Chapter 23

‘The third god is named Njord. He lives in heaven at the place called Noatun [Enclosure for Ships]. He rules over the movement of the winds, and he can calm sea and fire. One invokes him in seafaring and fishing. He is so rich and prosperous that he can grant wealth in lands or valuables to those who ask for his aid. Njord is not of the Æsir family. He was brought up in Vanaheim, but the Vanir sent him as a hostage to the gods. In return they took as a hostage from the Æsir the one called Hoenir, and his exchange contributed to the peace between the gods and the Vanir.

‘Njord has a wife called Skadi, the daughter of Thjazi the giant. Skadi wanted to live in the home that her father had owned up in the mountains at Thrymheim [Thunder Home]. But Njord wanted to be near the sea. They came to an agreement that they would stay nine nights in Thrymheim, and the next three nights at Noatun.¹ But when Njord returned to Noatun from the mountain, he said:

“Hateful for me are the mountains, I was not long there, only nine nights. The howling of wolves sounded ugly to me after the song of swans.”

‘Then Skadi said this:

“Sleep I could not on the sea beds for the screeching of the bird. That gull wakes me when from the wide sea he comes each morning.”

‘Then Skadi went up to the mountains and lived in Thrymheim. She travels much on skis, carries a bow and shoots wild animals. She is called the ski god or the ski lady, as is said:

Thrymheim it is called where Thjazi lived, the mighty giant. But now Skadi, pure bride of gods, lives in her father’s old house.

(The Lay of Grimnir. 11)