Auðr (mythology)
In Norse mythology, Auðr (Old Norse "prosperity"[1] ) is the son of the personified night, Nótt, fathered by Naglfari, and uncle of Thor. Auðr is attested in the Prose Edda , written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, and in the poetry of skalds.
Attestations
[edit ]In the Prose Edda, Auðr is mentioned three times; once in the book Gylfaginning and twice in Skáldskaparmál. In chapter 10 of Gylfaginning, High says that, during Nótt's marriage to Naglfari, the couple had a son, Auðr.[2] In chapter 32 of Skáldskaparmál, means of referring to Jörð, the personified earth, are provided, including "sister of Auðr" and "sister of Dagr", the personified day. In the same chapter, a work by the 10th century skald Hallfreðr vandræðaskáld is provided that mentions Auðr ("Auðr's splendid sister").[3]
Theories
[edit ]Scholar Rudolf Simek theorizes that Auðr is the invention of Snorri, but says that Snorri's reason for doing so is unknown. Simek notes that Auðr is a female name in other Icelandic sources. Simek does not mention the skaldic reference to the figure.[1]
See also
[edit ]Notes
[edit ]References
[edit ]- Faulkes, Anthony (Trans.) (1995). Edda. Everyman. ISBN 0-460-87616-3
- Simek, Rudolf (2007) translated by Angela Hall. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. D.S. Brewer. ISBN 0-85991-513-1