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
Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants ...
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.
[Lindow (2001:90-91)] Comparisons to the
Anglo-Saxon figure of
Beowa (
Old English "barley") have been put forth.
[Bruce (2002:28).]
''Lokasenna''
In ''Lokasenna'', Loki is depicted as degrading Byggvir for being of slight stature and as a gossiper:
Stanza 43:
Stanza 44:
Stanza 45:
Stanza 46:
Interpretation
In relation to Loki's comments in ''Lokasenna'', proposals have been made that Beyla and her husband are personifications of
agriculture associated with Freyr: Beyla as the
manure that softens the earth and develops the seed, Byggvir as the refuse of the mill,
chaff.
[Thorpe (1851:198-199.]
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
{{Norse paganism topics
Freyr
Servants in Norse mythology
Personifications in Norse mythology