Names and Roles

Then spoke Gangleri: ‘Which are the Æsir that men ought to
believe in?’

High said: ‘There are twelve Æsir whose nature is divine.’

Then spoke Just-as-high: ‘No less holy are the Asyniur, nor is
their power less.’

Then spoke Third: ‘Odin is highest and most ancient of the
Æsir. He rules all things, and mighty though the other gods are,
yet they all submit to him like children to their father. Frigg is his
wife, and she knows men’s fates though she does not prophesy, as
it says here that Odin himself spoke to the As called Loki:

“Mad you are Loki, and out of your wits; why will you not
be silent, Loki? All fates I believe Frigg knows, though she
herself does not pronounce.”

‘Odin is called All-father, for he is father of all gods. He is also
called Val-father [father of the slain], since all those who fall in
battle are his adopted sons. He assigns them places in Val-hall and
Vingolf, and they are then known as Einheriar. He is also called
Hanga-god [god of the hanged] and Hapta-god [god of prisoners],
Farma-god [god of cargoes], and he called himself by
various other names on his visit to King Geirrod:

“I call myself Grim and Ganglari, Herian, Hialmberi,
Thekk, Third, Thunn, Unn, Helblindi, High, Sann, Svipal,
Sanngetal, Herteit, Hnikar, Bileyg, Baleyg, Bolverk, Fiolnir,
Grimnir, Glapsvinn, Fiolsvinn, Sidhott, Sidskegg,
Sigfather, Hnikud, All-father, Atrid, Farmatyr, Oski, Omi,
Just-as-high, Blindi, Gondlir, Harbard, Svidur, Svidrir, Ialk,
Kialar, Vidur, Thror, Ygg, Thund, Vakr, Skilfing, Vafud,
Hropta-Tyr, Gaut, Veratyr.” ’

Then spoke Gangleri: ‘What a terrible lot of names you have
given him! By my faith, one would need a great deal of learning to
be able to give details and explanations of what events have given
rise to each of these names.’

Then said High: ‘It is very instructive to go closely into all this.
But to put it in a word, most names have been given him as a result
of the fact that with all the branches of languages in the world,
each nation finds it necessary to adapt his name to their language
for invocation and prayers for themselves, but some events giving
rise to these names have taken place in his travels and have been
made the subject of stories, and you cannot claim to be a wise man
if you are unable to tell of these important happenings.’

Then spoke Gangleri: ‘What are the names of the other Æsir?
And what do they do? And what glorious works have they done?’


- Prose Edda, Gylfaginning