Fjörgyn - Goddess of Norse Mythology

Image of Fjörgyn, the Norse goddess of the earth and motherhood, often associated with the mother of Thor.
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Depiction of Fjörgyn, the Norse goddess of the earth and motherhood, often associated with the mother of Thor. In Norse mythology, she was a powerful figure who represented the natural world and fertility.

Fjörgyn (pronounced: "FYOR-gin") is a goddess in Norse mythology, whose name means "earth" or "land". She is often referred to as the mother of the god Thor, and is sometimes identified with the goddess Jörð. The masculine form of her name, Fjörgynn, is a deity associated with the god Odin's wife Frigg.

The name Fjörgyn appears in several sources of Norse mythology, including the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda. In skaldic poetry, the name is used as a synonym for "earth" or "land". The goddess Fjörgyn is mentioned in the 56th stanza of the Harbardzljod and the 56th stanza of the Völuspá. The god Fjörgynn is mentioned in the Gylfaginning, the Skáldskaparmál, and the Lokasenna.

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

ᚠᛁᚢᚱᚴᚢᚾ

There is some debate among scholars as to whether Fjörgyn and Fjörgynn are two separate deities with similar names or two forms of the same deity. Some suggest that they may represent a divine pair, like other pairs in Norse mythology, such as Freyr and Freyja or Njörðr and Nerthus.

The etymology of Fjörgyn's name suggests that it may be related to the Indo-European god of thunder or rain. The name is thought to be derived from Proto-Germanic *fergunja, meaning "mountain", possibly "mountain forest", which may be derived from Proto-Indo-European *per-kwun-iyā ("the realm of the god Perkwunos", i.e. oak mountains). Fjörgyn is cognate with the Gothic fairguni, the Old English firgen, and the Old High German Firgunnea.

Some scholars speculate that Fjörgyn may simply be an epithet for Jörð, whose name also means "earth".

In Norse mythology, Fjörgyn is primarily known as the mother of Thor. The story goes that Thor was conceived when Fjörgyn struck Odin's hammer Mjölnir on a stone, causing sparks to fly out and impregnating her. Thor is often depicted as the protector of the earth and the defender against the forces of chaos and destruction.


Please note that the information provided about Fjörgyn 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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