Mǫgþrasir

In Norse mythology, Mǫgþrasir (Old Norse: [ˈmɔɣˌθrɑsez̠], possibly meaning "the one who is striving for sons") is a jǫtunn who is solely attested in stanza 49 of the poem Vafþrúðnismál from the Poetic Edda.

Vafþrúðnismál

Mǫgþrasir is mentioned during the contest of wisdom between Óðinn and the giant Vafþrúðnir:

Stanza 48: Odin said: "Much I have travelled, much have I tried out, much have I tested the Powers; who are those maidens who journey in troops, wise in spirit, over the sea?"

Stanza 49: Vafthrudnir said: "Three of the race of Mogthrasir's girls travel over the settlements, they are bringers of luck in the world, although they are raised among giants."

Theories

According to Carolyne Larrington, the identities of these maidens are uncertain but they are probably the Norns. If this is the case, then Mǫgþrasir is either their father or is being used as a kenning to indicate the Norns' kinship with the jötnar.

References

• Larrington, Carolyne (transl.) (1996). The Poetic Edda. Oxford World's Classics. ISBN: 0-19-283946-2

• Simek, Rudolf (2007) translated by Angela Hall. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. D.S. Brewer. ISBN: 0-85991-513-1

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