Jörð

In Norse mythology, Jörð (Old Norse "earth", pronounced ˈjɔrð, sometimes anglicized as Jord or Jorth) is a female jötunn, the mother of Thor and Meili, and the personification of the Earth. Fjörgyn and Hlôdyn are considered to be other names for Jörð. Jörð is reckoned a goddess, like other jötnar who coupled with the gods.Orchard (1997:98). Jörð's name appears in skaldic poetry both as a poetic term for the land and in kennings for Thor.
==Etymology==
Jörð is the common word for earth in Old Norse, as are the word's descendants in the modern Scandinavian languages; Icelandic jörð, Faroese jørð, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian jord. It is cognate to English "earth" through Old English eorðe."Earth" in Online Etymology Dictionary.
==Attestations==
===Gylfaginning===
In Gylfaginning, the first part of the Prose Edda, Jörð is described as one of Odin's concubines and the mother of Thor.Gylfaginning 10, 36.
===Skáldskaparmál===
In Snorri Sturluson's Skáldskaparmál, Jörð is called the rival of Odin's wife Frigg and his other giantess concubines, Rindr and Gunnlöd. She is the daughter of Annar and Nótt and half-sister of Auðr and Dagr.Lindow (2001:205).
==Notes==
==References==
* Lindow, John (2001). Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515382-0.
* Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell, London: ISBN 0-304-34520-2
Category:Norse mythology
Category:Deities