Sea giant and feast-host for the gods.
Aegir (Old Norse Ægir) is a sea giant who hosts feasts for the Aesir. In Hymiskviða Thor procures a cauldron large enough for Aegir to brew ale, and in Lokasenna Loki's insults take place at Aegir's feast. Aegir is associated with the riches of the sea and with the art of brewing.
Aegir and his wife Ran have nine daughters who personify the waves of the sea. His hall on the ocean floor is lit by gleaming gold. In Skáldskaparmál the kenning 'Aegir's fire' denotes gold. Aegir is portrayed as friendly toward the gods, unlike most other giants.
Sources in the Eddas
- Lokasenna, prolog
- Aegir's feast for the gods provides the setting for Loki's flyting.
- Hymiskviða 1–4
- The gods demand Aegir brew ale; Thor fetches a giant cauldron for him.
Interpretive traditions
A What we know
Aegir is a sea giant who hosts feasts for the gods (Lokasenna, Hymiskviða).
B What we think we know
Whether Aegir is a giant, a god, or a personification of the sea varies among scholars.