Happy Thorsday - Aurnir
Well here we are another Thor’s Day and another 20 min sketch of a Norse (and Germanic, sometimes Celtic) mythological characters. This week it’s Aurnir, of many names. Aslo known as Ornir “Eagle” or “The Quick” / Aurinir / Aurnir-Egil / Gdngr / Gangr “The Faring” or “The Traveler. A Mountain Jotun (Jotnar/Giant). His father was Olvalde / Audvaldi , and his mother the Asynjr Greip. Brother to Idi and Thjazi, and so Uncle to Skadi.
When his father died he was the most wealthy person alive, with more gold than could be measured. And when he died his sons divided it up one mouthful at a time it is said. Making Aurnir one of the giants with “a mouthful of gold”, with he and his brothers all gaining the gift of “golden speech” or “shining talk” from it. He and his family all lived on the south coast of Elivagar.
He and his brothers though giants, were each friends with Thor. Though eventually his brother Thjazi was killed by Thor once Thjazi stole Idunn and her Golden apples that allowed the gods to never age. If equating Olvalde to Ivalde, Then Idunn as Ivalde’s daugfhter would be Thjazi’s sister / half sister. As proof of Thor’s friendship to the giant brothers and as a favour to Skadi, Thor or Odin on is behalf, throws Thjazi’s eyes into the heavens making them stars. There’s no mention of Aurnir after that, or how he felt about his brother’s actions or death at his friends hands.
Aurnir and his brothers are a favourite of mine. He was a quick, wild boar of a traveler with a shining way of speaking and a friend to Thor. With an interesting and tragic story.
