Vanir

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Vanir is the name of one of the two groups of gods in Norse mythology, the other and more well known being the Æsir. The name is perhaps from the Proto-Indo-European root *wen-, "to strive, win", cognate to Venus (compare Vanadis) [citation needed], Wynn (Proto-Germanic *Wanizaz), archaic Greek Wanax. The name could also be from an alternate meaning of the same PIE root *wenos, "lust". [citation needed]

Contents

Members

The three clearly identified Vanir include

  • Njord the father of the gods of Vanir and god of the sea
  • Freyr the god of fertility
  • Freyja a goddess of fertility, love, beauty, and war

These are identified only as the Vanir who lived among the Æsir, because of a hostage exchange described in the Poetic Edda; there may have been others.

Since Freyr is elsewhere listed as having residence Álfheimr (Elf-home), it is possible that the Elves were also considered Vanir.


Giantess Gerðr

The poem Skírnismál, from the Poetic Edda, tells the story of Freyr finding love. Freyr, sitting on Hliðskjálf spied the Jotun-giantess Gerðr, with whom he fell in love. He asked Skirnir, his companion, if he would go to Gerðr and express Freyr's love for her. Skirnir did so and after threatening Gerðr with curses, she agreed to marry Freyr. One of the objects traded in the bargain was Freyr's enchanted sword and because of this incident, Freyr will have no sword at Ragnarok.

Other possible Vanir

The identification as Vanir of Skaði, Lýtir, Gerðr and Óðr is debated. Óðr is mentioned in the Eddas very briefly as a husband of Freyja, but nothing more is actually known about him, although Óðr is often listed as one of Odin's alternate names.

There is a possible connection between Heimdall and the Vanir, noted by H.R. Ellis Davidson. [1]

The gods Njörd and Freyr appear in Snorri's Ynglinga saga as human Kings of Sweden. Their human descendants on the Swedish throne may be called Vanir, such as:

Since other charaters in the Ynglinga saga have the same names and traits as Norse gods, it possible that these also were the names of gods in other stories.

Characteristics

The Vanir are gods of fertility, the sea, and prosperity. While the Æsir were war gods, the Vanir were understood to be rich, the givers of riches, the patrons of fecundity, pleasure, and peace. Once the Vanir joined with the Æsir, the Vanir also are seen as the bringers of unity. [citation needed]

The Vanir have a deep knowledge of magical arts, so that they also know the future. It is said that it was Freyja who taught magic to the Æsir.

The Vanir practiced endogamy and even incest, which were both forbidden among the Æsir. As an example: brother and sister Freyr and Freyja were both children of Njörðr and his sister (possibly Nerthus) [citation needed]. In Lokasenna, Loki claimed that Freyr and Freyja also have a sexual relationship, but it is not confirmed anywhere else.

Early pagan Norse either chose between cults of the Vanir, Æsir, or both. Areas where fishing and boating were prominent tended to have greater Vanir cults. Later conflicts with Christians attempting to convert the pagan Norse were especially contentious due to cults favoring the Vanir. [citation needed]

Location

The Vanir live in Vanaheimr, also called Vanaland; Snorri Sturluson calls their land Tanakvísl or Vanakvísl (Tanakvísl eða Vanakvísl) etymologizing Vanir as the "Don-people". Vanaheimr, along with Asgard, is the home of the gods in the tree of life Yggdrasil.

Vanir and Elves

The Eddas possibly identify the Vanir with the elves (Álfar), frequently interchanging "Æsir and Vanir" and "Æsir and Álfar" to mean "all the gods". As both the Vanir and the Álfar appear to be fertility powers, the interchangeability suggest that the Vanir may have been synonymous with the elves.

It may also be that the two names reflected a difference in status where the elves were minor fertility gods whereas the Vanir were major fertility gods. Freyr would thus be a natural Vanir ruler of the elves in Álfheim.

Contemporary reconstruction of Norse religion focusing on the Vanir is sometimes called Vanatrú.

Cult of the Vanir

The Vanir are associated with bringing an understanding of celestial bodies to the Norse. Njord, god of the sea, brought understanding of the stars, sun, and moon which is evident in carvings, cave paintings, and runes throughout Scandinavia. Although debatable, this understanding of celestial bodies was what allowed boaters, and later Vikings, the ability to cross vast stretches of ocean, though it was not the primary source of navigation. It is also understood that the Vanir were responsible for sexual practices and healing [citation needed].

Links with other Pantheons

The war between the Vanir and the Æsir, together with their status as gods of agiculture and fertility, have led some scholars to identify them as an earlier pantheon supplanted by the Æsir. This mirrors theories about the Titans and the Greek and Roman gods, similarly primal gods replaced by newcomers who resided in the sky (or in the latter case Mount Olympus); earth-gods and fertility worship being replaced by sky-gods and martial worship.

Another comparison may be made between the Irish — and other Indo-Europeans — invading, and subsequently conquering Milesians, and their fertility goddesses, and gods, the Tuatha De Danaan ("People of the Goddess Danu/Dana; the Tuatha had already done the same to the even older Fir Bolg.

For a possible third connection, see e. g. under Hausos.

Vanir, their spouses, and their guests

References

  1. ^ Davidson, H.R. Ellis [1964] (1990). "The Enigmatic Gods", Gods and Myths of Northern Europe. Penguin, p. 175. ISBN 0-14-013627-4. “It is true that this connexion with the Vanir is implied rather than clearly obvious, but it is implied at several different points.” 

External links

Template:Navbox/corebe-x-old:Ваны ca:Vanir cs:Vanové da:Vane (nordisk mytologi) de:Wanen el:Βανίρ es:Vanir eo:Vanioj fr:Vanes gl:Vanir id:Vanir is:Vanir it:Vanir he:ואניר lv:Vāni lt:Vanai nl:Wanen ja:ヴァン神族 no:Vaner nn:Vaner pl:Wanowie pt:Vanir ro:Vanir ru:Ваны simple:Vanir sh:Vanir sv:Vaner vi:Vanir zh:华纳神族

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