Sjöfn

In Norse mythology, Sjöfn is a goddess associated with love. Sjöfn is attested in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson; and in three kennings employed in skaldic poetry. Scholars have proposed theories about the implications of the goddess.

Attestations

In chapter 35 of the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, High provides brief descriptions of 16 ásynjur. High lists Sjöfn seventh, and says that Sjöfn is "concerned to direct people's minds to love, both women and men." In addition, High states that from Sjöfn's name comes the Old Norse word sjafni.[1] In the Nafnaþulur section appended to the Prose Edda book Skáldskaparmál, chapter 75, Sjöfn is included in a list of 27 names of ásynjur.[2] Otherwise, the name Sjöfn is thrice employed as a base word in skaldic kennings for "woman".[3]

Theories

Regarding the information given about Sjöfn in Gylfaginning, John Lindow says that the word sjafni does indeed appear listed in the þulur as a word for "love", yet that outside of this description no information about the goddess is known. Lindow states that some scholars theorize that Sjöfn may be the goddess Frigg under another name.[3] Rudolf Simek says that Snorri may have derived his etymology of Sjöfn from the Old Norse words sefi ("sense") or from sefi (possibly "relation"), but that the scant references to Sjöfn do not allow for much more of an elaborate explanation for the goddess. Simek says that, accordingly, Sjöfn is viewed as a goddess of "marriage and love, or else one of relationships" and that Sjöfn is among several goddesses mentioned in the Prose Edda "who are matron-like guardian-goddesses."[4]

Modern culture

'Sjofn' is the name of an album by the Finnish band Gjallarhorn, released in 2000.[5]

Sjöfn appears as a regular character in the New Zealand television series The Almighty Johnsons, played by Michelle Langstone. In the series, the goddess has been reincarnated as a human.[6]

Sjöfn is the name of a folk singer based in Alaska.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Faulkes (1995:30).
  2. ↑ Faulkes (1995:157).
  3. 1 2 Lindow (1995:268).
  4. ↑ Simek (2007:286).
  5. ↑ Steven McDonald. "Sjofn - Gjallarhorn - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  6. ↑ "The Almighty Johnsons". thealmightyjohnsons.co.nz.
  7. ↑ Sjofn's debut album came out in 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2012.

Bibliography

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