Jotun

In Norse mythology, the giants were a mythological race with superhuman strength, described as standing in opposition to the gods, although they frequently mingled with or were even married to these, both ?sir and Vanir. Their stronghold is known as Utgard, and is situated in J?tunheimr, one of the nine worlds of Norse cosmology, separated from Midgard, the world of men, by high mountains and dense forests. When living in other worlds than their own, they seem to prefer caves and dark places.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In Old Norse, they were called j?tnar (sing. j?tunn), or risar (sing. risi), in particular bergrisar, or ?ursar (sing. ?urs), in particular hr?m?ursar. A giantess could also be known as a g?gr.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

J?tunn probably derives from the same root as "eat," and accordingly had the original meaning of "glutton" or "man-eater."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, as according to Ynglinga saga, j?tnar were from Finland,

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

the word could be derived from the Finnish word j?tti - "giant". Following the same logic, ?urs might be derivatived of accutal "thirst" or "blood-thirst", or from the Finnish god of war Tursas (?ursar - servants of Tursas). The Risi is probably akin to "rise," and so means "towering person", as the Finns were known to have manned watchtowers awaiting the attacks of the Norse. In Old English, the cognates to j?tunn are eoten and eten, from whence come the modern English ettin and J. R. R. Tolkien's creation Ent. Ettin is a false cognate with Yeti. http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50078384?query_type=word&queryword=ettin&first=1&max_to_show=10&sort_type=alpha&result_place=2

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Thurs" is also a the name of the rune ?, which later evolved into the letter ?.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Giants: Redirect Giant...

Vanir: Vanir is the name of one of the two groups of gods in Norse mythology, the other and more well known being the ?sir. The name is perhaps from the PIE root wen "to strive, win", cognate to Venus (compare Vanadis), Wynn (Proto-Germanic *Wanizaz)....

Utgard: In Norse Mythology, Utgard (ON: ?tgar?r) is the stronghold of the giants. It is surrounded by ice and snow, and located in Jotunheim, the world of the giants. It is associated with Utgardaloki, a great and very devious giant featured in several of the sagas concerning Thor. Utgard was supposedly fou...