Gylfi
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In Norse mythology, Gylfi (Old Norse: [ˈɡylve]), Gylfe, Gylvi, or Gylve was the earliest recorded king of Sviþjoð, Sweden, in Scandinavia. He is known by the name Gangleri when appearing in disguise. The Danish tradition on Gylfi tells how he was tricked by Gefjon and her sons from Jötunheim, who were able to shapeshift into tremendous oxen.
The creation of Zealand
[edit]The Ynglinga saga section of Snorri's Heimskringla and the Eddic poem Ragnarsdrápa tell a legend of how Gylfi was seduced by the goddess Gefjon to give her as much land as she could plow in one night. Gefjon transformed her four sons into oxen and took enough land to create the Danish island of Zealand, leaving the Swedish lake Vänern.
Meeting the Æsir
[edit]
Gylfaginning in the Prose Edda and the Ynglinga saga tell how the supposedly historic (non-deified version) Odin and his people the Æsir and Vanir, who later became the Swedes, obtained new land where they built the settlement of Old Sigtuna. In Snorri's account Gylfi is supposedly deluded by the Æsir into accepting their religion; hence the name "Gylfaginning",[1] most often interpreted as the "deluding of Gylfi", although '-ginning' is regarded the same as what we recognise in "beginning", thus "the origin of Gylfi" is also possible. Gylfi and the remaining older bronze-age inhabitants of the land then supposedly adopted the religion of the Æsir and began to live under their rule. Snorri presents an outline of Norse mythology through a dialogue between Gylfi and three rulers of the Æsir.
It is possible that Snorri's account is based on an old tradition tracing particular beliefs or foundations of particular Norse cults to this legendary Gylfi. However, it is much more likely that the historic King Gylfi was simply already a follower of the ancient Norse religion and, as such, could easily have passed on these beliefs or stories.
Other appearances
[edit]In one version of Hervarar saga, king Gylfi married his daughter Heiðr to Sigrlami, the king of Garðaríki (Russia).[2] Heiðr and Sigrlami had the son Svafrlami, who forced the two dwarves Dvalin and Durin to forge the magic sword Tyrfing.
A Gylfi is attested in the lineage of sea-kings in Hversu Noregr byggðist, a saga sketching out an origin myth of Norway, where he appears as the brother of Glamma, eponymous of the longest river in Norway, now spelled Glomma, sons of Geitir, apparently one of four sons of Gor the brother of Nór, eponymous first king of Nórway. The connection with Glamma is interesting regarding how Gylfi is attested in Ynglinga saga particularly connecting him to the longest river system in Scandinavia, now carrying four different names beginning as Femund river and Trysil river in Norway, then Klarälven in Sweden, above the rather big lake Vänern into which it drains, central to the story of Gefjon in Ynglinga saga, and finally Göta älv that drains lake Vänern into the Kattegat, at the city of Gothenburg, on the western coast of Sweden. Hversu Noregr byggðist is loaded with eponymous tales to such an extent that to not connect this Gylfi with this river system would be kind of ignorant. One will find some common sources of the drainage-system forming the signified rivers in the Mountain-region of Norway, turning into Rena River as a tributary to Glomma, and Femund River, as a tributary to Kläraälven. The lake Korssjøen which drains to the east into the Femund River and the drainage system reaching the sea by Gothenburg in Sweden, and the lake Narsjøen that drains to the north into Nørå River and Glomma running south, reaching the sea close to Fredrikstad by the Oslofjord.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Gylfa being the oblique singular cases (in this instance genitive) of Gylfi
- ^ Sigrlami átti Heiði, dóttur Gylfa konungs; þau attu sun saman, sá hèt Svafrlami. Archived 2007-05-19 at the Wayback Machine in N. M. Petersen's edition of Hervarar saga.
Gylfi
View on GrokipediaName and Etymology
Linguistic Origins
The name Gylfi originates from Old Norse, where it appears as the designation for a legendary figure in medieval Icelandic literature, particularly in Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda. Variations in spelling, such as Gylfe, Gylvi, and Gylve, occur across different Icelandic manuscripts of the Prose Edda, reflecting orthographic differences in 13th- and 14th-century scribal practices.[6] Linguistically, Gylfi is potentially derived from the Old Norse noun gjálfr, meaning "the din of the sea" or "swelling waves," a poetic term denoting the roaring sound of ocean waves.[7] This word traces back to Proto-Germanic roots associated with vocalization or noise, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root ghel-, connoting "to call" or "cry out," as evidenced in comparative studies of Germanic languages where cognates like Old Norse gjalp ("yelping, boasting") appear.[8] The association with "howler" aligns with this etymological lineage, evoking sounds of natural force. Such derivations are based on comparative linguistics, but the name's mythological usage may have influenced its form beyond strict semantic origins. Connections to geographic features are suggested by similar-sounding place names in Scandinavia, such as potential echoes in Swedish and Norwegian toponyms, which could indicate historic or folkloric inspirations for the name's adoption in narrative traditions.[9]Interpretations of the Name
The name Gylfi has been subject to various scholarly interpretations that seek to uncover symbolic meanings tied to his role in Norse mythological narratives. Another interpretation connects the name to themes of delusion and bewitchment, drawing from the title Gylfaginning in the Prose Edda, which translates as "the deluding (or beguiling) of Gylfi." Here, "gylf-" is seen as evoking enchantment or trickery, reflecting the king's deception by the Æsir and symbolizing the illusory nature of pagan beliefs in a Christian-framed text.[10] This ties into philological analyses emphasizing Gylfi's narrative function as a figure ensnared by divine illusion, underscoring themes of mortal folly. These interpretations highlight the name's potential to encapsulate both natural forces and spiritual deception in Norse cosmology.Role as King of Sweden
Early Reign and Encounters with the Æsir
In the Ynglinga Saga, the opening narrative of Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla, Gylfi is portrayed as the inaugural king of Sviþjóð, the ancient name for Sweden.[11] This depiction establishes Gylfi as a foundational figure in the euhemerized history of Scandinavian royalty, embodying the transition from legendary to more structured kingship in the region.[12] His rule is characterized by wisdom and hospitality, qualities that later influence his interactions with incoming powers. Gylfi's early reign involves initial contact with emissaries from the Æsir, beginning with Gefjon, whom Odin dispatched to scout lands; in a display of generosity, Gylfi granted her as much territory as four oxen could plow in a day, unaware of her divine connections.[11] This act set the stage for broader encounters, as Odin and his followers soon arrived in Sweden, drawn by reports of its prosperity.[11] Recognizing the Æsir's formidable skills in enchantments and deceptions, Gylfi, despite his own reputed magical prowess, chose not to resist and instead offered them homage, forging a peaceful alliance.[11] Under this arrangement, the Æsir integrated into Swedish society, with Odin establishing a grand temple at Sigtuna for sacrifices modeled on Asaland customs, thereby introducing new religious observances.[11] Gylfi's deference facilitated the allocation of domains to key Æsir figures, such as Njörðr at Noatun and Freyr at Uppsala, marking a pivotal shift toward the veneration of these deities through formalized rituals and temples.[11] In the saga's euhemeristic framework, Gylfi thus serves as a historical intermediary, linking indigenous Swedish governance with the Æsir's influence and the evolution of Norse cult practices.[12]The Gefjon Legend and Zealand's Creation
In the mythological account preserved in the Ynglinga Saga, part of Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla, King Gylfi of Sweden encounters the goddess Gefjon, who arrives as a beggar woman seeking hospitality. Impressed by her entertainment, Gylfi promises her as much land as four oxen can plough in a day and a night.[11] Gefjon, acting on behalf of the Æsir and sent by Odin to scout new territories, travels to Jötunheimr, where she bears four sons by a giant and transforms them into exceptionally strong oxen. Yoking these sons to a plough, she carves out a vast portion of Swedish soil, dragging it westward across the sea to form the island of Sjælland (Zealand) in Denmark, opposite the island of Odinsøy in Fyn.[11] This act underscores Gylfi's unwitting generosity, as the land gifted far exceeds ordinary expectations due to Gefjon's divine cunning and ties to the Æsir pantheon. A parallel narrative appears in the Skáldskaparmál section of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, where Gylfi similarly rewards the disguised Gefjon with a ploughgate of land for her pleasing performance. There, too, she employs her four giant-born ox-sons to detach the territory, hauling it to the sea to create Zealand, leaving behind a massive depression in Sweden that becomes Lake Mälaren, with its bays precisely mirroring the island's promontories (though some translations of the Ynglinga Saga name Vänern or Laage).[13] The topographical details emphasize the myth's explanatory role: Zealand's irregular coastline and fertile plains result from this supernatural ploughing, while the Mälaren Valley's lowlands and the lake's inlets represent the remnants of the excavated earth, linking Swedish and Danish landscapes in a shared origin story.[13] The legend is further attested in the ninth-century skaldic poem Ragnarsdrápa by Bragi inn gamli Boddason, quoted in both the Ynglinga Saga and Skáldskaparmál, which celebrates Gefjon's feat and reinforces her Æsir connections:Gefjon from Gylfi drove away,This verse highlights the oxen-sons' monstrous features—four heads and eight eyes—symbolizing their giant heritage and the extraordinary scale of the endeavour, while portraying Gylfi's offer as a pivotal moment of territorial transfer driven by divine deception.
To add new land to Denmark's sway --
Blythe Gefjon ploughing in the smoke
That steamed up from her oxen-yoke:
Four heads, eight forehead stars had they,
Bright gleaming, as she ploughed away;
Dragging new lands from the deep main
To join them to the sweet isle's plain.[11][13]