Fárbauti
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Fárbauti (Old Norse) is a jötunn in Norse mythology. In all sources, he is portrayed as the father of Loki. Fárbauti is attested in the Prose Edda and in kennings of Viking Age skalds.
Name
The Old Norse name Template:Lang has been translated as 'dangerous striker',Template:Sfn 'anger striker',Template:Sfn or 'sudden-striker'.Template:Sfn It is a compound formed with the noun Template:Wikt-lang ('hostility, danger, unfortunateness, falseness') attached to the verb Template:Wikt-lang ('to strike').Template:Sfn
Attestations
Two 10th-century skalds call Loki "son of Fárbauti", using, however, the poetic word mögr for 'son' rather than the usual sonr.Template:Sfn
The skald Úlfr Uggason is quoted referring to Loki as "Fárbauti's terribly sly son",Template:Sfn and the skald Þjóðólfr of Hvinir mentions Loki as "Fárbauti's son".Template:Sfn Template:Poem quote Template:Poem quote
In Gylfaginning ('The Beguiling of Gylfi'), the enthroned figure of High states that Loki is the son of the jötunn Fárbauti,Template:Sfn and that "Laufey or Nál is his mother".Template:Sfn Template:Poem quote
In Skáldskaparmál ('The Language of Poetry'), Fárbauti is mentioned among kennings referring to his son Loki.Template:Sfn Template:Poem quote
Theories
Axel Kock has proposed Fárbauti's name and character may have been inspired by the observation of the natural phenomena surrounding the appearance of wildfire. If Fárbauti as "dangerous striker" refers to "lightning", the figure would appear to be part of an early nature myth alluding to wildfire (Loki) being produced by lightning (Fárbauti) striking dry tinder such as leaves (Laufey) or pine needles (Nál).[1]
Although only indirectly attested in a kenning of Völuspá ('Prophecy of the Völva') mentioning Loki as "Byleist’s brother",Template:Sfn some scholars have considered Loki's brothers Helblindi and Býleistr to also be sons of Fárbauti.[2] However, their exact role in the presumably ancient mythic complex surrounding Loki's family remains largely unclear.[3]
Notes
References
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- Guelpa, Patrick (2009). Dieux & Mythes Nordique. Presses Universitaires du Septentrion. Template:ISBN.
- Kock, Axel (1899). "Etymologisch-mythologische Untersuchungen" in: Brugmann, K. & Streitberg, W. (Eds.) Indogermanische Forschungen: Zeitschrift für indogermanische Sprach- und Altertumskunde, Vol. 10, pp. 90–111. Strassburg: Karl J. Trübner.
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- Rydberg, Viktor (2003). Our Father's Godsaga: Retold for the Young. Lincoln: iUniverse. Template:ISBN.
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- Sykes, Egerton (2002). Who's Who in Non-Classical Mythology. New York: Routledge. Template:ISBN.
- ↑ Template:Harvnb; Kock (1899:101–102).
- ↑ Rydberg (2003:24); Sykes (2002:85); Guelpa (2009:123–124).
- ↑ Template:Harvnb; Kock (1899:100–102).