Bölthorn

Bölthorn , Old Norse Bǫlþorn 'thorn of perdition, damaging thorn , bad luck thorn', is a giant ( Jötunn ) of Nordic mythology .

According to the song Havamál from the Edda of Songs , he had a daughter named Bestla and a son, whose name is not mentioned, from whom Odin learned nine powerful rune magic songs . The Prose Edda is given that the frost giant grandfather Odin was because Bestla was the wife of borr and begat with this the Asengötter Odin, Vili and Ve .

Bölthorn is one of the giants who lived before the world was created. However, its role in Norse mythology is unclear. He is neither mentioned elsewhere as a prehistoric giant, nor does his name fit into the naming concept of the prehistoric giants, which otherwise end in -me . In terms of time he is on a par with Buri and the first descendants of Aurgelmir-Ymir .

Occasionally , it is argued in research that the unknown son of Bölthorn was Mimir with reference to his knowledge of the Runes, but this view remains a mere assumption in the absence of other evidence.

literature

• John Lindow: Handbook of Norse Mythology. USA 2001, ISBN 1-57607-217-7 , p. 82, keyword: Bölthor (n)
• Rudolf Simek : Lexicon of Germanic Mythology (= Kröner's pocket edition . Volume 368). 3rd, completely revised edition. Kröner, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 3-520-36803-X , p. 54 (keyword: Bölthorn).

See also

• Germanic creation story

Single receipts

1. ↑ Lieder-Edda: Havamál 140. There the giant is actually called Bǫlþor .
2. ^ Snorri Sturluson : Prosa-Edda , Gylfaginning 6
3. ^ ^{A b} Rudolf Simek: Lexicon of Germanic mythology (= Kröner's pocket edition. Volume 368). 3rd, completely revised edition. Kröner, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 3-520-36803-X , p. 54.
4. ^ Francois Xaver Dillmann: Mimir . In: Heinrich Beck, Dieter Geuenich, Heiko Steuer (eds.): Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde , Vol. 20. De Gruyter, Berlin - New York 2001, ISBN 3-11-017163-5 , p. 42.