Lytir
Encyclopedia
Lytir is considered a god
in Norse mythology
and Norse paganism
. His name is either related to the Old Norse
word hlutr, meaning "lot, share, foretell" or lýti meaning blemish. If the former meaning is assumed, then priests of Lytir would probably have been spámaðar
or fortune-tellers. Supporting this etymology is a story about Lytir in Hauks þáttr hábrókar (in the Flateyjarbók
) during which a Swedish king consults the god. Lytir's ceremonial wagon was taken to a sacred place where the god entered it and then taken back to the king's hall, where it was used to answer questions. Aside from this passage, Lytir is otherwise unattested except in several Swedish place names that might contain elements of his name, such as Lytisberg and Lytislunda.
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
in Norse mythology
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...
and Norse paganism
Norse paganism
Norse paganism is the religious traditions of the Norsemen, a Germanic people living in the Nordic countries. Norse paganism is therefore a subset of Germanic paganism, which was practiced in the lands inhabited by the Germanic tribes across most of Northern and Central Europe in the Viking Age...
. His name is either related to the 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....
word hlutr, meaning "lot, share, foretell" or lýti meaning blemish. If the former meaning is assumed, then priests of Lytir would probably have been spámaðar
Völva
A vǫlva or völva is a shamanic seeress in Norse paganism, and a recurring motif in Norse mythology....
or fortune-tellers. Supporting this etymology is a story about Lytir in Hauks þáttr hábrókar (in the Flateyjarbók
Flateyjarbók
The Flatey Book, is an important medieval Icelandic manuscript. It is also known as GkS 1005 fol. and by the Latin name Codex Flateyensis.- Description :...
) during which a Swedish king consults the god. Lytir's ceremonial wagon was taken to a sacred place where the god entered it and then taken back to the king's hall, where it was used to answer questions. Aside from this passage, Lytir is otherwise unattested except in several Swedish place names that might contain elements of his name, such as Lytisberg and Lytislunda.