In Norse mythology, Gná (Old Norse: [ˈɡnɒː]) is a goddess who runs errands in other worlds for the goddess Frigg and rides the flying, sea-treading horse Hófvarpnir (O.N.: [ˈhoːvˌwɑrpnez̠], "he who throws his hoofs about",[1] "hoof-thrower"[2] or "hoof kicker"[3]). Gná and Hófvarpnir are attested in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. Scholarly theories have been proposed about Gná as a "goddess of fullness" and as potentially cognate to Fama from Roman mythology. Hófvarpnir and the eight-legged steed Sleipnir have been cited examples of transcendent horses in Norse mythology.
Gná is flanked by the horse Hófvarpnir, while standing before the enthroned Frigg in an illustration (1882) by Carl Emil Doepler
In chapter 35 of the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, the enthroned figure of High provides brief descriptions of 16 ásynjur. High lists Gná thirteenth, and says that Frigg sends her off to different worlds to run errands. High adds that Gná rides the horse Hófvarpnir, and that this horse has the ability to ride through the air and atop the sea.[3] High continues that "once some Vanir saw her path as she rode through the air" and that an unnamed one of these Vanir says, in verse:
The source for these stanzas is not provided and they are otherwise unattested. High ends his description of Gná by saying that "from Gna's name comes the custom of saying that something gnaefir [looms] when it rises up high."[4] In the Prose Edda book Skáldskaparmál, Gná is included among a list of 27 ásynjur names.[5]
TheoriesEdit
Frigg sends Gná, riding on Hófvarpnir, on an errand in Frigg and her Maidens (1902).
Rudolf Simek says that the etymology that Snorri presents in Gylfaginning for the name Gná may not be correct, yet it is unclear what the name may otherwise mean, though Gná has also been etymologically theorized as a "goddess of fullness."[6]John Lindow calls the verse exchange between the Vanir and Gná "strange" and points out that it's unclear why it should specifically be the Vanir that witness Gná flying through the air.[7]
Ulla Loumand cites Hófvarpnir and the eight-legged horse Sleipnir as "prime examples" of horses in Norse mythology as being able to "mediate between earth and sky, between Ásgarðr, Miðgarðr and Útgarðr and between the world of mortal men and the underworld."[8] In the 19th century, Jacob Grimm proposed a cognate in the personified rumor in Roman mythology; Fama. However, Grimm notes that unlike Fama, Gná is not described as winged but rather that Hófvarpnir, like the winged-horse Pegasus, may have been.[9]
Loumand, Ulla (2006). "The Horse and its Role in Icelandic Burial Practices, Mythology, and Society." in Andren, A.; Jennbert, K.; Raudvere, C. Old Norse Religion in Long Term Perspectives: Origins, Changes and Interactions, an International Conference in Lund, Sweden, June 3-7, 2004. Nordic Academic Press. ISBN91-89116-81-X
Simek, Rudolf (2007) translated by Angela Hall. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. D.S. Brewer. ISBN0-85991-513-1
October 21, 2023
gná, hófvarpnir, gná, redirects, here, other, uses, disambiguation, norse, mythology, gná, norse, ˈɡnɒː, goddess, runs, errands, other, worlds, goddess, frigg, rides, flying, treading, horse, hófvarpnir, ˈhoːvˌwɑrpnez, throws, hoofs, about, hoof, thrower, hoof. Gna redirects here For other uses see GNA disambiguation In Norse mythology Gna Old Norse ˈɡnɒː is a goddess who runs errands in other worlds for the goddess Frigg and rides the flying sea treading horse Hofvarpnir O N ˈhoːvˌwɑrpnez he who throws his hoofs about 1 hoof thrower 2 or hoof kicker 3 Gna and Hofvarpnir are attested in the Prose Edda written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson Scholarly theories have been proposed about Gna as a goddess of fullness and as potentially cognate to Fama from Roman mythology Hofvarpnir and the eight legged steed Sleipnir have been cited examples of transcendent horses in Norse mythology Gna is flanked by the horse Hofvarpnir while standing before the enthroned Frigg in an illustration 1882 by Carl Emil Doepler Contents 1 Attestations 2 Theories 3 See also 4 Notes 5 ReferencesAttestations EditIn chapter 35 of the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning the enthroned figure of High provides brief descriptions of 16 asynjur High lists Gna thirteenth and says that Frigg sends her off to different worlds to run errands High adds that Gna rides the horse Hofvarpnir and that this horse has the ability to ride through the air and atop the sea 3 High continues that once some Vanir saw her path as she rode through the air and that an unnamed one of these Vanir says in verse What flies there What fares there or moves through the air 4 Gna responds in verse in doing so providing the parentage of Hofvarpnir the horses Hamskerpir and Gardrofa I fly not though I fare and move through the air on Hofvarpnir the one whom Hamskerpir got with Gardrofa 4 The source for these stanzas is not provided and they are otherwise unattested High ends his description of Gna by saying that from Gna s name comes the custom of saying that something gnaefir looms when it rises up high 4 In the Prose Edda book Skaldskaparmal Gna is included among a list of 27 asynjur names 5 Theories Edit nbsp Frigg sends Gna riding on Hofvarpnir on an errand in Frigg and her Maidens 1902 Rudolf Simek says that the etymology that Snorri presents in Gylfaginning for the name Gna may not be correct yet it is unclear what the name may otherwise mean though Gna has also been etymologically theorized as a goddess of fullness 6 John Lindow calls the verse exchange between the Vanir and Gna strange and points out that it s unclear why it should specifically be the Vanir that witness Gna flying through the air 7 Ulla Loumand cites Hofvarpnir and the eight legged horse Sleipnir as prime examples of horses in Norse mythology as being able to mediate between earth and sky between Asgardr Midgardr and Utgardr and between the world of mortal men and the underworld 8 In the 19th century Jacob Grimm proposed a cognate in the personified rumor in Roman mythology Fama However Grimm notes that unlike Fama Gna is not described as winged but rather that Hofvarpnir like the winged horse Pegasus may have been 9 See also EditHorses in Germanic paganism List of horses in mythology and folkloreNotes Edit Simek 2007 157 Lindow 2001 146 a b Byock 2005 43 a b c Byock 2005 44 Faulkes 1995 157 Simek 2007 113 Lindow 2001 147 Loumand 2006 133 Grimm 1883 896 897 References Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gna Byock Jesse Trans 2005 The Prose Edda Penguin Classics ISBN 0 14 044755 5 Faulkes Anthony Trans 1995 Edda Everyman ISBN 0 460 87616 3 Grimm Jacob James Steven Stallybrass Trans 1883 Teutonic Mythology Translated from the Fourth Edition with Notes and Appendix by James Stallybrass Volume II London George Bell and Sons Lindow John 2001 Norse Mythology A Guide to the Gods Heroes Rituals and Beliefs Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 515382 0 Loumand Ulla 2006 The Horse and its Role in Icelandic Burial Practices Mythology and Society in Andren A Jennbert K Raudvere C Old Norse Religion in Long Term Perspectives Origins Changes and Interactions an International Conference in Lund Sweden June 3 7 2004 Nordic Academic Press ISBN 91 89116 81 X Simek Rudolf 2007 translated by Angela Hall Dictionary of Northern Mythology D S Brewer ISBN 0 85991 513 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gna and Hofvarpnir amp oldid 1157839963, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
