Jotunn: Norse Giants of Ice
The giants (jötunn, plural jötnar), immense and generally hostile, play a primordial role in the Nordic myths.
They generally represent the forces of Chaos and Evil against whose influence the gods must fight to maintain order in their universe. The Ice Giants were born from the sweat that flowed from Ymir's armpits.
When he died under the blows of Odin and his brothers, most of the other giants drowned in his blood, except for Bergelmir and his wife, who hid in a hollow log and gave birth to the second line of giants.
Their relations with the gods are often complex. If the gods have to protect themselves from the giants, they are not always enemies.
They can sometimes be positive, and moreover the gods often have female giants for mistresses or wives.
Freyr marries Gerd, the daughter of a giant and Njord marries Skadi, also a giantess. Odin, himself a descendant of a giant, has several giantesses as lovers.
However, in most stories, when there is a giant, Thor's hammer is not far from smashing his skull.
Here is a list of the most famous Norse Giants of Ice :
ALSVID
Very learned giant who had the secret knowledge of the Runes.
ANGRBODA
Wife of Loki, she gave birth to several monsters who actively participated in the Ragnarök.
ANGEYJA,
One of the nine mothers of Heimdall according to the Hyndluljodh.
ATLA,
One of the nine mothers of Heimdall according to the Hyndluljodh.
AURBODA
Wife of Gymir, gave birth to the very beautiful Gerd with whom Frey was madly in love.
GodAURGELMIR
Other name of Ymir.
God BAUGI,
Son of Gilling who pierced the mountain Hnitbjörg to give some mead to Odin
God BELI
He attacked Frey unarmed but the latter managed to kill him with a deer antler.
God BERGELMIR
He took refuge with his wife in a hollow water trunk when the earth was submerged by the blood of Aurgelmir. With his wife he gave birth to the second race of the frost giants.
BESTLA
Wife of Bor with whom she had three sons, the Aesir Odin, Vili and Vé.
God BILLING
Father of a young girl that Odin tried to seduce but only found the bitch of his mistress during the meeting.
God BOLTHORN
Father of Bestla
BUR
He appeared when Audhmula licked the salty frost.
BURR
Son of Buri and father of the three great gods Odin, Vili and Vé.
God EGGTHER,
Sitting on a mound, he played the harp accompanied by the crowing of the rooster Fjalarr which announced the beginning of Ragnarök.
EISTLA,
One of the nine mothers of Heimdall according to the Hyndluljodh.
EYRGJAFA,
One of the nine mothers of Heimdall according to the Hyndluljodh.
FARBAUTI
She and Laufey had three sons, Byleist, Helblindi and the prankster Loki.
FENIA,
Servant of king Frodi, she operated with Menia the wheel of the mill Grotti.
God FIOLNIR,
Giant who built the wall of enclosure for the virgin Menglod.
God FIOLSVID,
Builder of Gastropnir, the hall of Menglad.
FÖNN,
Daughter of king Snaer.
God FORNJOTR
He is the father of Hlér (Sea), Logi (Fire) and Kari (Wind)
God GANG
One of the sons of Ovaldi, with his brothers Thiazi and Idi they shared a huge gold treasure.
God GEIRROED
captured Loki who promised to send him Thor without his weapons in exchange for his freedom.
GIALP,
daughter of Geirroed who tried to drown Thor by urinating in the river Vimur.
God GILLING,
Giant that the Dwarves Fjalar and Galar drowned to get the mead. (see the legend of Kvasir )
GREIP,
Daughter of Geirroed who tried to kill Thor
GRID
He lent Thor his staff and his belt of strength while he was unarmed to go to see Geirroed.
GUNNLOD
Daughter of Suttung who entrusted her with the custody of the mead hidden under the mountain Hnitbjörg.
HEFRING,
One of the nine mothers of Heimdall.
GodHRIMGRIMNIR,
Giant who lives in Helheim and whose Skirnir threatened Gerd to hand him over if she did not take Frey as her husband.
God HRIMTHURS
He built the walls around Asgard
HRONN,
One of the nine mothers of Heimdall.
God HRUNGNIR
He made a horse race against Odin, then invited to Asgard he was unpleasant and had to fight against Thor.
GodHUGI
Giant who is part of the challenge between Utgardaloki and Thor and who is in fact the spirit of the king of the giants.
God HYMIR,
He participated with Thor in the fishing of the snake Jormungand, but he cut the line when the monster bit the bait.
HYNDLA
Giantess who had great genealogical knowledge and whom Freyja mocked by transforming her husband into a boar.
HYRROKKIN
She managed to push Balder's funeral boat into the water.
God IDI
One of the sons of Ovaldi, with his brothers Thiazi and Gang they shared a huge gold treasure.
IMD,
One of the nine mothers of Heimdall according to the Hyndluljodh.
JARNSAXA,
Mistress of Loki with whom she had two children. Would also be the name of one of the nine mothers of Heimdall according to the Hyndluljodh.
JOTUNS or ETIN or EOTON or THURSES,
Generic name of the Giants.
God KARI,
One of the sons of Fornjotr.
LAUFEY or NAL
She and Farbauti had three sons, Byleist, Helblindi and the prankster Loki.
God LOKI
Son of the giant Farbauti and Laufey, Loki appears as a prankster god.
MENIA,
Servant of king Frodi, she operated with Fenia the wheel of the mill Grotti.
God MIMIR
Giant who possessed the Knowledge that he drew from the spring Mimisbrunn
God NARFI,
Son of Loki and father of Nott.
GodOVALDI,
Father of Idi, Gang and Thiazi who had a huge gold treasure.
SINMORA,
Wife of Surt; she holds a box, Laegjarn, which contains the fabulous sword, Laevetein.
SKADI
Daughter of Thiazi and goddess of skiing who became the wife of Njord
God SKRYMIR
Giant or illusion created by Utgarda-Loki that Thor and Odin met when they visited Iotunheim.
SOKKMIMIR
Another name of Mimir, the Giant of the source of knowledge.
God SURT
Giant of fire who carried a sword as bright as the sun, and who will set the whole world on fire during the Ragnarök. He is the guardian of Muspell, the world of fire.
God SUTTUNG
Son of Gilling who stole the mead and hid it in the mountain Hnitbjörg under the care of his daughter, Gunnlod.
God SVARTHOFDI
Descendant of Ymir.
God THIAZI
Son of Ovaldi who stole the apples of Iduun's youth.
THOKK
She refused to shed a tear to bring Balder back from Hel's domain.
THORRI God
Son of Snaer and father of Norr, Gorr and Goi.
God THRIVALDI
Nine-headed giant fought by Thor.
God THRYM
He stole Mjollnir, Thor's hammer and wanted to exchange it for Freyja. Thor disguised as a bride smashed his head.
GodTRUDGELMIR
Six-headed giant born from Aurgelmir (Ymir) and father of Bergelmir.
God UTGARDA-LOKI,
King of the giants who defied Thor three times. Thanks to magic, Utgardaloki won the three challenges but he recognized that Thor had enough power to threaten the country of the giants.
God VAFTHRUDNIR
He participated in a contest against Odin but did not find the last question.
God YMIR
Giant born from the condensation of hot and cold clouds. He was killed by Odin, Vili and Vé. His body was used to form the universe.
