Glasir
Encyclopedia
In Norse mythology
, Glasir (Old Norse
"gleaming") is a tree or grove
, described as "the most beautiful among gods and men", bearing golden leaves located in the realm of Asgard
, outside the doors of Valhalla
. Glasir is attested in the 13th century Prose Edda
book Skáldskaparmál
where it receives three mentions, one of which mentions its location and all of which focus on the golden leaves of the tree. Glasislundr (Old Norse
"Glasir's Grove") appears in the Poetic Edda
poem Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar
.
Attestations
The Poetic Edda poem Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar opens in Glasislundr, where a talking bird offers his services in exchange for a sacrifice from the prince Atli Fránmarsson.
In chapter 32 of the Prose Edda book Skáldskaparmál, poetic means of referring to gold
are provided, including "Glasir's foliage". In chapter 34, the question "why is gold called Glasir's foliage or leaves?" is posed. In response, Glasir is described as standing before the doors of the hall of Valhalla, all of its foliage red gold. An unattributed verse is then recorded:
Glasir is then described as the "most beautiful tree among gods and men". In a surviving fragment of the skald
ic poem Bjarkamál
located in chapter 45, Glasir is again listed as a kenning for gold ("Glasir's glowing foliage").
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
, Glasir (Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
"gleaming") is a tree or grove
Sacred grove
A sacred grove is a grove of trees of special religious importance to a particular culture. Sacred groves were most prominent in the Ancient Near East and prehistoric Europe, but feature in various cultures throughout the world...
, described as "the most beautiful among gods and men", bearing golden leaves located in the realm of Asgard
Asgard
In Norse religion, Asgard is one of the Nine Worlds and is the country or capital city of the Norse Gods surrounded by an incomplete wall attributed to a Hrimthurs riding the stallion Svadilfari, according to Gylfaginning. Valhalla is located within Asgard...
, outside the doors of Valhalla
Valhalla
In Norse mythology, Valhalla is a majestic, enormous hall located in Asgard, ruled over by the god Odin. Chosen by Odin, half of those that die in combat travel to Valhalla upon death, led by valkyries, while the other half go to the goddess Freyja's field Fólkvangr...
. Glasir is attested in the 13th century Prose Edda
Prose Edda
The Prose Edda, also known as the Younger Edda, Snorri's Edda or simply Edda, is an Icelandic collection of four sections interspersed with excerpts from earlier skaldic and Eddic poetry containing tales from Nordic mythology...
book Skáldskaparmál
Skáldskaparmál
The second part of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda the Skáldskaparmál or "language of poetry" is effectively a dialogue between the Norse god of the sea, Ægir and Bragi, the god of poetry, in which both Norse mythology and discourse on the nature of poetry are intertwined...
where it receives three mentions, one of which mentions its location and all of which focus on the golden leaves of the tree. Glasislundr (Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
"Glasir's Grove") appears in the Poetic Edda
Poetic Edda
The Poetic Edda is a collection of Old Norse poems primarily preserved in the Icelandic mediaeval manuscript Codex Regius. Along with Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, the Poetic Edda is the most important extant source on Norse mythology and Germanic heroic legends, and from the early 19th century...
poem Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar
Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar
Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar is a poem collected in the Poetic Edda, found in the Codex Regius manuscript where it follows Helgakviða Hundingsbana I and precedes Helgakviða Hundingsbana II...
.
Attestations
The Poetic Edda poem Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar opens in Glasislundr, where a talking bird offers his services in exchange for a sacrifice from the prince Atli Fránmarsson.
In chapter 32 of the Prose Edda book Skáldskaparmál, poetic means of referring to gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
are provided, including "Glasir's foliage". In chapter 34, the question "why is gold called Glasir's foliage or leaves?" is posed. In response, Glasir is described as standing before the doors of the hall of Valhalla, all of its foliage red gold. An unattributed verse is then recorded:
Glasir stands with golden leaf before Sigtyr's [Odin's] halls.
Glasir is then described as the "most beautiful tree among gods and men". In a surviving fragment of the skald
Skald
The skald was a member of a group of poets, whose courtly poetry is associated with the courts of Scandinavian and Icelandic leaders during the Viking Age, who composed and performed renditions of aspects of what we now characterise as Old Norse poetry .The most prevalent metre of skaldic poetry is...
ic poem Bjarkamál
Bjarkamál
Bjarkamál is an Old Norse poem from around the year 1000. Only a few lines have survived in the Icelandic version, the rest is known from Saxo's version in Latin...
located in chapter 45, Glasir is again listed as a kenning for gold ("Glasir's glowing foliage").