Njörðr


Thorunn of Fealcenstowe

Household

One of the known Vanir

Names

Njörðr

The Third Ás

Vagna Guð : God of Wagons

Attributes

God of the seas but also controller of fire. He is ruler of the winds and also a good source of wealth. Folk would pray to him when travelling over the seas or fishing in the seas. They would also toast him for good harvests and wealth. He was called upon as a divine witness of oaths at the Thing.

Appearance

Undeniably beautiful feet but the rest of his appearance is more normal. Likely a very strong and masculine appearance as his name is used in kennings for warriors e.g. a "battle-Niord" is a warrior.

Hall

Noatun: "ship yard" . This hall is by the sea.

Family

Njörðr, together with his (unnamed in Norse times) sister, is the father of the deities: Freyr and Freyja. He also had an unsuccessful marriage to the snow-shoe goddess: Skaði.

Treasures

No named treasures are known for him but then he is a source of treasure himself - so would you expect him to have just a single treasure ?

Symbolism

(Modern suggestions) - Ship - Foot - Wagon Sacred Animals - Swan - Seagull - Whale - Aquatic plants (especially the marine sponge, 'sea holly' and bladderwrack)

Starlore

(Modern suggestions based on old star names) - Polaris (the pole or north star) the 'Ship Star': this is used for navigation. - Orion's girdle is sometimes called the fishing pole in Scandinavia.

Miscellaneous

* One of the priests of the Aesir in the euhemerised history of the gods (an indication of especial holiness ?).

* Loki claimed Niord was a 'pisspot' for the giants daughters in an unrecorded episode but one interpretation is that this represents the gathering of the mountain streams flowing into the seas.

* Skaði chose Niord for his beautiful feet but he could not cope with her mountain home and wolves whilst she could not cope with his seaside home and the cries of the birds.


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