Hln

Hln
In Norse mythology, Hln (Old Norse "protectress"[1]) is a goddess associated with the goddess Frigg. Hln appears in a poem in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, and in kennings found in skaldic poetry. Hln has been theorized as possibly another name for Frigg.

Attestations
In the Poetic Edda poem Vlusp, Hln receives a mention regarding the foretold death of the god Odin during the immense battle waged at Ragnark: Then is fulfilled Hln's second sorrow, when inn goes to fight with the wolf, and Beli's slayer, bright, against Surtr. Then shall Frigg's sweet friend fall.[2] In chapter 35 of the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, Hln is cited twelfth among a series of sixteen goddesses. High tells Gangleri (earlier in the book described as King Gylfi in disguise) that Hln "is given the function of protecting people whom Frigg wishes to save from some danger." High continues that, from this, "someone who escapes finds refuge (hleinar)."[3] In chapter 51, the above mentioned Vlusp stanza is quoted.[4] In chapter 75 of the book Skldskaparml Hln appears within a list of 27 synjur names.[5] In skaldic poetry, the name Hln is frequent in kennings for women. Examples include Hln hringa ("Hln of rings"), Hln govefjar ("Hln of velvet") and arm-Hln ("arm-Hln"). The name is already used frequently in this way by the 10th-century poet Kormkr gmundarson and remains current in skaldic poetry through the following centuries, employed by poets such as rr Kolbeinsson, Gizurr orvaldsson and Einarr Gilsson.[6] The name remained frequently used in woman kennings in rmur poetry, sometimes as Ln.[7] In a verse in Hvarar saga sfirings, the phrase Hln fallinn ("fallen on Hln") occurs. Some editors have emended the line[8][9] while others have accepted the reading and taken Hln to refer to the earth.[10]
"Frigg And Her Servants" (1882) by Carl Emil Doepler.

Theories
Andy Orchard says that in Vlusp, Hln appears to be just another name for Frigg, and adds that "the numerous occurrences of the name in skaldic poetry in poetic periphrases or kennings for women do nothing to dispel the confusion."[1] Rudolf Simek agrees that Hln seems to appear as another name for Frigg in Vlusp, and that in skaldic poetry Hln was a well known mythological figure by the 10th century. Simek states that Hln is likely simply another name for Frigg, and that Snorri "misunderstood her to be a goddess in her own right in his reading of the Vlusp stanza."[11]

Hln However, in the same work, Rudolf Simek also says that the goddesses Sga, Hln, Sjfn, Snotra, Vr, and Vr should be considered vaguely defined figures who "should be seen as female protective goddesses" that are all responsible for "specific areas of the private sphere, and yet clear differences were made between them so that they are in many ways similar to matrons."[12] John Lindow observes that if Hln is indeed Frigg, then this means that Hln's "second sorrow" in Vlusp is the death of Odin, the first being the death of Baldr.[13]

Notes
[1] Orchard (1997:86). [2] Dronke (1997:21). [3] Faulkes (1995:30). [4] Faulkes (1995:55). [5] Faulkes (1995:157). [6] Finnur Jnsson (1931:263). [7] Finnur Jnsson (1926-28:175,245). [8] Gsli Brynjlfsson (1860:174). [9] Finnur Jnsson (1912-1915a:191), (1912-1915b:181). [10] Bjrn Karel rlfsson and Guni Jnsson (1943:341). [11] Simek (2007:153). [12] Simek (2007:274). [13] Lindow (2001:177).

References
Bjrn Karel rlfsson and Guni Jnsson (1943). Vestfiringa sgur. Reykjavk: Hi slenzka fornritaflag. Dronke, Ursula (Trans.) (1997). The Poetic Edda: Volume II: Mythological Poems. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-811181-9 Faulkes, Anthony (Trans.) (1995). Edda. Everyman. ISBN 0-460-87616-3 Finnur Jnsson (1931). Lexicon Poeticum. Kbenhavn: S. L. Mllers Bogtrykkeri. Finnur Jnsson (192628). Ordbog til de af samfund til udg. af gml. nord. litteratur udgivne rmur samt til de af Dr. O. Jiriczek udgivne bsarimur. Kbenhavn: J. Jrgensen & Co. Finnur Jnsson (19121915). Den norsk-islandske skjaldedigtning A: Tekst efter hndskrifterne, 2 vols. B: Rettet tekst, 2 vols. Kbenhavn: Gyldendal. Gsli Brynjlfsson (1860). Hvarar saga sfirings. Kjbenhavn. Lindow, John (2001). Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs (http://books.google. com/books?id=KlT7tv3eMSwC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515382-0 Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-34520-2 Simek, Rudolf (2007) translated by Angela Hall. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. D.S. Brewer. ISBN 0-85991-513-1

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

Hln Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=539703720 Contributors: AndrewHowse, Arsenikk, Atlantas, Bloodofox, Cerdic, Deanlaw, Dmitry Rozhkov, ErikTheBikeMan, Finn Bjrklid, GeeJo, Gizmo II, Gtrmp, GymnoPedia, Haukurth, Hede2000, Holt, John Price, Joshua Scott, Kibi78704, Salleman, Sam Spade, Sardanaphalus, SchreiberBike, The Man in Question, Valhalla, Viriditas, Yngvadottir, 5 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:Frigg by Doepler.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Frigg_by_Doepler.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Carl Emil Doepler (1824-1905)

License
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