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Jötunn

Jötunn

In Norse mythology, a jötunn (/ˈjɔːtʊn/;[1] plural jötnar) is a type of entity contrasted with gods and other figures, such as dwarfs and elves. The entities are themselves ambiguously defined, variously referred to by several other terms, including risi, thurs, and troll.

Although the term giant is sometimes used to gloss the word jötunn and its apparent synonyms in some translations and academic texts, jötnar are not necessarily notably large and may be described as exceedingly beautiful or as alarmingly grotesque.[2] Some deities, such as Skaði and Gerðr, are themselves described as jötnar, and various well-attested deities, such as Odin, are descendants of the jötnar.

The Norse myth traces the origin of the jötnar to the proto-being Ymir, a result of growth or asexual reproduction from the entity's body. Ymir is later killed, his body dismembered to create the world, and the jötnar survive this event by way of sailing through a flood of Ymir's blood. The jötnar dwell in Jötunheimr. In later Scandinavian folklore, the ambiguity surrounding the entities gives way to negative portrayals.

Etymology

"eotenas," as they were called by the anonymous author of the Beowulf

"eotenas," as they were called by the anonymous author of the Beowulf

A bergrisi 'mountain giant'—the traditional protector of Southwestern Iceland—appears as a supporter on the coat of arms of Iceland.

A bergrisi 'mountain giant'—the traditional protector of Southwestern Iceland—appears as a supporter on the coat of arms of Iceland.

Old Norse jötunn (also jǫtunn, see Old Norse orthography) and Old English eoten developed from the Proto-Germanic masculine noun *etunaz.[3] Philologist Vladimir Orel says that semantic connections between *etunaz with Proto-Germanic *etanan makes a relation between the two nouns likely.[3] Proto-Germanic *etanan is reconstructed from Old Norse etall 'consuming', Old English etol 'voracious, gluttonous', and Old High German filu-ezzal 'greedy'.[3] Old Norse risi and Old High German riso derive from the Proto-Germanic masculine noun *wrisjon. Orel observes that the Old Saxon adjective wrisi-līke 'enormous' is likely also connected.[4]

Old Norse þurs, Old English ðyrs, and Old High German duris 'devil, evil spirit' derive from the Proto-Germanic masculine noun *þur(i)saz, itself derived form Proto-Germanic *þurēnan, which is etymologically connected to Sanskrit turá- 'strong, powerful, rich'.[5] For discussion regarding Old Norse troll and its development, see troll. Several terms are used specifically to refer to female entities that fall into this category, including íviðja (plural íviðjur) and gýgr (plural gýgjar).

Attestations

The jötnar are frequently attested throughout the Old Norse record. For example, in a stanza of Völuspá hin skamma (found in the poem Hyndluljóð), a variety of origins are provided: völvas are descended from Viðòlfr, all seers from Vilmeiðr, all charm-workers from Svarthöfði, and all jötnar descend from Ymir.[6]

See also

  • List of jötnar in Norse mythology

  • Trollhunter

  • The Ritual

  • Giants (Marvel Comics)

  • Giant (Dungeons & Dragons)

  • Asura - a comparable deity in Indian mythology

  • Titan - a comparable deity in Greek mythology

References

[1]
Citation Linkwww.dictionary.com"Jotun". Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.
Sep 20, 2019, 5:54 PM
[2]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgSome translators of the Poetic Edda do not render the word jötunn to giant. For example, in the Foreword to Jeramy Dodds's translation of the Poetic Edda, Terry Gunnell says that jötnar is "sometimes wrongly translated as 'giants'" and instead uses jötunns. (Dodds 2014:9).
Sep 20, 2019, 5:54 PM
[3]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgOrel (2003:86).
Sep 20, 2019, 5:54 PM
[4]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgOrel (2003:472).
Sep 20, 2019, 5:54 PM
[5]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgOrel (2003:429–430).
Sep 20, 2019, 5:54 PM
[6]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgBellows (1923:229) and Thorpe (1866:111).
Sep 20, 2019, 5:54 PM
[7]
Citation Linkwww.dictionary.com"Jotun"
Sep 20, 2019, 5:54 PM
[8]
Citation Linken.wikipedia.orgThe original version of this page is from Wikipedia, you can edit the page right here on Everipedia.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Additional terms may apply.See everipedia.org/everipedia-termsfor further details.Images/media credited individually (click the icon for details).
Sep 20, 2019, 5:54 PM