Norsery Rhymes from A to Z Happy Thorsday - Eitri, Blacksmith of Poison Smoke and Sparks
Well here we are another Thor’s Day and another 20 min sketch of a Norse (and Germanic) mythological characters. This week it’s Eitri / Sindri the Dwarven (Dverg / Dvergr / Dwarf).
Known as a ‘Great Blacksmith’, 'the one who forms’, ‘He Who Causes Sparks”, ‘The Spark Maker’. His name Eitri literally means 'The Poisonous One’, likely from the smoke of the forge, and ‘Spark’ from Sindri / Sindre. Also an allusion to the blacksmith creating sparks as they work.
Brother of Brokkr. Brokkr and Eitrri were renown as smiths and craftsmen. He is critical in co-creating three of the most recognizable magic items of Asgard.
While either visiting Asgard, or in their home amongst the Dwarves. Loki bragged that the Sons of Ivaldi were the finest, most creative, and most skilled blacksmiths amongst the Dwarves and all other Dwarves were incapable of making anything as spectacular and useful as they had. Loki obviously trying to provoke the other craftsmen present.
The Sons of Ivaldi were very skilled however, having made Odin’s magic Spear Gungnir (The Swaying One), Freyr’s ship Skidbladnir / Skithabthnir 'the ship assembled from thin pieces of wood’ that could magically fold up and be placed in a small pocket until needed. Considered the best, fastest and largest ship all at the same time. They also made something for Loki after Thor threatened him to make up for a prank where he sheared off Sif’s possibly magic golden hair. This prank led Loki to require a replacement for it, leading to the creation of a golden headpiece with gold hair for Sif.
Brokkr hearing Loki’s boasting challenging claims he and his brother can make things equal or better than the Sons of Ivaldi. Betting his head against Loki’s on the outcome.
Loki takes them up on the bet and The Brothers go to their magic forge to make items of beauty and power. Brokkr blowing the bellow continuously as needed and Eitri forming the items one by one. Loki never content on a fair contest turns himself into a biting Gadfly to bite Brokkr as he blows, trying to interrupt the bellows. First on the hand while the mechanical riding Boar Gullinbursti 'Golden Mane’ or 'Golden Bristles’ Freyr is made. That could run in air and water, see in the dark, and provide light from it’s mane. Then Loki bit Brokkr on the neck while the arm band Draupnir 'the Dripper’ was made for Odin. Which drips copies of itself every ninth night. Then on the eyelid while the hammer Mjolnir 'The Grindstone’ or 'The Crusher’ was made for Thor. The divine thunder and lightning weapon, that could banish chaos, never fail, never break, and if thrown would never miss and always fly back to him. While the first two bites did not cause Brokkr to falter, the third caused blood to go into his eye and a small gasp which cooled the bellows, causing the handle on Mjolnir to be shorter than a normal hammer.
When the items were presented to the gods and the time of judgment was at hand, they claimed them to be as equal or even more impressive than what the Sons of Ivaldi had accomplished. This may have just been a way to see Loki’s head separated from his body for them given all the trouble he’d caused. Loki first runs away, but Thor returns him to the proceedings. Loki then claimed that as his neck was never part of the deal, Brokkr would need to separate his head without touching his neck, a feat unattainable. For this Brokkr still claiming ownership of Loki’s head regardless of if it was attached to the body or not, used his brother Eitri’s magic Awl and the thong of fabric Vartari and sowed Loki’s lips shut, until the thread came free on it’s own to keep him from causing more chaos.
In the Thorsteins saga, to ask for advise defeating the invincible viking Otunfaxe / Otun Faxe, during his adventures, Thorstein is advised to travel to meet Sindri / Sindre on the Smaller Isle of Brenner where Sindri lives with his family in a stone home, or a home that’s a stone. There he finds Sindri’s children are seemingly playing by a stream, but on closer inspection they seemed to be more searching the stream. The boy introduced himself as Herraud and the girl as Herrid. Herrid was worried her father would be angry that she’d lost a ring he’d made for her. They were searching for it without success. Thorstein gave Herrid his own gold ring so that she would not get in trouble. Asking that when she show her father the ring that if he’s happy with the gift that he joins Thorstein by the stream so they could talk, and get some advise from him. Herrid told Thorstein that her father can’t deny anything to her Brother and that her father would be more likely to come if Herraud asked as well. So Thorstein gave Herraud his silver belt and belt and fine ornamented knife, and Herraud agreed to help convince his father to come.
After a long while, the brother and sister returned with their father Eitri / Sindri / Sindre who greeted Thorstein warmly. They talked of Otun Faxe and Sindri advised that through some magic, nothing could injure him, so Thorstein would be best served to take his men and boats and run. But if he is intent of trying he will help him with what he has. For his kindness to his children Sindri and his children give Thorstein first Herrid’s small belt dirk dagger that was likely family made, that if used skillfully can pierce Otunfaxe. Herruad didn’t have anything power enough so suggested that Sindri enchant Thorstein the ability to call on their family Disir, their female guardian spirits that will always follow and assist him.
Sindri would meet up with Thorstein on the bright night assault on Otunfaxe, shooting his own arrows, and dropping every one of Otunfaxe’s men that he launched an arrow at.
Once Thorstein and Otunfaxe finally come to individual battle swimming in the sea, both wrestling their way to the bottom, Otunfaxe was far stronger, and invulnerable, and was about to bite out Thorsteins throat, when briefly above the water, Thorstein called on Sindre’s protection. Otunfaxe seemed to be griped by invisible hands all around him. Being dragged down to the bottom again. Thorstein being held by Faxe and tiring, was able to reach Herrid’s belt knife, and plunge it into Otun and then slash him several times, defeating him, and freeing himself.
Once healed Thorstein visited Sindre on his isle, giving him many gifts and praise. Now lifelong friends.
Later on when Thorstein was captured, he called on Sindri again. This time, Sindri’s Disir put the men holding him to sleep. Sindri, or some casting of him eventually coming along while the men were still asleep to free Thorstein. Sindri Disappearing once complete.
Eitri / Sindri would go on to have many descendants. Some of whom will create a hall of gold located in ‘the fields of the new moon’ Niðavellir / Nidavellir in the land of the Dwarves. That will be a place for the souls of the virtuous to live after the events of Ragnaraok.
Reusing my joke for Brokkr:
Brokkr and Eitri having made many things, had many adventures, and had done the incredible by shutting Loki up, likely retire as there was nothing left to achieve in life.