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THE OTHERS: JOTNAR OF THE NORSE
Apr. 1st, 2023 11:11 am Because they possess extraordinary strength, the Jotnar are considered to be giants. Whether they meet the “standard definition of giant” has been a subject for debate among researchers of Norse lore. However, some Jotnar are considered to be agents of chaos, which seems to fit the role that giants tend be in various lore. Since much of Norse lore was collected by Christians, the Jotnar were more often depicted as “evil and monstrous.”
The Jotnar live in three places – Niflheim, Muspellsheim and Jotunheimar. Niflheim, where the Frost Giants live, is a dark and cold world. The world of fire, Muspellsheim is ruled by Surt, who is a dedicated enemy of the Norse Gods. At Ragarnok, He will attack, turning their world into flames with his burning sword. Most of the rest are in Jotunheimar (Giant Worlds). There they live in any unsettled areas of mountains and forests, hunting and fishing.
The Jotnar had multiple types of relations with the Gods. Since they often had different aims for the Cosmos than these Gods, Jotnar either came in conflict with Them or joined Them. Many Norse Gods had Jotnar ancestry such as Odin, the All-Father. Meanwhile, Freyr fell in love with Gerd, a Jotnar, and gave up a valuable sword to marry Her. The Jotnar Skadi was tricked into marrying Njord, God of Ships, but remained cordial to Him. Others like Surt sought the end of the Gods. He goes up against Frey at Ragnarok and kills Him. Later, Surt burns the earth with his flaming sword.
Although the mother of Thor, the God of Thunder, is Jord, a Jotnar, He did not like them. Thor regarded the Jotnar to be liars, thieves, and oath breakers. Thor killed Gjalp, who caused the river Vimur to swell, since she did not want Him to cross. Later, He broke the backs of her and her sister, Greip, when they tried to crush Him.
Most of the time, the relations between the Jotnar and the Gods could be considered antagonistic. Some of the Jotnar did not care much for the Gods and often thought Them to be inferior. However, the two depended on each other. Wild, remote, and desolate in their being, the Jotnar could be thought of as the “yin” to the “yang” of the Norse Gods.
Works Used:
Davidson, H.R. Ellis, “Gods and Myths of Northern Europe.” Penguin: New York, 1964.
Lindow, John, “Norse Mythology.” Oxford University Press: NY. 2001.
McCay, Daniel, “The Viking Spirit.” Self-published, 2016.
