Aurboda
Encyclopedia
In Norse mythology
, Aurboða (Old Norse
"gravel-bidder" or "gravel-offerer") is a mountain jötunn, wife to the jötunn Gymir
, and mother of Gerðr.
; compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda
written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson
. Aurboða is also the name of one of nine maidens who sit at the knees of Menglöd in the poem Svipdagsmál
. Aurboða is sometimes anglicized as Aurboda.
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
, Aurboða (Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
"gravel-bidder" or "gravel-offerer") is a mountain jötunn, wife to the jötunn Gymir
Gymir
In Norse mythology, Gymir was a giant whose daughter, Gerðr, married the god Freyr.According to the Eddic poems Skírnismál and Hyndluljóð, Gymir and his wife Aurboða are Gerð's parents...
, and mother of Gerðr.
Attestations
Aurboða is attested in the Poetic EddaPoetic Edda
The Poetic Edda is a collection of Old Norse poems primarily preserved in the Icelandic mediaeval manuscript Codex Regius. Along with Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, the Poetic Edda is the most important extant source on Norse mythology and Germanic heroic legends, and from the early 19th century...
; compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda
Prose Edda
The Prose Edda, also known as the Younger Edda, Snorri's Edda or simply Edda, is an Icelandic collection of four sections interspersed with excerpts from earlier skaldic and Eddic poetry containing tales from Nordic mythology...
written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...
. Aurboða is also the name of one of nine maidens who sit at the knees of Menglöd in the poem Svipdagsmál
Svipdagsmál
Svipdagsmál or The Lay of Svipdagr is an Old Norse poem, a part of the Poetic Edda, comprising two poems, The Spell of Gróa and The Lay of Fjölsviðr. The two works are grouped since they have a common narrator, Svipdagr. Moreover they would appear to have a common origin since they are closely...
. Aurboða is sometimes anglicized as Aurboda.