Guards Frigg's hall doors. Denies entry at assemblies.
Syn (Old Norse Syn) is an Asynja described by Snorri in Gylfaginning 35. She guards the door to Frigg's hall and bars those who lack permission to enter. Snorri further states that she is invoked at assemblies as a defense against charges one wishes to deny, and that the expression 'a denial is set forth' derives from her name.
Syn personifies refusal and boundary-guarding, both physically and legally. Beyond Gylfaginning her name appears in Nafnaþulur as an Asynja-kenning. No independent myths about her survive.
Sources in the Eddas
- Gylfaginning 35
- Snorri describes Syn as the Asynja who guards Frigg's hall doors and bars the unauthorized.
Interpretive traditions
A What we know
Syn guards Frigg's hall doors and denies entry (Gylfaginning 35).
B What we think we know
Whether Syn had a role in actual assembly proceedings or only in Snorri's presentation is uncertain.
C What we do not know
Syn's cult and older traditions are undocumented.