Numbers in Norse mythology
Numbers are significant in Norse mythology although not to the extent which they are in some traditions e.g. as in Jewish kabbalism.
Particularly significant numbers are three, eight, and nine.
Three
The number three is both an invocatory and magic number:
The number three occurs with great frequency in grouping individuals and artefacts:
- There are three Norns.
- Odin had two brothers, Vili and Ve; i.e. there were three siblings.
- Yggdrasil has three roots, and three is the square root of the number of worlds on Yggdrasil, nine.
- In the Gylfaginning in the Younger Edda, King Gylfi is confronted by a triple throne at the false home of the gods, one being seated and occupied atop another.
- Loki has three malign progeny by the giantess Angerboda: the wolf, Fenrir; the world-serpent, Jormungand; and Hel.
- Prior to Ragnarok there will be three hard winters without an intervening summer, the Fimbulwinter.
- The wolf Fenrir was bound by three chains, Lœding, Drómi, and Gleipnir, of which only the last held him.
- When Loki is bound with three bonds made from the entrails of his son through holes in three upright slabs of rock, one under his shoulders, one under his loins, and one under the backs of his knees.
Eight
- Odin's steed, Sleipnir, has eight legs.
- Odin's ring Draupnir gives forth eight more similar rings every ninth night.
- In the guise of Grimnir in the Grimnismál, Odin awaits the attention of King Geirroth for eight days before causing his death
Nine
The number nine is also a magically significant number:
- When Odin sacrificed himself to himself, he hung upon the gallows for nine days and nine nights. In return, he learned eighteen (twice nine) charms (or runes).
- There are nine worlds that are supported by Yggdrasil.
- Every ninth year, people from all over Sweden assembled at the Temple at Uppsala to sacrifice both male slaves and male animals.
- The god-guardian of the Bifrost Bridge, Heimdall is said to have been the son of nine mothers, possibly the nine daughter of Aegir identified as the waves of the sea.
- In the Skirnismal Freyr is obliged to wait nine nights to consummate his union with Gerd.
- In the Svipdagsmál, the witch Groa grants nine charms to her son Svipdag.
- In Fjolsvinnsmal Laegarn's chest is fastened up with nine locks.
See also
A common problem when researching things Norse is that the spelling of names varies much depending on one's country of origin. In the articles presented here, several common forms of the names will be presented. For more information see:
