Gunnlöð
Gunnlǫð (Old Norse: non; also Gunnlöd) is a jötunn in Norse mythology. She is the daughter of Suttungr, for whom she guards the mead of poetry. Saturn's moon Gunnlod is named after her.
Name
The Old Norse name Gunnlǫð has been translated as 'war-invitation',[1] or 'battle-invitation'.[2] It stems from Old Norse Template:Wikt-lang ('battle').[3]
Attestations
Skáldskaparmál (The Language of Poetry) mentions that the jötunn Suttungr has entrusted his daughter Gunnlöð to the guard of the mead of poetry: Template:Poem quote
But Odin, in the form of a snake, manages to gain access to the chamber within the mountain Hnitbjörg where the mead is kept. The god seduces the guardian Gunnlöð, and sleeps with her three nights.[4][2] In return, Gunnlöð allows Odin to obtain three drinks of the mead, after which he immediately flies himself out of the cavern as an eagle.[2] Template:Poem quoteIn Hávamál (Sayings of the High One), the account given by Odin differs in a number of details, and the narrative pays most attention to Gunnlöð herself.[4]
References
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- ↑ Orchard 1997, p. 68.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lindow 2002, p. 156.
- ↑ de Vries 1962, p. 195.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Orchard 1997, p. 69.
Bibliography
- de Vries, Jan (1962). Altnordisches Etymologisches Worterbuch (1977 ed.). Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-05436-3.
- Lindow, John (2002). Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-983969-8.
- Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 978-0-304-34520-5.