Gefjun, the ancient Norse goddess symbolizing agriculture, fertility, and prosperity, is depicted in a striking painting on the ceiling of Frederiksborg Palace in Denmark, often spelled as “Gefjon,” “Gefiun,” or “Gefion.” Deriving her name from the Old Norse verb gefa, meaning “to give,” she can be interpreted as “the Giver” or “the Generous One.”
Much of what is known about Gefjun originates from the writings of Snorri Sturluson, a thirteenth-century historian. Although his narratives of Norse mythology should be approached with caution, they often reflect authentic elements of ancient beliefs. According to Snorri, Gefjun disguised herself as a wandering beggar in Sweden and approached King Gylfi. Graciously, he offered her a tract of land that could be plowed in a single day by four oxen. Gefjun magically transformed her four sons, conceived with an unknown giant, into oxen to carry out this task. The plowing not only created a new landscape but also drained the land into a depression that became Lake Mälaren, with the plowed earth forming the Danish island of Zealand, where modern Copenhagen now stands.
A shorter yet similar account appears in the ninth-century poem Ragnarsdrápa by Bragi Boddason, which likely influenced Snorri’s recounting. The connection between fertility, prosperity, and plowing is a common thread in the pre-Christian spirituality of the Norse and broader Germanic cultures. The goddess Fjorgyn, whose name became synonymous with “earth” by the Viking Age, possibly originates from the Proto-Indo-European term for “furrow.”
Furthermore, an Old English prayer to a goddess named “Erce,” recited during the spring plowing, illustrates this relationship. Although penned after the advent of Christianity, it reflects older traditions of revering earth goddesses. The prayer evokes divine blessings for fertility in the fields, indicative of the ancient belief in the union of sky and earth deities in sacred matrimony.
The connection between Gefjun and Zealand parallels the associations made with Nerthus, another earth mother figure revered in the same region.
References to Gefjun are scarce in existing Old Norse literature. In the Eddic poem Lokasenna, Loki implies that Gefjun engaged in sexual exchanges for jewels, a behavior also attributed to Freya. This similarity raises questions about distinguishing between these two deities, as Freya’s moniker Gefn shares its roots with Gefjun’s name, implying a connection as “the Giver.”
This perception of Gefjun is complicated further by Snorri labeling her a virgin, a claim that seems inconsistent with not only the myths but also with the broader Germanic tradition. Overall, Gefjun embodies the archetype of the “earth mother goddess,” akin to figures such as Freya, Frigg, Nerthus, Fjorgyn, Jord, and Sif. They may not necessarily represent the same entity, but they are manifestations of a common archetype found within ancient Germanic beliefs.
While modern interpretations might favor a streamlined mythology, ancient Germanic religion was characterized by its lack of strict categorization and the myriad forms these divine figures could take. The concept of a fecund earth mother is deeply ingrained in the cultural psyche, reflecting a rich tapestry of tradition interwoven with both natural and societal values.
In search of further insights into Norse mythology and spirituality, consider exploring dedicated literature that provides an exhaustive overview of these intricate beliefs.
