Fjölnir

Fjölnir, "Fjölner", "Fjolner" or "Fjolne" (1st century BC - early 1st century AD) was a Swedish king of the House of Yngling, at Gamla Uppsala. He appears in a semi-mythological context as the son of Freyr and Gerd.

Fjölnir drowned in a vat of mead visiting Peace-Fróði, an equally mythological king of Zealand, where Denmark later appeared. Fjölnir was then succeeded by his son Sveigðir.

"Grottasöngr"

"Grottasöngr" informs that Fjölnir was the contemporary of Caesar Augustus (63 BC, AD 14). He was a mighty king and the crops were bountiful and peace was maintained. At his time, king Fróði, the son of Friðleifr, ruled in Lejre in Zealand. "Grottasöngr" relates that when Fróði once visited Uppsala he bought two giantesses, Fenja and Menja::Fróði konungr sótti heimboð í Svíþjóð til þess konungs, er Fjölnir er nefndr. Þá keypti hann ambáttir tvær, er hétu Fenja ok Menja. Þær váru miklar ok sterkar. [ [http://www.heimskringla.no/original/edda/grottasongr.php "Gróttasöngr" at "Norrøne Tekster og Kvad"] ] However, the two giantesses were to be his undoing (see "Grottasöngr").

"Ynglinga saga"

The "Ynglinga saga" tells that Fjölnir was the son of Freyr himself and the giantess Gerd, but he was the first of his house who was not to be deified.

The "Historia Norwegiæ" provides a Latin summary of "Ynglingatal", which precedes Snorri's quotation. It also informs that Fjölnir was the son of Freyr, the father of Svegder and that he drowned in a vat of mead:The even earlier source "Íslendingabók" cites the line of descent in "Ynglingatal" and also gives Fjölnir as the successor of Freyr and the predecessor of Svegðir. In addition to this it summarizes that Fjölnir died at Friðfróði's (i.e. Peace-Fróði): "iii Freyr. iiii Fjölnir. sá er dó at Friðfróða. v Svegðir": [ [http://www.heimskringla.no/original/islendingesagaene/islendingabok.php Guðni Jónsson's edition of Íslendingabók] ] .

"Gesta Danorum"

In "Gesta Danorum", Book 1, Frodi corresponds to Hadingus and Fjölnir to Hundingus, but the story is a little different. It relates how King Hundingus of Sweden believed a rumor that King Hadingus of Denmark had died and held his obsequies with ceremony, including an enormous vat of ale. Hundingus himself served the ale, but accidentally stumbled and fell into the vat, choked, and drowned. When word of this came to King Hadingus of this unfortunate death, King Hadingus publicly hanged himself (see Freyr).

"Ballad of Veraldur"

Dumézil (1973, Appendix I) cites a Faroese ballad recorded in 1840 about Odin and his son Veraldur. It is believed that this Veraldur is related to Fjölnir and Freyr, as per Snorri's statement that Freyr was "veraldar goð" ("god of the world").

In this ballad Veraldur sets off to Zealand to seek the king's daughter in marriage despite Odin's warnings. The king of Zealand mislikes Veraldur and tricks him into falling into a brewing vat in a "hall of stone" where Veraldur drowns. When Odin hears the news, he decides to die and go to Asgard where his followers will be also be welcomed after death.

The tale is similar to that of the death of Fjölnir, son of Freyr, who accidentally fell into a vat of mead and drowned while paying a friendly visit to Fridfródi the ruler of Zealand.

Other mentions

Fjölnir is also another name for Odin, found in "Grímnismál" when the god revealed himself to Geirröd, and in "Reginsmál" when he was standing on a mountain addressing Sigurd and Regin. Snorri also mentions it as an Odinic name in "Gylfaginning".

Notes

ources

*Ynglingatal
*Ynglinga saga (part of the Heimskringla)
*Historia Norvegiæ
*Gróttasöngr
*Gesta Danorum
* [http://www.drengskap.com/gimle/modules/articles/article.php?id=45 Gimle: Hedniska ballader: Balladen om Oden och Veraldur (Frö)] (Text of the ballad of Veraldur).