In Norse mythology, Vár or Vór (Old Norse, meaning either “pledge” or “beloved”) is a goddess associated with oaths and agreements. Vár is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources; the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson; and kennings found in skaldic poetry and a runicinscription. Scholars have proposed theories about the implications of the goddess.

In the Poetic Edda poem Þrymskviða, the blessed of Vár is invoked by the jötunn Þrymr after his “bride” (who is actually the god Thor disguised as the goddess Freyja) is hallowedwith the stolen hammer of Thor, Mjöllnir, at their wedding:

Benjamin Thorpe translation:Then said Thrym,the Thursars’s lord:Bring the hammer in,the bride to consecrate;lay Miöllniron the maiden’s knee;unite us each with otherby the hand of Vör.^[3]Henry Adams Bellows translation:Then loud spake Thrym,the giants’ leader:”Bring in the hammerto hallow the bride;On the maiden’s kneeslet Mjollnir lie,That us both the handof Vor may bless.”^[4]

In the chapter 35 of the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, High tells Gangleri (described as king Gylfi in disguise) about the ásynjur. High lists Vár ninth among the sixteen ásynjur he presents in the chapter and provides some information about her:

Ninth Var: she listens to people’s oaths and private agreements that women and men make between each other. Thus these contracts are called varar. She also punishes those who break them.

In Norse mythology, Vör (Old Norse, possibly “the careful one,” or “aware, careful”) is a goddess associated with wisdom. Vör is attested in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson; and twice in kennings employed in skaldic poetry. Scholars have proposed theories about the implications of the goddess.

In chapter 35 of the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, High provides brief descriptions of 16 ásynjur. High lists Vör tenth, and says that Vör is “wise and inquiring, so that nothing can be concealed from her.” High adds that a saying exists where “a woman becomes aware (vor) of something when she finds it out.” In chapter 75 of the Prose Edda bookSkáldskaparmál Vör appears within a list of 27 ásynjur names.

In Norse mythology, Gná is a goddess who runs errands in other worlds for the goddess Frigg and rides the flying, sea-treading horseHófvarpnir (Old Norse ”he who throws his hoofs about”, ”hoof-thrower” or “hoof kicker”). Gná and Hófvarpnir are attested in theProse Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. Scholarly theories have been proposed about Gná as a “goddess of fullness” and as potentially cognate to Fama from Roman mythology. Hófvarpnir and the eight-legged steed Sleipnir have been cited examples of transcendent horses in Norse mythology.

(Gná is the one with the spear on the picture of Frigg by Carl Emil Doeppler from 1882)

Kalevala “Sävelmä”