View source for Gungnir

{{short description|Spear of the Norse god Odin}}
{{about|the mythological weapon|the video game|Gungnir (video game)}}
<!--ATTENTION! Please do NOT change "spear" to "javelin" on this article—Gungnir is generally recognized as a spear and translated as a spear in most translations. Thank you.--->
[[File:Odin-Lawrie-Highsmith.jpeg|thumb|right|upright|[[Lee Lawrie]], ''Odin'' (1939). Library of Congress [[John Adams Building]], Washington, D.C.]]

In [[Norse mythology]], '''Gungnir''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|ʌ|ŋ|.|n|ɪər}}, "the rocking") is the [[spear]] of the god [[Odin]]. It is known for always hitting the target of the attacker regardless of the attacker's skill.

==Attestations==
===''Poetic Edda''===
In the Poetic Edda poem ''[[Völuspá]]'', the [[Æsir-Vanir War]] is described as officially starting when Odin throws a spear over the heads of an assembly of [[Vanir]] gods. Whether or not this was specifically Gungnir is, however, unstated. In ''[[Sigrdrífumál]]'', the [[valkyrie]] [[Sigrdrífa]] advises [[Sigurd]] on the magical application of [[Runic alphabet|runes]]. She gives Sigurd advice and shares with him lore, including that runes were carved on the tip of Gungnir.

===''Prose Edda''===
According to chapter 51 of the ''[[Prose Edda]]'' book, ''[[Gylfaginning]]'', Odin will ride in front of the [[Einherjar]] while advancing on to the battle field at [[Ragnarök]] wearing a gold helmet, an impressive cloak of [[Mail (armour)|mail]] and carrying Gungnir. He will then attack the wolf [[Fenrir]] with it.

In ''[[Skáldskaparmál]]'', more information regarding the spear is presented. The spear was fashioned by the [[Dwarf (Germanic mythology)|dwarves]] known as the [[Sons of Ivaldi]] under the mastery of the blacksmith dwarf [[Dvalinn]]. The spear was obtained from the dwarfs by [[Loki]], the result of a scheme he concocted as a partial reparation for his cutting of the goddess [[Sif]]'s hair. The spear is described as being so well balanced that it could strike any target, no matter the skill or strength of the wielder.

==Archaeological record==
If the rider on horseback on the image on the [[Böksta Runestone]] has been identified as Odin, then Odin is shown carrying Gungnir while hunting an elk.<ref name="SILEN88-91">Silén (1993:88–91).</ref>

==In the ''Ring of the Nibelung''==
In [[Richard Wagner]]'s opera cycle, ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen]]'', Wotan's (Odin's) spear is made from the wood of the [[world tree]], the [[ash tree]] [[Yggdrasil]], and engraved with the contracts from which Wotan's power derives. He uses the spear to break the sword of [[Sigmund|Siegmund]], leading to Siegmund's death. When he later tries to bar Siegmund's son [[Sigurd|Siegfried]] from awakening [[Brünnhilde]] from her magic sleep, Siegfried breaks the spear in two and Wotan flees. In the concluding opera ''[[Götterdämmerung]]'' Wotan is said to have returned to his stronghold [[Valhalla]] with the broken spear and withdrawn from worldly matters.

==See also==
* [[Bracteate]]
* [[Gáe Bulg|Gae Bolga]], the Irish legendary hero [[Cú Chulainn]]'s similar magic spear
* [[Migration period spear]]
* SAAB [[RBS 15]] Mk. IV Gungnir long-range fire-and-forget surface-to-surface and air-to-surface anti-ship missile.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*Orchard, Andy (1997). ''Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend''. [[Cassell (publisher)|Cassell]]. {{ISBN|0-304-34520-2}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Silén |first=Lars |title=Några Reflektioner Angående Bilderna på Balingsta-Stenen i Uppland |journal=[[Fornvännen]] |volume=78 |pages=88–91 |publisher=[[Swedish National Heritage Board]] |year=1983 |url=http://fornvannen.se/pdf/1980talet/1983_088.pdf |issn=1404-9430 |access-date=2010-01-28}}

== External links ==
* {{commonscat-inline|Gungnir}}

{{Odin}}
{{Norse mythology}}

[[Category:Mythological Norse weapons]]
[[Category:Odin]]
[[Category:Spears]]
[[Category:Yggdrasil]]
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