The species of giants called Jötnar in old Norse have their origin before the Germanic culture was formed. They are beings who wandered around all 9 realms and are extremely powerful and wise. Their knowledge is incredibly ancient, dating back to the formation of the worlds. The Asir Gods eventually banished them to one of the realms called Jötunheimr.
Their name in English is quite misleading. The giants are not all big in size. The word started to be used because of French linguistic influences when William the Conquerer took over England in 1066AD.
It makes much more sense to take a look at the old Norse word Jötnar. This word has been derived from the proto-Germanic Etunaz which means devourer. The old English word for Etunaz is eóten. This is where William the Conquerer comes into the picture. When he took control of England, the English language started to get replaced with certain French loan words. One of those loan words was Geant. Geant replaced the word eóten and eventually developed into Giant which is why they are called giants now in modern English.
The giants are linked to certain aspects of nature. They are also known as nature spirits. The worship of nature spirits predates the worship of antropomorphic Gods. This could also be the reason why they are seen as the adversaries of the Gods.
The giants ruled the world in prehistoric ages until the Gods took over. The belief in giants as nature spirits could date back many thousands of years ago. Viewing objects and aspects of nature as spiritual beings is the key part of animism, the world’s oldest spiritual belief system. It might have even been practiced by the Neanderthals, although we do not have direct evidence for this theory yet.
They represent elementals, the dangerous wilderness outside the habitats of our prehistoric ancestors. They were seen as the creators of swamps, forests, seas, mountains, ice, bogs and also held responsible for natural disasters like avalanches, floods, fires, earthquakes and storms. The Gods however are the ones who can tame these elements of nature. They protect humans against the dangers of wild untouched nature. The Giants fear thunder, a power linked to the Gods, and see humans as a threat to their habitats.
The eddas are a perfect example of this. In the Völuspa you can read how the Giant species came before the Gods and how the death of the primal giant Ymir, led to the creating of the world in which we are able to live. The death of the Jötnar means the conquest over nature itself. An incredible important factor for survival back in prehistoric and medieval ages.
There was no need for our ancestors to worship the Jötnar. No archeological or written evidence has been found that the Germanic people honoured the giants. Survival was tough and there was no control over any aspect of nature nor was it damaged to such an extent as it is right now.
I think it is time to respect the surviving Jötnar now. We are losing nature at an incredible pace and we won’t survive without it.
Names for the Jötnar in other Germanic languages:
Proto-Germanic: Etunaz/þurisaz (note how þurisaz is also seen as the most powerful and destructive rune)
Old Norse: Jötnar/þursar/Risi/Troll
Modern Dutch and Frisian: Reuzen
artist photo: https://www.artstation.com/eytan
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