Meili
Encyclopedia
In Norse mythology
, Meili (Old Norse
"the lovely one") is a god
, son of the god Odin
and brother of the god Thor
. Meili is attested in the Poetic Edda
, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda
, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson
. Other than Meili's relation to Odin and Thor, no additional information is provided about the deity in either source.
Although Meili's mother is not attested, some 19th century scholars produced theories that Meili's mother is Jörð
. Also during the 19th century, Viktor Rydberg
theorized that Baldr and Meili are one and the same.
, Meili receives a single mention; the god Thor declares that, even if he were an outlaw, he would reveal his name and his homeland, for he is the son of Odin, the brother of Meili, and the father of Magni
.
Meili receives four mentions in the Prose Edda book Skáldskaparmál
. In chapter 17, verses from the poem Haustlöng
(attributed to the 10th century skald
Þjóðólfr of Hvinir
) are provided, where Thor is referred to as "Meili's brother." In chapter 22, additional quotes from Haustlöng are provided where a kenning
is employed for the god Hœnir
that refers to Meili ("step-Meili"). In chapter 23, a quote by a work from the skald Þjóðólfr of Hvinir
is provided that refers to Thor as "Meili's brother". In chapter 75, Meili is listed among names of the Æsir
and as a son of Odin (between the god Baldr and the god Víðarr).
, a goddess and the personified Earth. Also during the 19th century, Viktor Rydberg
theorized that Baldr and Meili are one and the same.
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
, Meili (Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
"the lovely one") is a god
Æsir
In Old Norse, áss is the term denoting a member of the principal pantheon in Norse paganism. This pantheon includes Odin, Frigg, Thor, Baldr and Tyr. The second pantheon comprises the Vanir...
, son of the god Odin
Sons of Odin
Various gods and men appear as Sons of Odin or Sons of Wodan/Wotan or Sons of Woden in old Old Norse and Old High German and Old English texts.-Thor, Baldur, and Váli:...
and brother of the god Thor
Thor
In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
. Meili is attested in the Poetic Edda
Poetic Edda
The Poetic Edda is a collection of Old Norse poems primarily preserved in the Icelandic mediaeval manuscript Codex Regius. Along with Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, the Poetic Edda is the most important extant source on Norse mythology and Germanic heroic legends, and from the early 19th century...
, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda
Prose Edda
The Prose Edda, also known as the Younger Edda, Snorri's Edda or simply Edda, is an Icelandic collection of four sections interspersed with excerpts from earlier skaldic and Eddic poetry containing tales from Nordic mythology...
, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...
. Other than Meili's relation to Odin and Thor, no additional information is provided about the deity in either source.
Although Meili's mother is not attested, some 19th century scholars produced theories that Meili's mother is Jörð
Jörð
In Norse mythology, Jörð and also called Jarð as in Old East Norse, is a female jötunn. She is the mother of Thor and Meili, and the personification of the Earth. Fjörgyn and Hlôdyn are considered to be other names for Jörð...
. Also during the 19th century, Viktor Rydberg
Viktor Rydberg
Abraham Viktor Rydberg was a Swedish writer and a member of the Swedish Academy, 1877-1895...
theorized that Baldr and Meili are one and the same.
Attestations
In the Poetic Edda poem HárbarðsljóðHárbarðsljóð
Hárbarðsljóð is one of the poems of the Poetic Edda, found in the Codex Regius and AM 748 I 4to manuscripts. It is a flyting poem with figures from Norse mythology-Synopsis:...
, Meili receives a single mention; the god Thor declares that, even if he were an outlaw, he would reveal his name and his homeland, for he is the son of Odin, the brother of Meili, and the father of Magni
Magni
Magni may refer to:* Magni Ásgeirsson, an Icelandic singer/musician and a contestant in the CBS show Rock Star: Supernova* Magnicharters, a short word for an airline company.* Móði and Magni, the sons of Thor and Sif in Norse mythology...
.
Meili receives four mentions in the Prose Edda book Skáldskaparmál
Skáldskaparmál
The second part of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda the Skáldskaparmál or "language of poetry" is effectively a dialogue between the Norse god of the sea, Ægir and Bragi, the god of poetry, in which both Norse mythology and discourse on the nature of poetry are intertwined...
. In chapter 17, verses from the poem Haustlöng
Haustlöng
Haustlöng is a skaldic poem composed around the beginning of the 10th century. The poem is preserved in the 13th century Prose Edda, which quotes two groups of stanzas from it, and is attributed to the Norwegian skald Þjóðólfr of Hvinir. The poem describes mythological scenes painted on a shield...
(attributed to the 10th century skald
Skald
The skald was a member of a group of poets, whose courtly poetry is associated with the courts of Scandinavian and Icelandic leaders during the Viking Age, who composed and performed renditions of aspects of what we now characterise as Old Norse poetry .The most prevalent metre of skaldic poetry is...
Þjóðólfr of Hvinir
Þjóðólfr of Hvinir
Þjóðólfr of Hvinir was a Norwegian skald, active around the year 900. He is considered to have been the original author of Ynglingatal, a poem glorifying the Norwegian petty king Ragnvald the Mountain-High, by describing how he was descended from the Swedish kings and the Norse gods.He is also...
) are provided, where Thor is referred to as "Meili's brother." In chapter 22, additional quotes from Haustlöng are provided where a kenning
Kenning
A kenning is a type of literary trope, specifically circumlocution, in the form of a compound that employs figurative language in place of a more concrete single-word noun. Kennings are strongly associated with Old Norse and later Icelandic and Anglo-Saxon poetry...
is employed for the god Hœnir
Hœnir
In Norse mythology, Hœnir is one of the Æsir. He is mentioned as the one who helped Odin to create humans.- Attestations :In Ynglinga saga, along with Mímir, he went to the Vanir as a hostage to seal a truce after the Æsir-Vanir War...
that refers to Meili ("step-Meili"). In chapter 23, a quote by a work from the skald Þjóðólfr of Hvinir
Þjóðólfr of Hvinir
Þjóðólfr of Hvinir was a Norwegian skald, active around the year 900. He is considered to have been the original author of Ynglingatal, a poem glorifying the Norwegian petty king Ragnvald the Mountain-High, by describing how he was descended from the Swedish kings and the Norse gods.He is also...
is provided that refers to Thor as "Meili's brother". In chapter 75, Meili is listed among names of the Æsir
Æsir
In Old Norse, áss is the term denoting a member of the principal pantheon in Norse paganism. This pantheon includes Odin, Frigg, Thor, Baldr and Tyr. The second pantheon comprises the Vanir...
and as a son of Odin (between the god Baldr and the god Víðarr).
Theories
Some 19th century scholars theorized that Meili's mother is JörðJörð
In Norse mythology, Jörð and also called Jarð as in Old East Norse, is a female jötunn. She is the mother of Thor and Meili, and the personification of the Earth. Fjörgyn and Hlôdyn are considered to be other names for Jörð...
, a goddess and the personified Earth. Also during the 19th century, Viktor Rydberg
Viktor Rydberg
Abraham Viktor Rydberg was a Swedish writer and a member of the Swedish Academy, 1877-1895...
theorized that Baldr and Meili are one and the same.