Eldir

Eldir (Old Norse "fire-stoker") is a servant of Ægir in Norse mythology, and Loki's first verbal opponent in the poem Lokasenna (Loki's Flyting).[1]

According to John Lindow, "Eldir fits the character type of the outer guardian, often a herdsman as in Skírnismál (11–16) with whom someone contends before entering a place for the main confrontation".[2]

Name

The Old Norse name Eldir has been translated as 'fire-stoker'.[3]

Attestations

The beginning of Lokasenna (Loki's Flyting) tells that people greatly praised Ægir's two servants, and that Loki killed one of them, Fimafeng, out of jealousy. The murderer is then chased by the gods from Ægir's hall, and upon his return, Loki confronts Eldi and asks him what the Æsir are discussing in the hall. Eldir replies that they are judging their weapons and prowess, and adds that no one is a friend of Loki’s in words. Loki then announces that he about to enter the hall and blend mead with harmful power.[1]

[Eldir:] You know, if you enter Ægir’s hall,
To gaze on that feast,
If slander and calumny you pour into the hall of the æsir,
On you they will dry it.

[Loki:] You know, Eldir, if we two alone should
Contend with harmful words,
Rich will I be in answers
If you speak much about it.

— Snorri Sturluson, Lokasenna, stanzas 4–5 (Trans. J. Lindow, 2002).

Notes
  1. Lindow 2002, p. 107.
  2. Lindow 2002, p. 108.
  3. Orchard 1997, p. 37.
gollark: I'm not sure how this would work exactly, but it would probably have to mess with stars somehow.
gollark: Idea: recreational solar-system-destroying weaponry.
gollark: > I need a nuke to defend myselforbital bombardment > nukes
gollark: A good teacher can make it more interesting, and maybe inspire some students to care somehow, at least.
gollark: I think it *is* a fundamental issue. If you force people to learn things they don't care about and don't want to do, they'll do the bare minimum.

References
  • Lindow, John (2002). Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-983969-8.
  • Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 978-0-304-34520-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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