Eitr

Eitr

Eitr is a mythical substance in Norse mythology. This liquid substance is the origin of all living things, the first giant Ymir was conceived from eitr. The substance is supposed to be very poisonous and is also produced by Jörmungandr (the Midgard serpent) and other serpents.

Etymology

The word eitr exists in most North Germanic languages (all derived from the Old Norse language) in Icelandic "eitur", in Danish "edder", in Swedish "etter". Cognates also exist in Dutch "ether", in German "Eiter" (lit. "pus"),in Old Saxon "ĕttar", in Old English "ăttor". The meaning of the word is very broad: "poisonous", "evil", "bad", "angry", "sinister" etc.Svenska Akademiens Ordbok, entry for "Etter" [http://g3.spraakdata.gu.se/saob/show.phtml?filenr=1/64/16260.html] ]

The word is used in common Scandinavian folklore as a synonym for snake poison.ref

Ymir

In "Vafþrúðnismál" Odin asks the Giant Vafþrúðnir about the origin of Ymir. Vafþrúðnir answers:

:Ór Élivagom:stukko eitrdropar,:svá óx, unz varð ór iötunn;:þar órar ættir:kómu allar saman,:því er þat æ allt til atalt.

Rough translation:

:From Éliwaves:Eitrdrops splashed:that grew into a giant:who begat all families:from which all [giants] come:that is why we are easily angered

The last line of the stanza in "Vafþrúðnismál" where Vafþrúðnir says "that is why we are easily angered", is a word-play with the meaning of the word "eitr", as it also means "anger"/"angry" (similar to "poison a relationship").

References

External links

* [http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/gg/ggtpar01.html Snorra-Edda: Gylfaginning]


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