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Description

Hønir is one of the less important gods in the Eddic mythology, whose mythical position is fairly uncertain. In Voluspa the godly triad Odin, Hønir, and Loðurr appear in the myth of the creation of man, Hønir being the one to give man his reason (óðr). In another godly triad in Reginsmal and Skaldskaparmal, Hønir appears together with Odin and Loki, but here he is without a function. Voluspa names him as one of the Æsir in the new world after Ragnarok. In the Haustlong by Thjodolfr or Hvini, Hønir is named in the myth of Thjazi without playing any particular role.

His passive status is described in more detail by Snorri in the myth of the Vanir wars (Ynglinga saga) where the Æsir give Hønir, who is said to be tall and handsome to the Vanir as a hostage, and these make him a Chieftain. He lets himself be advised in all matters by the wise Mimir until the Vanir become aware of this and decapitate Mimir. Apart from several kennings which link him to Odin, Snorri calls Hønir in several other kennings 'the quick As', 'long legs' and aurkonungr "the rich king" (skaldskaparmal), all names which for want of further information remain uncertain.
The interpretations of Hønir's mythological role differ greatly. He has been seen as a god of the heavens, of the clouds, even as a sun-god or as a water-god, mostly as a swan or stork shaped bird-god, a bird shaped personification of Odin's intellectual abilities. All of these explanations are extremely unsatisfactory, and it is perhaps better to think of him as a god of Taciturnity and the cult of celebrations.

Description

Hønir is one of the less important gods in the Eddic mythology, whose mythical position is fairly uncertain. In Voluspa the godly triad Odin, Hønir, and Loðurr appear in the myth of the creation of man, Hønir being the one to give man his reason (óðr). In another godly triad in Reginsmal and Skaldskaparmal, Hønir appears together with Odin and Loki, but here he is without a function. Voluspa names him as one of the Æsir in the new world after Ragnarok. In the Haustlong by Thjodolfr or Hvini, Hønir is named in the myth of Thjazi without playing any particular role.

His passive status is described in more detail by Snorri in the myth of the Vanir wars (Ynglinga saga) where the Æsir give Hønir, who is said to be tall and handsome to the Vanir as a hostage, and these make him a Chieftain. He lets himself be advised in all matters by the wise Mimir until the Vanir become aware of this and decapitate Mimir. Apart from several kennings which link him to Odin, Snorri calls Hønir in several other kennings 'the quick As', 'long legs' and aurkonungr "the rich king" (skaldskaparmal), all names which for want of further information remain uncertain.
The interpretations of Hønir's mythological role differ greatly. He has been seen as a god of the heavens, of the clouds, even as a sun-god or as a water-god, mostly as a swan or stork shaped bird-god, a bird shaped personification of Odin's intellectual abilities. All of these explanations are extremely unsatisfactory, and it is perhaps better to think of him as a god of Taciturnity and the cult of celebrations.