It does! Thank you so much! :)Well what is he like? What does he like? Hmm… What’s his story? Do we know? Do you know if he has any passages in the Eddas that I could read?I wish I could find more on Bragi… I like him a lot… I feel he’d be good for me… Does anyone that follows me worship Bragi intensively…?Bragi is the skaldic god of poetry in Norse mythology.
One is called Bragi: he is renowned for wisdom, and most of all for fluency of speech and skill with words. He knows most of skaldship, and after him skaldship is called bragr, and from his name that one is calledbragr-man or -woman, who possesses eloquence surpassing others, of women or of men. His wife is Iðunn.
How should one periphrase Bragi? By calling him husband of Iðunn, first maker of poetry, and the long-bearded god, and son of Odin.
Bragi is one of the deities that call to me the most prominently.
As someone who is called to the musical arts, who is a composer, performer, and ethnomusicologist, Bragi makes sense to me. Veneration/worship of Bragi, for me personally, often goes hand to hand with my own experience with Odin, very much for similar reasons. Not to say I don’t venerate/worship them separately; I very much do, and for differing reasons. They have purposes, and are useful for said purposes, and then some.
But enough about me. What would you like to know?
As far as reading goes, I’d look into the following:
- Gylfaginning, which is essentially an overview of descriptions, which includes Bragi.
- Skáldskaparmál, which prominently features a dialogue between Bragi and Ægir.
- Lokasenna, which features Bragi.
Bragi, history-wise, is known far back as a son of Odin. The earliest known Skald, Bragi Boddason the Old, shares His name.
He is a court poet who served several Swedish kings, Ragnar Lodbrok, Östen Beli and Björn at Hauge who reigned in the first half of the ninth century. This Bragi was reckoned as the first skaldic poet, and was certainly the earliest skaldic poet then remembered by name whose verse survived in memory.
It is a topic of debate whether Bragi Boddason ascended into godhood, his name survived into godhood, or the two are one in the same. Regardless, they are what they are.
As far as what He’s like? Your mileage may vary.
Bragi is known by many kennings; the Bearded God, Son of Odin, Husband of Iðunn, just to name a few. The Bearded God is appropriate, as he’s known to have the most prominent beard of the Æsir. The other two kennings should be self-explanatory.
Bragi is first and foremost a God of poetry, of inspiration and creative fire. He is a God of skalds and bards, those who weave worlds and work magic with the power of their words; the patron of singers and musicians and all those who wield the fire that burns not the flesh but the heart, and mind, and spirit. He is the son of Gunnlod and Odin, and His birth arises out of the bartered theft of Odhroerhir, the mead of terror, inspiration, and poetic fire. While He is numbered amongst the Aesir by virtue of His father, He carries the blood of powerful mountain giants by virtue of His mother. The blood of high mountain peaks and the slow moving fire running deep within them, of the raging storm-wind, the siren song of ancient conjure, of sacrifice, terror, ecstasy, and power all runs through His veins fueling the magic that leaps in terrible joy shaped by the words of His lips and the steel strong resiliency of His will.
Bragi is not a warrior, but more so a diplomat. He is invited to halls across the worlds, and resolves conflicts with a sharp wit and poetic eloquence, as opposed to the sword. He is said to have runes, carved in his tongue, making him an even greater master of words.
By and large, there’s not as much known about Bragi in the sagas as we’d like. That much is true. Bragi, in my experience, favours musical instruments, well-written, impassioned books, music scores, and the words of good poetry and songs. Help musicians and writers, or other performers. Patronise your local artist community, and attend performances. Introduce a friend to a type of performance or art with which they’re unfamiliar. Contribute to a charity designed to support the performing arts. Give money to buskers on the street. Help fund activism.
Hope this helps! :>
(via earthmagick)
Tyr, Norse God Wood Burning and Celtic Tree of Life Slate Carving by Norseman Arts.
(via pagangirl)
Hugin and Munin
(They’re all from DA. No, I do not have all of the links as many of the photos have been on my computer for a very long time. The ones I do have ARE IN THE CAPTIONS OF THE PICTURES. Please add them if you have them.)
