View source for Bestla

==Attestations==
In ''[[Gylfaginning]]'' (The Beguiling of [[Gylfi]]), she is portrayed as the daughter of the giant [[Bölþorn]] and as the spouse of [[Borr]], while the enthroned figure of [[Hárr]] (High) tells Gangleri (described as king [[Gylfi]] in disguise) of the genealogy of the god [[Odin]].{{Sfn|Lindow|2002|p=77}}
{{Poem quote|text=He married that woman who was called Bestla, the daughter of the giant Bölthorn. They had three sons; the first was called Odin, the second Vili, the third Vé.|char=|sign=Snorri Sturluson|title=''[[Gylfaginning]]''|source=5–7, trans. [[John Lindow|J. Lindow]], 2002.}}

In ''[[Skáldskaparmál]]'' (The Language of Poetry), a poem by the [[skald]] [[Einarr Helgason|Einarr Helgarson]] refers to Odin as "Bestla's son".{{Sfn|Faulkes|1987|p=69}}

''[[Hávamál]]'' <small>(140)</small> makes Bölþor(n) the grandfather of Bestla.{{Sfn|Lindow|2002|p=77}} Odin recounts his gaining of [[Numbers in Norse mythology|nine]] [[galdr|magical songs]] from Bestla's unnamed brother. If nothing indicates a family relationship between Odin and the man in the stanza (although skalds were certainly aware of Bestla as Odin's mother), and if the mead was allegedly stolen according to other sources, it is possible that Odin obtained magical songs from his maternal uncle.{{Sfn|Lindow|2002|p=77}}
<blockquote>
{|
|
:<small>[[Benjamin Thorpe|B. Thorpe]] translation (1866):</small>
:Potent songs nine from the famed son I learned
:of Bolthorn, Bestla’s sire,
:and a draught obtained of the
:precious mead, drawn from [[Óðrerir|Odhrærir]].{{Sfn|Thorpe|1866|p=45}}
|
:<small>[[Henry Adams Bellows (businessman)|H. A. Bellows]] translation (1923):</small>
:Nine mighty songs I got from the son
:Of Bolthorn, Bestla's father;
:And a drink I got of the goodly mead
:Poured out from Othrorir.<ref name="BELLOWS92">Bellows (1923:92).</ref>
|
:<small>[[John Lindow|J. Lindow]] translation (2002):</small>
:Nine magic songs I got <small>[learned?]</small> from the famous son
:Of Bölthor, Bestla’s father,
:And I got a drink of the precious mead,
:Poured from <small>[by? to?]</small> Ódrerir.{{Sfn|Lindow|2002|p=77}}
|}
</blockquote>