- Jörð
In
Norse mythology , Jörð (Old Norse "earth", pronEng|jɔrð , sometimes Anglicized as Jord or Jorth), is a giantess, the mother ofThor , and the personification of theEarth . Fjörgyn and Hlôdyn are considered to be other names for Jörð. [Bellinger (1997:235).]Jörð is reckoned a goddess, like other giantesses who coupled with the gods. [Orchard (1997:98).] Jörð's name appears in skaldic poetry both as a poetic term for the land and in kennings for Thor.
Etymology
"Jörð" is the common word for "earth" in
Old Norse , as are the word's descendants in the modernScandinavian languages ; Icelandic "jörð", Faroese "jørð", Danish, Swedish and Norwegian "jord". It iscognate to English "earth" throughOld English "eorðe". ["Earth" in [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=earth Online Etymology Dictionary] .]Attestations
"Gylfaginning"
In "
Gylfaginning ", the first part of theProse Edda , Jörð is described as one ofOdin 'sconcubines and the mother ofThor . ["Gylfaginning " 10, 36.] She is the daughter ofAnnar andNótt and sister ofAuð andDagr . Otherwise she is essentially unknown."Skáldskaparmál"
In
Snorri Sturluson 's "Skáldskaparmál ", Jörð is called the rival of Odin's wifeFrigg and his other giantess concubines,Rindr andGunnlod . [Lindow (2001:205).]Notes
References
* Bellinger, Gerhard J. (1997). "Knaurs Lexikon der Mythologi". Weltbild/Bechtermünz, Augsburg: ISBN 3828941559
*Lindow, John (2001). "Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs".Oxford University Press . ISBN 0-19-515382-0.
* Orchard, Andy (1997). "Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend". Cassell, London: ISBN 0304345202----
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