Why Gold Is Called Tears or Hair

Why is gold called fire or tears?

In The Language of Poetry, Aegir invites the gods to a feast. Once they are seated, he has gold brought in and placed on the hall’s floor. The gold lights up the hall like fire. This explains why gold is called “Aegir’s fire.”

Other names for gold include “Glasir’s leaves,” “Sif’s hair,” and “Fulla’s headband.” “Freyja’s tears” is another. Poets can take the image of tears further, describing gold as rain, hail, or drops falling from Freyja’s eyes.

Gold is also called “the giants’ words” or “the giants’ voice.” The Language of Poetry gives examples of poems that use this name. It unravels their wording to explain which words stand for stones, giants, and gold.

Another name for gold is linked to King Holgi’s burial mound. The mound was built with alternating layers of gold and silver offerings and layers of earth and stones. The book therefore also lists “the covering of Holgi’s mound” as a name for gold.

Read commentaryHide commentary