argue that Fjörgyn may simply be another name for Jörð, whose name also means 'earth'.[2][1] The fact that she does not appear elsewhere as a goddess in skaldic poetry "as would be expected of a purely literary alternative to Jörð" may be also notable.[2]
So keep to the left on the road, until you find Verland; There Fjörgynn will find Thor, her son, And she will teach him the ways of kinsmen to Odin’s lands.
Hilda Ellis Davidson theorizes that Fjörgyn and Fjörgynn may have represented a divine pair of which little information has survived, along with figures such as the theorized Ullr and Ullin, Njörðr and Nerthus, and the attested Freyr and Freyja.[6]
fjörgyn, fjörgynn, fjörgyn, jörð, norse, earth, personification, earth, norse, mythology, mother, thunder, thor, odin, masculine, form, fjörgynn, portrayed, father, goddess, frigg, wife, odin, both, names, appear, poetic, edda, compiled, 13th, century, from, e. Fjorgyn or Jord Old Norse earth is a personification of earth in Norse mythology and the mother of the thunder god Thor the son of Odin The masculine form Fjorgynn is portrayed as the father of the goddess Frigg the wife of Odin 1 Both names appear in the Poetic Edda compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources and in the Prose Edda written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson A number of theories surround the names and they have been the subject of scholarly discourse Contents 1 Name 1 1 Etymology 1 2 Alternative names 2 Attestations 3 Theories 3 1 Divine pair 3 2 Proto Indo European origin 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesName EditEtymology Edit The Old Norse name Fjorgyn is used as a poetic synonym for land or the earth in skaldic poems 2 1 3 It stems from Proto Germanic fergunja meaning mountain perhaps mountainous forest which may ultimately derive from Proto Indo European per kwun iya the realm of Perkwunos i e the wooden mountains 4 5 Fjorgyn is cognate with the Gothic fairguni 𐍆𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌲𐌿𐌽𐌹 the Old English firgen both meaning mountain and with the Old High German Firgunnea the Ore Mountains 5 Alternatively the name may be a feminine equivalent of ferga meaning god 5 Alternative names Edit Scholars argue that Fjorgyn may simply be another name for Jord whose name also means earth 2 1 The fact that she does not appear elsewhere as a goddess in skaldic poetry as would be expected of a purely literary alternative to Jord may be also notable 2 Attestations EditFjorgyn feminine is attested in Voluspa in the kenning Fjorgyn s son for Thor and in Harbardsljod as the mother of Thor 1 So keep to the left on the road until you find Verland There Fjorgynn will find Thor her son And she will teach him the ways of kinsmen to Odin s lands Snorri Sturluson Harbardsljod 56 trans J Lindow 2002 In both Gylfaginning 9 and Skaldskaparmal 19 Fjorgynn masculine is depicted as the father of Frigg 1 In Lokasenna Loki s flyting Loki is responding to Frigg Shut up Frigg You are Fjorgynn s daughter and have ever been most eager for men Snorri Sturluson Lokasenna 26 trans J Lindow 2002 Theories EditDivine pair Edit Hilda Ellis Davidson theorizes that Fjorgyn and Fjorgynn may have represented a divine pair of which little information has survived along with figures such as the theorized Ullr and Ullin Njordr and Nerthus and the attested Freyr and Freyja 6 Proto Indo European origin Edit Theories have been proposed that Fjorgyn Proto Germanic fergunja may represent an extension of an earlier Proto Indo European thunder or rain god Perkwunos due to Indo European linguistic connections between Norse Fjorgyn the Lithuanian god Perkunas the Slavic god Perun and perhaps the Vedic rain god Parjanya 7 See also EditPerkwunosNotes Edit a b c d e Lindow 2002 p 117 a b c Simek 1996 p 86 West 2007 p 241 243 West 2007 p 241 a b c Kroonen 2013 p 136 Davidson 1990 106 111 Mallory 1989 129 References EditDavidson H R Ellis 1990 Gods and Myths of Northern Europe Penguin Books ISBN 0 14 013627 4 Kroonen Guus 2013 Etymological Dictionary of Proto Germanic Brill ISBN 9789004183407 Lindow John 2002 Norse Mythology A Guide to Gods Heroes Rituals and Beliefs Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 983969 8 Mallory J P 1989 In Search of the Indo Europeans Language Archaeology and Myth Thames amp Hudson ISBN 0 500 27616 1 Simek Rudolf 1996 Dictionary of Northern Mythology D S Brewer ISBN 978 0 85991 513 7 West Martin L 2007 Indo European Poetry and Myth Oxford England Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 928075 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fjorgyn and Fjorgynn amp oldid 1110628518, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
