Gungnir

Lee Lawrie, Odin (1939). Library of Congress John Adams Building, Washington, D.C.

In Norse mythology, Gungnir (Old Norse "swaying one"^[1]) is the spear of the god Odin.

Attestations

Poetic Edda

In the Poetic Edda poem Völuspá, the Æsir-Vanir War is described as officially starting when Odin throws a spear over the heads of an assembly of Vanir gods. Whether or not this was specifically Gungnir is, however, unstated. In Sigrdrífumál, the valkyrie Sigrdrífa advises Sigurd on the magical application of Runes. She gives Sigurd advice and shares with him lore, including that runes were carved on the tip of Gungnir.

Prose Edda

According to chapter 51 of the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, Odin will ride in front of the Einherjar while advancing on to the battle field at Ragnarök wearing a gold helmet, an impressive cloak of mail and carrying Gungnir. He will then attack the wolf Fenrir with it.

In Skáldskaparmál, more information regarding the spear is presented. the spear was fashioned by the dwarfs known as the Sons of Ivaldi under the mastery of the blacksmith dwarf Dvalin. The spear was obtained from the dwarfs by Loki, the results of a scheme he concocted as a partial reparation for his cutting of the goddess Sif's hair. The spear is described as having the ability to always pierce cleanly through its target and as never stopping during its thrust.

Archaeological record

If the rider on horseback on the image on the Böksta Runestone has been correctly identified as Odin, then Odin is shown carrying Gungnir hunting an elk.^[2]

See also

• Bracteate
• Gae Bolga, the Irish legendary hero Cú Chulainn's similar magic spear
• Migration period spear

Notes

1. ^ Orchard (1997:67).
2. ^ Silén (1993:88–91).

References

• Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 0 304 34520 2
• Silén, Lars (1983). "Några Reflektioner Angående Bilderna på Balingsta-Stenen i Uppland". Fornvännen (Swedish National Heritage Board) 78: 88–91. http://fornvannen.se/pdf/1980talet/1983_088.pdf. Retrieved 2010-01-28.