Giants & Giantesses

The giants are big, clumsy, magic skilled and often evil-minded creatures. They are easy to hit with a spear on account of their size, but also almost impossible to bring down. The giants represent the wild chaos of nature. Even thou they are impossible to control some nice giantesses who lives with an aesir in Asgard. The worst enemy of all giants is Thor with his powerful hammer Mjollnir that have smashed many giants. The most giants live in Jotunheim. There are also firegiants who follow Surt in Muspelheim and rimthursar who came from the ice-cold Nifilheim. All giants originally came from Ymir. Jotunheim Muspelheim Nifilheim Thurisaz Thor

 

Aegir	The oceangiant Aegir is Ran’s husband. They have nine wavedaughters. He is known for his feasts. Mistblindi is his father and Logi is his brother. Aegir means ‘beer maker’. Seaboiler
Angrboda	Angrboda is Loki’s giantess from the Ironforest. Together they have the horrible monster children Hel, Fenrir and Jormungand the Midgard serpent. The name Angrboda means ‘she who betakes sorrow’. Ironforest
Asvinn	The giant Asvinn learned the giants to carve and to read runes.
Aurboda	The mountaingoddess Aurboda is Gymir’s wife. Together they have the son Beli and the daughter Gerd, a beautiful goddess that Frey married. But Frey had to give away his self wielding sword to get his bride.
Aurvandil	The friendly Aurvandil is Groa’s husband. Once he and Thor went through Elivagor. Aurvandil froze his toe, and Thor threw it up as a star, Aurvandil’s Toe. Aurvandil means ‘seafarer’.
Bara	Bara is one of Aegir and Ran’s nine wavedaughters who are said to be the mothers of the guardian of the Bifrost bridge, Heimdall. The name Bara means ‘big wave’.
Baugi	The giant Baugi is Suttung’s brother and son to Gilling. Odin tried to have some of the mead of poetry by working at Baugi’s farm. The name Baugi means ‘the stooping’.
Beli	Beli is Gymir’s and Aurboda’s son. He is the leader of the barking giants. He is brother to Frey’s wife, Gerd. Frey killed him with a deerhorn. The name Beli means ‘the moaning’.
Bergelmir	The delugegiant Bergelmir is Thrudgelmir’s son and Ymir’s sonson. He was the only giant who with his family survived Ymir’s blood. In that way he kept the giant race from dying.
Betsla	The giantess Betsla married Buri’s son, Bor, and gave birth to the three gods; Odin, Vili and Ve. She is daughter to Bolthorn and sister to Mimir. Betsla means ‘the little sauna woman’. Bor
Billing	The giant Billing is the master of the vanirs. He is Gilling’s brother, Rind’s father and Vali’s grandfather. His warriors protects Sol and Mane. The name Billing means ‘twin’.
Blodughadda	Blodughadda is one of Aegir and Ran’s nine wavedaughters who are said to be the mothers of the guardian of the Bifrost bridge, Heimdall. Blodughadda means ‘with blood in the hair’.
Bolthorn	Bolthorn is father to Betsla, Bor’s wife and mother to Odin, Vili and Ve. He is also the father of Mimer. The name Bolthorn means ‘incident-thorn’.
Brimer	Brimer is a giant that owns the island Okolnir. There he has his feasthall in which the giants celebrates when Ragnarok is coming. Okolnir
Byleist	The stormgiant Byleist is Farbauti’s and Laufey’s son. He has two brothers, the trickster Loki and the watergiant Helblindi. The name Byleist means ‘the tempest’s lightning’.
Bylgja	Bylgja is one of Aegir and Ran’s nine wavedaughters who are said to be the mothers of the guardian of the Bifrost bridge, Heimdall. The name Bylgja means ‘big breaking wave’.
Duva	Duva is one of Aegir and Ran’s nine wavedaughters who are said to be the mothers of the guardian of the Bifrost bridge, Heimdall. The name Duva means ‘the hiding’.
Eggther	The watchman of the giants, Eggther lives in the forrest Galgvid. He plays happily on his harp when he hear the rooster tell that Ragnarok is coming. Eggther means ‘sword guarder’. Galgvid
Eldir	Eldir is Aegir’s cock. In one of Aegir’s feasts Eldir tried to stop Loki from getting in, because he knew everybody said bad things about him. The name means ‘fire-kindler’.
Elli	The thin, but very strong giantess Elli represents the high age. She is Utgardaloki’s grandmother and know for wen she defeated Thor, and got him down on his knees. The name Elli means ‘old age’.
Fafni	Fafni is the son of Hreidmar and brother of Otter and Regin. He was killed as a dragon by Sigurd Fafnisbari when he guarded his goldtreasure. Andvaranut Hrotte
Farbauti	He is married to Laufey and father of Loki, Byleist and Helblindi. Laufey gave birth to Loki when beeing strucked by a bolt of fire from Farbauti. Farbauti means ‘the one who hits hard’.
Fimafeng	Fimafeng is Aegir’s servant. In one of Aegir’s feasts he gets killed by Loki, who just can’t stand all the compliments given to Fimafeng by the aesirs. Fimafeng means ‘handy’.
Fjolvar	The giant Fjolvar owns the island Allgron, where he and Odin spent five years seducing seven foolish girls. Allgron
Gang	Gang is Olvalde’s youngest son and brother to Tjatsi and Ide. When the father had died the brothers brotherly shared his beerrapid. This was the first time they were all quiet.
Ganglati	Ganglati is is one of the deathgoddess Hel’s servants who lives with her underground. Ganglati was so slow that no one ever could tell he was moving. Ganglati means ‘tardy’.
Ganglot	Ganglot is one of the deathgoddess Hel’s maidservant who lives with her underground. She was so slow that no one ever could tell she was moving. Ganglot means ‘tardy’.
Geirod	Geirod is a giantmaster and an ironsmith. He forced Loki to take Thor to his farm, but he and his daughters, Gjalp and Greip, got killed. Geirod means ‘the one that bloods the spear’.
Gerd	The beautiful Gerd is Gymir and Aurboda’s daughter and Beli’s sister. When she raises her arms everything shines. She is married to Frey. Her name means ‘fence’. Alfheim Barri Frey
Gilling	The giant Gilling is Billing’s brother. Gilling and his wife got killed by the evil dwarves Galar and Fjalar. His son, Suttung took revenge. The name Gilling means ‘hugecod’.
Gjalp	The giantess Gjalp is Geirod’s daughter and Greip’s sister. She tries to stop Thor from passing a lake by flooding it with urine. The name Gjalp means ‘the yelling’.
Greip	The giantess Greip is Gjalp’s sister and Geirod’s daughter. She tries to squash Thor against the roof by lifting his chair, but instead she gets her and her sister killed. The name Greip means ‘she with a good grip’.
Grid	Grid is a friendly giantess who has a son, Vidar with Odin. She owns one ironstick and irongloves which she lended Thor when he needed it. Grid means ‘peace’. Gridarvol
Groa	Groa is Aurvandil’s wife. She has magic skills and once she tried to help Thor who had got a piece of stone in his head when he was fighting Rungnir. She sang magic songs for him.
Gunnlod	Gunnlod is Suttung’s daughter and she guards his mead of poetry. But when Odin, spends three nights with her she gives it to him. Nine months later she gives birth to Bragi.
Gymir	The mountaingiant Gymir is Aurboda’ husband. Together they have the son Beli and the daughter Gerd, a beautiful giantess that the fertilitygod Frey married.
Hel	Deathgoddess and sister to Jormungand, Fenrir and Narfi. She is Loki’s daughter. Her task is to take care of the dead. Half of her is human and half is rotten and black. Hel means ‘the covered’. Eljudnir Famine Fallfordarv Garm Glimmering Misfortune HungerNaglfar Sick Bed
Helblindi	Helblindi is a watergiant. His parents are Farbauti and Laufey. The trickster Loki and the stormgiant Byleist are his brothers. The name Helblindi means ‘the one who binds to death’.
Hevring	Hevring is one of Aegir and Ran’s nine wavedaughters who are said to be the mothers of the guardian of the Bifrost bridge, Heimdall. The name Hevring means ‘the one who is heaving’.
Himinglava	Himinglava is one of Aegir and Ran’s nine wavedaughters who are said to be the mothers of the guardian of the Bifrost bridge, Heimdall. Himinglava means ‘the sky shines through’.
Hlebard	Hlebard is a giant who gave Odin the magic wand Gambantein. When Odin has got the wand he makes Hlebard to loose his mind. The name Hlebard means ‘leopard’. Gambantein
Hreidmar	The giant Hreidmar has three sons; Fafni, Otter and Regin. He owned the Nibelunggold and the magic-ring Andvaranut before he dies as the curse said. Andvaranut
Hronn	Hronn is one of Aegir and Ran’s nine wavedaughters who are said to be the mothers of the guardian of the Bifrost bridge, Heimdall. The name Hronn means ‘wave suck’.
Huge	Huge personifies the giant Utgardaloki’s thought. When the aesirs visited Utgard Huge competed with the fast human boy Tjalfi. Huge won because the thought always is faster.
Hymir	The violent Hymir can smash massive stone columns with power from his eyes. His mother had 1.800 heads and he is Tyr’s stepfather. He owns the kettle Seaboiler. Himinhrjod Seaboiler
Hyndla	Hyndla is a giantess that rests in deathslumber in a cave. She knows how every god, giant, dwarf and alf is related to eachother. She is great at solving inheritance disputes.
Hyrrokkin	The strong giantess Hyrrokkin gets invited by the aesirs to help putting Balder’s funeralboat in the sea. She gets there on a wolf with snakes as reins. The name means ‘fire smoke’.
Ide	Ide is Olvalde’s middle son. Gang is his littlebrother and Tjatsi his bigbrother. When the father had died the brothers shared the beerrapid. That was the first time they were all quiet.
Jarnsaxa	Jarnsaxa is mother to Thor’s son Magni. Magni was so strong that he saved Thor’s life when he was only one year old. The name Jarnsaxa means ‘she who has an ironsword’.
Kolga	Kolga is one of Aegir and Ran’s nine wavedaughters who are said to be the mothers of the guardian of the Bifrost bridge, Heimdall. The name Kolga means ‘the cool’.
Kvaesir	Kvaesir got birth when the aesirs and the vanirs mixed their spit in a bowl. Kvaesir was later killed by dwarves and his blood became the mead of poetry. Poetry Mead
Laufey	Laufey is Farbauti’s wife and mother to Loki, Byleist and Helblindi. Laufey gave birth to Loki after she had been struck by a bolt of fire from Farbauti. The name Laufey means ‘leafisland’.
Logi	Logi is a firegiant who got known in Utgard where he had an eating-competition with Loki as Logi won. Logi’s father is Mistblindi and Aegir is his brother. Logi means ‘flame’.
Loki	The trickster Loki is son to Farbauti and Laufey, brother to Byleist and Helblindi. With Angrboda he has the children Jormungand, Fenrir and Hel. With Sigyn he has a son, Narfi. Loki is Sleipnir’s father. The name Loki means ‘the spider’ Laevatein Sigyn
Mimir	Mimer is wisest of all beings and lives by the Mimir’s Well. The vanirs chopped of his head and it’s now in the well. He is Bolthorn’s son and Betsla’s brother. Mimir means ‘the murmuring’. Hoddmimir’s Copse Mimir’s Well
Mistblindi	Mistblindi is father to the oceangiant Aegir and the firegiant Logi. The name Mistblindi means ‘fog so thick you can’t see your hand in front of you’.
Morkkurkalve	Morkkurkalve was made by the giants to help Rungnir in his fight with Thor. Morkkurkalve is shaped in mud, he height is nine miles and the width of his chest is three miles. But they gave him a mare heart.
Narfi	Narfi is son to Loki and Sigyn. One time when Loki got punished the gods used Narfi’s intestines to bind him on some rocks under a poisonsnake that dropped it’s ether.
Norfe	The giant Norfe is the father of the disir Night. He was the first who built anything in Jotunheim.
Olvalde	Olvalde is the father of Tjatsi, Gang and Ide. When he died the brothers shared his beerrapid. He lives with Tjatsi in Trymheim. The name Olvalde means ‘the emperor of the beerrapid’.
Otter	Otter is Hreidmar’s son and brother to Fafni and Regin. He can turn himself into an otter. When he got killed by the aesirs, his father demanded to get the Nibelunggold.
Ran	The seagoddess of storms, Ran, is married Aegir and they have nine wavedaughters. Ran has a net in which she collects drowned, especially if they wear gold. Ran means ‘robbery’.
Rind	The giantess Rind is daughter to Billing, Gilling’s brother. She has a son with Odin. His name is Vali.
Rungnir	Rungnir is the strongest giant in Jotunheim. His head is made of stone and so is also his pentagram-shaped heart. He is very boastful. Thor killed him in a fight. Gullfaxi Grotunagard
Rym	Rym is a stormgiant that handles the rudder on Naglfar. Nagelfar is a ship that Hel, the deathgoddess, have built using dead people’s nails. Rym means ‘old and powerless’. Naglfar
Sinmara	The earth-pale Sinmara watches the rooster Vidofner. Her magic-wand, Laevatein, which she keeps away from the giants, is the only thing that can kill the rooster. Laevatein Vidofner
Skadi	The hunt and skigoddess Skadi was under a short time living with the Njord. It didn’t lasted because she didn’t like living with the aesirs. She is Tjatsi’s daughter. Trymheim
Surt	The evil volcanogiant Surt is the leader of the firegiants. His face is casted in fire, his hair is burning and boiling lava covers his body. He has a burning sword that kills Frey in Ragnarok. Surt means ‘the black’. Muspelheim
Suttung	Suttung, son to Gilling got the mead of poetry by the dwarves Fjalar and Galar when he was going to revenge his killed parents. Hnitbjorg Poetry Mead
Thrudgelmir	Thrudgelmir is father of all giants. His father is Ymir, the prehistoric giant who was created when the cow Audhumbla licked at a saltstone. He is the father of Bergelmir.
Tjatsi	Tjatsi is very rich and very stingy. He is father to Skadi and they live together with his father Olvalde. Gang and Ide are his brothers. Tjatsi means ‘water’. Feathercoat Trymheim
Trivaldi	Trivaldi with his nine heads and three necks got, as many other giants, killed by Thor, who split all his heads with an axe. The name Trivaldi means ‘the who is triple mighty’.
Trym	Trym is a giant that once stole Mjollnir. He demanded to have Freya as his bride, otherwise Thor would never see his hammer again, but Thor fooled him. Trym means ‘the noisy one’.
Unn	Unn is one of Aegir and Ran’s nine wavedaughters who are said to be the mothers of the guardian of the Bifrost bridge, Heimdall. The name Unn means ‘billow’.
Utgardaloki	Utgardaloki, who is Elli’s sonson, lives in Utgard. He is known for when Thor visited him in Utgard and Utgardaloki arranged games and cheated. Utgard
Vavtrudnir	Wisest of the giants. Odin visited him to see if he really was that smart. Vavtrudnir failed the last question and lost his head. The name Vavtrudnir means ‘the one who knows answers’.
Ymir	Prehistoric giant who drank milk from the cow Audhumbla. He got beaten to death by Odin, Vili and Ve who created the world of his body. The giant Thrudgelmir is his son. Audhumbla