Gríðr
Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:Characters of Gesta Danorum Gríðr (Old Norse: Template:IPA) often anglicized as Gríd, is a jötunn in Norse mythology. She is the mother of Víðarr the silent and the consort of Odin.Template:Sfn Saturn's moon Gridr was named after her.
Name
The poetic Old Norse name Gríðr has been translated as "vehemence, violence, or impetuosity".Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn Its etymology is unclear.Template:Sfn
Attestations
Prose Edda
In Skáldskaparmál (The Language of Poetry), Gríðr is portrayed as equipping the thunder god Thor with her belt of strength, her iron glove, and her staff Gríðarvöl (Gríðr's-staff) on Thor's journey to the abode of Geirröðr.Template:Sfn
Template:Poem quote Gríðr is also mentioned in a list of troll-wives ("I shall list the names of troll-wives. Grid and Gnissa, Gryla...").Template:Sfn
Skaldic poetry
Gríðarvöl (Gríðr's staff) is also mentioned in the poem Þórsdrápa by the late-10th-century skald Eilífr Goðrúnarson.Template:Sfn Template:Poem quote
Gríðr appears in 10th-century kennings for 'wolf' (the steed of troll-wife) and for 'axe' (that which is dangerous to the life-protector, i.e. shield or helmet).Template:Sfn Template:Poem quote Template:Poem quote
Other texts
Saxo Grammaticus refers to her as Grytha, the wife of the legendary king Dan I of Denmark, "a lady whom the Teutons accorded the highest honour".Template:Sfn A witch of the same name appears in Illuga saga Gríðarfóstra.Template:Sfn Template:Kings of Gesta Danorum family tree
Theory
Her role as the donor of information and necessary items to the hero has been analyzed by folklorists as a commonplace of folk narrative.Template:Sfn