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

Contents > Chapter Iii: Frigga

• attestation: Gefjon received all those who died unwedded and married one of the giants, by whom she had four sons she transformed into oxen.

  "Gefjon was also one of the maidens in Frigga's palace, and to her were entrusted all those who died unwedded, whom she received and made happy for ever.

According to some authorities, Gefjon did not remain a virgin herself, but married one of the giants, by whom she had four sons."

• attestation: Odin sent Gefjon to King Gylfi of Sweden to beg for land; he promised as much as she could plough around in a day and night. She used her four giant-sons as oxen to plough a vast tract that became Seeland.

  "Odin sent her before him to visit Gylfi, King of Sweden, and to beg for some land which she might call her own. The king, amused at her request, promised her as much land as she could plough around in one day and night. Gefjon, nothing daunted, changed her four sons into oxen, harnessed them to a plough, and began to cut a furrow so wide and deep that the king and his courtiers were amazed."

• attestation: The hole left by Gefjon's ploughing filled with water and became Lake Malar, whose inlets correspond to Seeland's headlands.

  "As for the hollow she left behind her, it was quickly filled with water and formed a lake, at first called Logrum (the sea), but now known as Mölar, whose every indentation corresponds with the headlands of Seeland."

• attestation: Gefjon then married Skiold, one of Odin's sons, and became ancestress of the royal Danish Skioldung dynasty, dwelling at Hleidra which she founded.

  "Gefjon then married Skiold, one of Odin's sons, and became the ancestress of the royal Danish race of Skioldungs, dwelling in the city of Hleidra or Lethra, which she founded, and which became the principal place of sacrifice for the heathen Danes."