Aegir Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
- This article is about a mythological figure. For the software, see Aegir (software).
Snorri in Skaldskaparmal identifies Aegir with Gymir and Hlér who lived on Hlesey. Gymir, it may be noticed, is the name of the monstruous and terrible giant of the underworld, the father of the beautiful Gerd wooed by Freyr. Hymir, who seems to be a sea-giant, has a link with the gods, for he is said in Hymiskviða to be father of Tyr.
Aegir is said to have had nine daughters (the billow maidens) (Bara, Blodughadda, Bylgia, Dufa, Hefring, Himinglaeva, Hronn, Kolga, and Unn), and the names reflect the types of waves of the sea; they wore white robes and veils. (cf. his counterpart Poseidon)
Aegir is son of Fornjót and brother of Logi 'fire, flame' and Kári (wind). He is also called Hlér and Gymir. In the Lokasenna, he has a festival for the gods, where he provides the ale brewed in an enormous pot provided by Thor. The story of Thor getting the pot for the brewing is told in the Hymiskviða.
Aegir had two servants, Fimafeng (killed by Loki) and Eldir.
