The Vanir are usually considered one of the two pantheons of gods in Norse mythology. They include Njršr, Freyr and Freya (Freyja), who lived among the Ęsir since the end of the conflict between the two clans of gods (traded for Mķmir and Hœnir); the identity as Vanir of Skaši, Lżtir , Geršr and Óšr may be debated. Skaši was a giantess married to one of the Vanir (Njǫršr); Geršr was also a giantess, with whom Freyr fell in love and with whom he managed to have a union, having sold his sword as payment; but it is not clear whether this union amounted to more than a single meeting. Óšr is mentioned in the Eddas very shortly as the husband of Freyja, but nothing more is actually known about him (although it is often remarked that it was one of Óšinn's names).The Vanir live in Vanaheim, also called Vanaland; Snorri Sturluson calls their land Tanakvķsl or Vanakvķsl . They are gods of fertility and prosperity, and they are seen as belonging to the earth, while the Ęsir ruled the sky. The Vanir have a deep knowledge of magical arts, so that they also know the future. It is said that it was Freyja who taught magic to the Ęsir. They also practiced endogamy and even incest, both forbidden among the Ęsir; as an example Freyr and Freyja were children of Njǫršr and his sister (see Nerthus).
The Eddas identify the Vanir with the elves ( Alfar), frequently interchanging "Ęsir and Vanir" and "Ęsir and Alfar" to mean "all the gods". As both the Vanir and the Alfar were fertility powers, the interchangeability suggest that the Vanir may have been synonymous with the elvesElves are mythical creatures of Germanic mythology that have survived in northern European folklore. Originally a race of minor gods of nature and fertility, they are often pictured as small, youthful-seeming men and women of great beauty living in forest. It may also be that the two names reflected a difference in status where the elves were minor fertility gods whereas the Vanir were major fertility gods. Freyr would thus be a natural Van ruler of the elves in Įlfheimlfheim Old Norse lfheimr 'Elf-home') is the abode of the lfar 'Elves' in Norse mythology and appears also in northern English ballads under the forms Elfhame and Elphame . It is also an ancient name for the territory between what is now the Glomma river i.
Contemporary reconstruction of Norse religion focussing on the Vanir is sometimes known as Vanatrś.
1 Vanir and their Guests
- Freyja
- Freyr
- Geršr
- GullveigIn Norse mythology, Gullveig (seemingly " gold drink" or "gold might") is a mysterious goddess or giantess who is said have been burned three times in Odin's hall, to have been three times born, and to live yet as a seeress performing dark magic. She is o, when the Aesir treated her badly, it caused the war of the gods
- Hœnir, an Aesir hostage
- Mķmir, an Aesir hostage
- KvasirIn Norse mythology, Kvasir or Gillingr was created from the saliva of all the gods, making him the wisest of the Aesir. He was quickly murdered by Fjalar and Galar, two dwarven brothers, in their cavern. They mixed his blood with honey and preserved it; t
- Lżtir
- Njršr
- Skaši
There is a possible connection between Heimdall and the Vanir, noted by H.R. Ellis Davidson.
2 Links
Norse mythology
