Nótt - Goddess of Norse Mythology

Portrait of Norse Goddess Nótt.
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Portrait of Nótt, the Norse goddess of night, depicted with her characteristic black hair and serene expression.

Nótt (pronounced: "not") also known as "Night," is a goddess in Norse mythology associated with darkness, night, and the passing of time. She is the daughter of Narfi and Nór, and the grandmother of Thor. In Norse mythology, Nótt is depicted as a powerful and mysterious figure, often associated with magic and divination.

In Norse mythology, Nótt is also associated with magic and divination. She is depicted as a powerful and mysterious figure, often invoked in spells and rituals.

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

ᚾᚢᛏᛏ

According to Norse mythology, Nótt was born in the valleys under the Yggdrasil tree, and her animal is Hrímfaxi, one of the horses that Alföðr gave to Nótt and Dagr. In the 13th-century Prose Edda and Verse Edda, Nótt is mentioned as the daughter of Narfi and is associated with Hrímfaxi.

Nótt had three marriages in Norse mythology. Her first marriage was to Naglfari, with whom she had a son named Auðr. Her second marriage was to Annar, with whom she had a daughter named Jörd. Her third marriage was to Dellingr, with whom she had a son named Dagr. Odin gave Nótt and Dagr chariots and horses, and they travel around the world causing the alternation of day and night. The foam at the mouth of Nótt's horse Hrímfaxi falls to earth, creating dew.

Nótt appears in several poems in the Poetic Edda, including "Vafþrúðnismál" and "Alvíssmál." In "Vafþrúðnismál," Odin asks the jötunn Vafþrúðnir about the source of day and night, and Vafþrúðnir replies that Nótt was born of Nör and created the moon.

In "Alvíssmál," Thor asks the dwarf Alviss what the night is called in each of the nine worlds in which Nórr was born. Alviss says that the night was called "night" by humanity, "dark" by the gods, "masking" by the forces, "unlit" by the jötunn, "sleeping pleasure" by the elves, and "dream goddess" by the dwarves.

In the "Sigrdrífumál," the hero Sigurd asks the name of the valkyrie Sigrdrifa, whom he awakens from a sleeping curse. Sigrdrifa offers a "memory drink" to Sigurd with a horn-filled goblet of honey wine, followed by an infidel prayer. In the first part of this prayer, the "sons of Dagr" and "daughter of Nótt" are mentioned.


Please note that the information provided about Nótt 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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