The Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas on Aegir

Contents > Chapter Xx: Ægir

• attestation: Aegir (the sea), with his brothers Kari (air) and Loki (fire), belonged to an older dynasty of gods, ranked neither with Aesir, Vanas, giants, dwarfs, nor elves, but was omnipotent in his realm.

  "Ægir (the sea), like his brothers Kari (the air) and Loki (fire), is supposed to have belonged to an older dynasty of the gods, for he ranked neither with the Æsir, the Vanas, the giants, dwarfs, or elves, but was considered omnipotent within his realm."

• attestation: Ran, Aegir's sister-wife, whose name means 'robber', lurked near dangerous rocks to entangle mariners in her net and drown them; she was the goddess of death for those who perished at sea.

  "Ægir was mated with his sister, the goddess Ran, whose name means "robber," and who was as cruel, greedy, and insatiable as her husband. Her favourite pastime was to lurk near dangerous rocks, whither she enticed mariners, and there spread her net, her most prized possession, when, having entangled the men in its meshes and broken their vessels on the jagged cliffs, she would calmly draw them down into her cheerless realm."

• attestation: Aegir and Ran had nine daughters — the Waves or billow-maidens — who played at sea, being gentle or boisterous according to the Wind, their brother.

  "Ægir and Ran had nine beautiful daughters, the Waves, or billow-maidens, whose snowy arms and bosoms, long golden hair, deep-blue eyes, and willowy, sensuous forms were fascinating in the extreme."