Njörðr - God of Norse Mythology

An imposing figure of Njörðr, .
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Njörðr, , depicted as an imposing figure.

Njörðr (pronounced: "nyor-th") is a god from Norse mythology who was associated with the sea, seafaring, fishing, and trade, as well as fertility and wealth. His name is closely related to the older Germanic goddess Nerthus, and he was believed to have been an important deity in Nordic religion, although the preserved sources do not show this.

The name "Njörðr" in Old Norse runes is written as:

ᚾᛁᚢᚱᚦᛦ

In Icelandic literature, Njörðr is described as one of the gods who live in Asgard, the realm of the gods. His farm is called Noatun, which means "shipyard," reflecting his connection to seafaring. He was associated with human activities on and by the sea, rather than the sea itself, which was the realm of the giant sea gods Ægir and Ran. Njörðr was a member of the Vanir, a clan of gods who lived in Vanaheim, but after the war between the Æsir and Vanir, he and his children were exchanged as hostages and took up residence in Asgard.

Njörðr was married to Skade, a giantess, but they did not live together because they preferred different environments. Skade lived in the cold and wild mountain areas, while Njörðr preferred the rich fishing grounds and fertile agricultural areas close to the sea. Njörðr was the father of the fertility gods Frey and Freya, although their mother's name is not known.

One of the few surviving myths involving Njörðr is found in the Younger Edda. The story tells how Skade was allowed to choose a husband from among the gods as compensation for the Æsir killing her father Tjasse, but she had to choose based only on their feet. She chose the most beautiful pair of feet, believing them to be Balder's, but they turned out to be Njörðr's.

Njörðr's name can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word Nerþuz and the Indo-European *nerthuz, which likely had the meaning "power." It has been suggested that Njörðr changed gender because feminine nouns with u-stems disappeared from Germanic languages, leaving only masculine u-stems in the Viking Age.

Njörðr's role in the religion of the Viking Age is not well-documented, but there is speculation that he may have had a much greater importance in the past than is shown in the preserved sources. Nevertheless, he remains an important figure in Norse mythology, particularly as a god of seafaring and fertility.


Please note that the information provided about Njörðr and Norse mythology is complex and may be subject to interpretation and debate. The myths and stories of Norse mythology have evolved and been passed down through oral tradition and written accounts, and there may be variations in the way they are told and understood. This information should be used as a general reference and not as a definitive source on the subject.


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Other Norse Gods and Goddesses


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