Other Ways to Name the Gods

How can you describe a god without using their name?

The Language of Poetry explains how to name the gods through their families, possessions, and deeds. Thor, for example, is “the son of Odin and Jord.” Instead of naming a god directly, a poet can tell us whose child they are.

Possessions give us another way to describe Thor: “the owner of Mjolnir.” He can also be called the owner of his belt. Other names point to the enemies he fights, such as “slayer of giants and giantesses.”

The goddess Idunn is called “Bragi’s wife” or “keeper of the apples.” These apples keep the gods from growing old. The book also lists “the giants’ stolen treasure,” a name recalling the time a giant carried her away.

A goddess can also be described using another goddess’s name. The poet adds words about the deeds, possessions, or family of the goddess they mean. These extra words give readers the clues they need to work out who she is.

Read commentaryHide commentary