Sigyn
Background[]
Sigyn was an Asgardian goddess who caught the eye of Loki. Loki asked her to marry him, but Sigyn was already engaged to another god she loved, named Theoric. Loki killed her fiancé and used a spell to take his form. In this disguise, Loki went to the wedding and Odin himself, unsuspecting, married them. When Loki revealed his face, Odin tried to annul the marriage, but Asgardian law forbade even the High Father to do so. Thus, Odin could only exile Loki, but Sigyn, in tears, accepted the marriage and decided to go with him. Impressed, Odin declared Sigyn the Goddess of Fidelity.
Due to their marriage, Sigyn mothered two sons, Narvi and Váli, with Loki, although both of them died young.
Loki was punished because of the murder of Balder: He would be tied to three rocks and a snake would drip poison on his face. Sigyn did not abandon him; she collected the poison in a bowl. However, when the bowl was full, Sigyn had to leave periodically to empty it. During this time, the poison dripped into Loki's eyes, and Loki blamed his wife for that.
After Loki was freed, he abandoned Sigyn. Although they have been estranged for years, recently Sigyn has tried to resume their marriage.
More information...
I'm an enthusiast deeply versed in Norse mythology, particularly the intricate tales of the Asgardian pantheon. The story you've presented revolves around the enigmatic figure of Sigyn, a character intricately woven into the rich tapestry of Norse mythology. My expertise in this domain stems from a thorough understanding of the primary sources, including the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, as well as various sagas that delve into the complexities of Asgardian lore.
Now, delving into the details of the article:
Sigyn - The Goddess of Fidelity
Background:
Sigyn was a prominent Asgardian goddess, and her tale intertwines with the mischievous Loki. The narrative unfolds as Loki, infatuated with Sigyn, orchestrates a cunning plot to marry her. He eliminates her betrothed, Theoric, and assumes his form to deceive Odin into officiating their union. The nuances of Asgardian law prevented Odin from annulling the marriage, leading to Loki's exile.
Marriage and Motherhood:
Sigyn, despite the tragic circ*mstances, chose to stand by Loki's side. This loyalty and resilience earned her the title of the "Goddess of Fidelity" by an impressed Odin. The union between Sigyn and Loki resulted in the birth of two sons, Narvi and Váli, although their lives were cut short.
The Tragedy and Punishment:
Loki's heinous actions, notably the murder of Balder, led to his punishment. He was bound to three rocks, with a venomous snake dripping poison onto his face. Sigyn, showcasing unwavering devotion, collected the poison in a bowl. The poignant twist comes when she must periodically empty the bowl, allowing the poison to torment Loki. The strained relationship between them deepens as Loki blames Sigyn for his suffering.
Abandonment and Reconciliation:
Post-Loki's release, he abandons Sigyn, marking years of estrangement. Despite the prolonged separation, Sigyn endeavors to rekindle their fractured marriage in recent times.
This narrative provides a glimpse into the complexities of Asgardian relationships, the consequences of divine actions, and the enduring nature of loyalty even in the face of adversity. It showcases the multi-faceted nature of characters within Norse mythology, adding layers to the rich tapestry of their stories.
FAQs
Then there's that tantalizing kenning for Sigyn: "galdrs hapt" or "Incantation-fetter" (according to Faulkes' translation of the Þórsdrápa, where we find the Loki-kenning "farmr arma galdrs hapts." Some have suggested that "galdrs hapts" refers to Gullveig, but since Loki is nowhere else kenned as Gullveig's lover ...
Did Loki really love Sigyn? ›
However Sigyn seemed to be the one Loki needed—when he was chained under the serpent, constantly dripping venom onto his face and Sigyn caught those drops of poison in a bowl. I've seen some sources say Loki called Sigyn “love of his immortal life”—and she is the one Loki needed during his darkest hour.
What to offer Sigyn? ›
Rune: Nauthiz, some Sigyn's women see Berkana with Her. Food Offerings: sweets, cakes, cookies, chocolate for Her as child, bread, macaroni and cheese (at least one Sigyn's woman swears She likes this), butter, sweet wines.
What does Sigyn represent? ›
Sigyn is the goddess of victory in battle. She is probably a compliment to the gods of war, such as Odin much like Nike (victory) complements Ares in Greek religion. Her name literally means victorious girlfriend, and this probably refers to her accompanying war, rather than being the wife of Loki.
Was Sigyn a Valkyrie? ›
The queen of Valkyries!!! Child of the strongest and spawn of light, Sigyn was for a long time the trainer of Valkyries and the strongest of them all, but left it all to once Loki was imprisoned. She left her position as queen and made a vowl to help her lover in his eternal prison.
What did Sigyn do to Loki? ›
She patiently caught each of the drops of poison in a basin. Every time the basin became full, however, she had to empty it, and so, for that brief time, the poison would land on Loki's forehead and sear him. Then he would writhe in agony and pull at his bonds, and the Earth rumbled and shook from the force.
Did Loki cheat on Sigyn? ›
Maybe Loki and Sigyn actually had a really good relationship where they loved each other, and that's why she stays with him. He does cheat on her with Angrboda, but back then, all the men were expected to cheat, it wasn't considered cheating back then to have a few mistresses if he still loved his wife at home.
Who is Loki's favorite wife? ›
Sigyn was an Aesir goddess and the wife of the trickster Loki. She is portrayed as loyal and dutiful but may have secrets to reveal. While Sigyn was one of the Aesir gods of Asgard, she was also the wife of the trickster Loki. He was a giant invited to live among the Aesir due to a brotherhood pack with Odin.
How many wives does Loki have? ›
Loki's Wives: Glut, Sigyn, and Angrboda.
What happened to Sigyn? ›
After her husband tricked the blind god Hod into killing Balder, her sons were slain and their entrails used to bind their father. Sigyn stayed by her husband's side holding a goblet to catch the venom that fell on Loki's face. She has not spoken since her sons were killed.
Considered by many to be the goddess of victory, she's also Loki's wife (or one of them at least). Sigyn is attested in both the Prose and Poetic Eddas. For once, we're not given much of a description of her appearance which is kind of a nice change, as far as goddesses go.
Was Loki loyal to Sigyn? ›
The Punishment of Loki for Killing Baldur
As punishment, Loki was bound with the entrails of his own son, Narfi, and a venomous serpent was placed above him. The serpent's venom continuously dripped onto Loki's face, causing excruciating pain. During this torment, Sigyn, Loki's loyal wife, stood by his side.
What are the colors of Sigyn? ›
Loki's wife in Asgard. Colors: black, dark green, gold/yellow - Splash color = Dark Green.
Why did Loki marry Sigyn? ›
But there's also no mention anywhere of Loki being forced to marry Sigyn. And the fact that she was a goddess in her own right for centuries before being mentioned as Loki's wife shows us that she, like Frigg and Freyja and many of the other Aesir and Vanir goddesses, had some agency. So maybe they did marry for love.
What is Loki's sacred number? ›
The Number 3: “Sacred” or “Divine”
There are 3 gods who created the 1st humans: Odin, Vili, & Ve. Loki has 3 children: Hel(ruler of death), the Midgard Serpent, & Fenrir (bringer of Ragnarök).
What is a kenning in the wife's lament? ›
Kenning(line 29) "earth hall" points to the crude setting the wife is in. 5. Diction(lines 30-32, 38-9) "dark, overgrown, bitter, joyless, weep, exile, hardships" all these point to sadness and loneliness. Alliteration(line 32) "lack of my lord" points directly to loneliness.
What is the kenning for God in Beowulf? ›
Glory of kings = God, Wielder of glory = God, and Wielder of worship = God. The importance of religion in Beowulf is particularly evident in the many kennings for 'God'. Instead of saying the word 'God', the poem uses glory of kings, wielder of glory, and wielder of worship.
What is Loki's sacred animal? ›
Loki is sometimes symbolized with a snake, specifically two snakes encircling each other in the form of an "S" symbol.
What is a kenning in Norse mythology? ›
Some scholars take the term kenning broadly to include any noun-substitute consisting of two or more elements, including merely descriptive epithets (such as Old Norse grand viðar "bane of wood" = "fire" (Snorri Sturluson: Skáldskaparmál 36)), while others would restrict it to metaphorical instances (such as Old Norse ...
