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Járnsaxa (/jɑːrnˈsæksə/; Old Norse: [ˈjɑːrnˌsɑksɑ], ("iron dagger") is a jötunn in Norse mythology. In Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, she is portrayed as Thor's lover and as the mother of Magni, a child with supernatural powers.

Name

The Old Norse name Járnsaxa has been translated as 'iron dagger', or 'armed-with-an-iron-sword'.

Attestations

In Hyndluljóð, Járnsaxa is named as one of the Nine Mothers of Heimdallr.

In Skáldskaparmál, Thor's wife the goddess Sif is either herself called "Járnsaxa" or called by a kenning meaning "the rival of Járnsaxa", throwing confusion on whether Sif is or is not distinct from Járnsaxa the mother of Magni. At the end of the story, Odin argues that Thor did wrong to offer the splendid horse Gullfaxi to Magni, the son of a giantess, rather than to himself, the father of Thor.

Notes

1. ^ Lindow 2002, p. 204.
2. Orchard 1997, p. 97.
3. Faulkes 1987, p. 86.
4. Simek 1996, p. 178.

References

• Faulkes, Anthony (Trans.) (1987). Edda. Everyman. ISBN 0-460-87616-3.
• Lindow, John (2002). Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-983969-8.
• Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 978-0-304-34520-5.
• Simek, Rudolf (1996). Dictionary of Northern Mythology. D.S. Brewer. ISBN 978-0-85991-513-7.

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