In Norse mythology, Élivágar (Old Norse: [ˈeːleˌwɑːɣɑz̠]; "Ice Waves") are rivers that existed in Ginnungagap at the beginning of the world. The Prose Edda relates:
The eleven rivers traditionally associated with the Élivágar include the Svöl, Gunnþrá, Fjörm, Fimbulþul, Slíðr, Hríð, Sylgr, Ylgr, Við, Leiptr and Gjöll (which flows closest to the gate of Hel and is spanned by the bridge Gjallarbrú), although many other additional rivers are mentioned by name in both Eddas.
The Élivágar also figure in the origin of Ymir, the first Jǫtunn. According to Vafþrúðnismál, Ymir was formed from the poison that dripped from the rivers.
In Gylfaginning, Snorri expands upon this notion considerably. As quoted above, when the venomous yeast from the Élivágar froze to ice and overspread its banks it fell as rain through the mild air of Ginnungagap. The rime, infused with the cold of Niflheimr from which the Élivágar find their source in the wellspring Hvergelmir, began to fill the void. It then combined with the life-giving fire and heat of Múspellsheimr, melting and dripping and giving form to Ymir, progenitor of the rime giants or frost giants.
Elsewhere, Gylfaginning says that, "So many serpents are in Hvergelmir with Níðhǫggr that no tongue can tell them." These serpents are presumably the source of the venom or poison referred to in the myth.
A reference to the river Leiptr appears in Helgakviða Hundingsbana II, where the Valkyrja Sigrún puts a curse on her brother Dagr for having murdered her husband Helgi Hundingsbane despite him having sworn a holy oath of allegiance to Helgi on the "bright water of Leiptr" (ljósa Leiftrar vatni):
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References[]
- ↑ Gylfaginning 5. [1]
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ "The Poetic Edda: Helgakvitha Hundingsbana II". Sacred-texts.com. http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/poe/poe20.htm. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
Locations in Norse mythology | |
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Underworld | Helheimr • Éljúðnir • Gjallarbrú • Nástrǫnd • Niflheimr • Niflhel • Niðafjǫll |
Rivers | Élivágar • Gjǫll • Ífingr • Kerlaugar • Kǫrmt and Ǫrmt • Slidr • Vadgelmir • Vimur |
Other locations | Amsvartnir • Andlàngr • Barri • Bifrǫst • Bilskirnir • Brávellir • Brimir • Fensalir • Fjǫturlundr • Fólkvangr • Fornsigtuna • Fyrisvellir • Gálgviðr • Gandvik • Gastropnir • Gimlé • Ginnungagap • Glaðsheimr • Glæsisvellir • Glitnir • Gnipahellir • Heiðr • Himinbjǫrg • Hindarfjall • Hliðskjálf • Hnitbjǫrg • Hoddmímis holt • Iðavǫllr • Járnviðr • Mímameiðr • Munarvágr • Myrkviðr • Nóatún • Okolnir • Sessrúmnir • Sindri • Singasteinn • Søkkvabekkr • Svartálfaheimr • Þrúðheimr • Þrúðvangr • Þrymheimr • Útgarðr • Valaskjálf • Valhǫll • Víðbláinn • Vígríðr • Vingólf • Wells (Hvergelmir • Mímisbrunnr • Urðarbrunnr) • Ýdalir • Yggdrasill |