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Byggvir is a figure in Norse mythology. The only surviving mention of Byggvir appears in the prose beginning of Lokasenna, and stanzas 55 through 56 of the same poem, where he is referred to as one of Freyr's servants and as the husband of Beyla.

Bygg is the Old Norse word for barley. Subsequently, Byggvir is often identified with this etymology of his name and connections have been placed with the mentioning of Byggvir's described involvement with mill-grinding as being potential references to barley processing. Comparisons to the Anglo-Saxon figure of Beowa (Old English "barley") have been put forth.

Lokasenna

In Lokasenna, Loki is depicted as degrading Byggvir for being of slight stature and as a gossiper:

Stanza 43:

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:Byggvir qvaþ:

:«Veiztv, ef ec øþli ettac

:sem Ingvnar-Freyr

:oc sva selict setr,

:mergi smera ma/lþa ec

:þa meíncráco

:oc lemþa alla i liþo.»

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:Byggvir spake:

:Had I birth so famous

:as Ingunar-Freyr,

:And sat in so lofty a seat,

:I would crush to marrow

:this croaker of ill,

:And beat all his body to bits."

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Stanza 44:

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:Loci qvaþ:

:«Hvat er þat iþ litla,

:er ec þat la/ggra sec

:oc snapvist snapir;

:at eyrom Freys

:mvnðv e vera

:oc vnd kvernom klaca.»

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:Loki spake:

:"What little creature

:goes crawling there,

:Snuffling and snapping about?

:At Freyr's ears ever

:wilt thou be found,

:Or muttering hard at the mill."

See also

  • John Barleycorn
  • Corn dolly
  • Sif

Notes

References

  • Bellows, Henry Adams (1936). The Poetic Edda. The American-Scandinavian Foundation
  • Bruce, Alexander M. (2002) Scyld and Scef: Expanding the Analogues Routledge
  • Lindow, John (2001). Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Oxford University Press.
  • Thorpe, Benjamin (1851). Northern Mythology Vol. I. London: Edward Lumley