Norsery Rhymes from A to Z
Dofri, Giant Foster Father of Heros and Kings
Well here we are on another ThorsDay with another 20 min sketch of a Norse (and Germanic, sometimes Celtic) mythological characters. This week it’s Dofri / Dovri of either the Trolls or alternately Jotnar (Jotun / Jotunn / Jetten / Eoten / Giant). Mentioned in the Skáldskaparmál, in the Nafnaþulur.
He lives on his mountain named after him Dofrafjall / Dovrefjell Dofri’s Mountain.
Dofri translates to “the lazy one”. He’s also called “The Cave dweller”, “The Mountain Dweller”, “The Troll Father” And “The Mountain Karl” (free man).
Foster father of Princes who provides them a varied and core education, and teaches them various things like magic, nature, martial arts, mystic arts, kingship and statesmanship.
Fostering most famously the hero king Harold Fagrhár “Fine-Hair” the son of King Halfdan the Black for five years. Also notably fostering and teaching the very Odin like hermit her Bardr / Bárðr. He was known to love his fosters very much spoiling them.
He is also famous for stealing the gold of King Halfdan / Hálfdan the Black.
He’s often considered as a representative or ambassador of the Jotun.
The story is that Dofri had successfully managed to steal much of valuables and treasures from the castle of King Halfdan over many nightly trips completely unseen. King Halfdan was a proud, intelligent and uncompromising ruler. He contracted the greatest craftsmen and magicians to build invisible traps and magical spells to capture a giant thief. Halfdan being able to tell the thief was large and strong by how much it took each time.
Even with all of the physical traps and spells it took sixty men to restrain Dofri enough to get his arms clamped and chained behind his back, and huge leg manacles and chains of the hardest steel and skill placed on him.
Dofri who had never been bested before and feeling fairly caught, told them who he was and where he was from. Admitted to stealing the gold and swearing to bring it all back along with three times more the amount. Asking for a pardon in exchange.
Halfdan, in his pride, though knowing Dofri’s word was good, refused the pardon. Promised him an awful death once the Thing court could be assembled in time. Leaving him bound and unable to sleep or relieve himself, while also refusing him any food or drink. Condemning any who help him in food or movement to be put to death with him.
While Dofri sat for 5 days, Halfdan’s 5 year old son Harald came home. Hearing about the captured giant, went to speak with him. But after meeting Dofri and seeing how he was treated stated his intention to free him. Dofri warned him against it fearing what the King would do. Harald used his sword that could cut the finest lead and steel to slice away the shackles and chains.
Dofri, knowledgeable in many natural and supernatural things, collected himself swiftly, and left so fast that he seemed to just disappear. So quietly that no wind was heard. And so gently that and no dust was disturbed.
The King was furious when he found what his son had done, exiling without, coat, tool or provisions. Harald being brave, but very young and inexperienced in the wild wandered for five days before wandering cold, starving and dehydrated into a clearing where Dofri found him.
Dofri offered him help at his home, and to foster Harald if he’d like. A huge cave in his own mountain. Carrying him home with him. Once home Dofri cried over the unconscious and fading Prince. Fearing he was dying from exposure and possibly from his knocking Harald’s head off the door frame when he brought him in.
He cried so strongly, his face twisted and a mess. Woke Harald, who in the warmth and possibly magic of the cave, along with the stunned feeling the care he’d never had with his own father, was well enough to joke with Dofri that he looked ugly in his crying, but assured Dofri he’d be ok, calling him Foster Father.
They lived in happiness for (5?) years. With Dofri teaching him everything he could. But not everything he knew, as he cold not force Harald to do anything. As he loved him too much to force him to study. Once King Halfdan died, Dofri knew they would need to say goodbye to their cozy life in their cave. Sending Harald off ahead to ensure his future as King. Giving him final bits of knowledge, tools, the gold and treasures from his fathers castle, and a prophesy that as long as he does not cut his nails or hair before he was the lone King of Norway he would have great life of great deeds, future and glory. Saying he would join him shortly to help him in battles, council ,and service. Being able to do magic of all kinds, from battle magic, to scrying and becoming invisible and silent so that no secret plot would ever befall him.
His next most famous fostering was Bardr / Bárðr, who was cast out from his village as a child when it was learned that his human mother had him with a half Risi (Giant) and half Troll father.
Dofri is also Father of the Giantess Flaumgerdr / Flaumgerðr by a Human mother. Flaumgerðr goes on to fall in love with Bardr and have 3 or 4 tall lovely daughters together Helga, Gudrun, Thordis and a possible unnamed daughter who marries another unrelated Bardr.
It’s never stated what happens to Flaumgerdr, perhaps she died tragically, or she simply did not want to, or could not leave with Bardr when he went to live in Iceland to connect with his newly discovered half brother Thorkel in Iceland by his human mother and another Jotun father that she married.
Bardr goes on to have another wife and more children. Having a massive falling out with is Brother’s sons, and eventually becoming a helpful hermit putting to use the magic and skills that Dofri taught him going on adventures and helping the people of Iceland as a guardian spirit of sorts.
I based today’s sketch on the illustration of him in the 14th century Flateyjarbok / Flateyjarbók manuscript because I loved it so much. And I might have another I’ll do next week that’s an original concept.
