Vár

In Norse mythology, Vár or Vór (Old Norse, meaning either "pledge" or "beloved") is a goddess associated with oaths and agreements. Vár is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources; the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson; and kennings found in skaldic poetry and a runic inscription. Scholars have proposed theories about the implications of the goddess.

Attestations

In the Poetic Edda poem Þrymskviða, the blessed of Vár is invoked by the jötunn Þrymr after his "bride" (who is actually the god Thor disguised as the goddess Freyja) is hallowed with the stolen hammer of Thor, Mjöllnir, at their wedding:

In the chapter 35 of the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, High tells Gangleri (described as king Gylfi in disguise) about the ásynjur. High lists Vár ninth among the sixteen ásynjur he presents in the chapter and provides some information about her:

Ninth Var: she listens to people's oaths and private agreements that women and men make between each other. Thus these contracts are called varar. She also punishes those who break them.

Vör

In Norse mythology, Vör (Old Norse, possibly "the careful one," or "aware, careful") is a goddess associated with wisdom. Vör is attested in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson; and twice in kennings employed in skaldic poetry. Scholars have proposed theories about the implications of the goddess.

Attestations

In chapter 35 of the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, High provides brief descriptions of 16 ásynjur. High lists Vör tenth, and says that Vör is "wise and inquiring, so that nothing can be concealed from her." High adds that a saying exists where "a woman becomes aware (vor) of something when she finds it out." In chapter 75 of the Prose Edda book Skáldskaparmál Vör appears within a list of 27 ásynjur names.

Theories

Rudolf Simek says that it is uncertain whether or not Vör was a goddess as attested in the Prose Edda and if the etymological connection presented there (between Vör and Old Norse vörr, meaning "careful") is correct. In the same work, Simek writes that the goddesses Sága, Hlín, Sjöfn, Snotra, Vár, and Vör should be considered vaguely defined figures who "should be seen as female protective goddesses" that are all responsible for "specific areas of the private sphere, and yet clear differences were made between them so that they are in many ways similar to matrons." Simek notes that the second part of the valkyrie name Geiravör may be identical with the name of the goddess Vör (and would therefore mean "spear-goddess"), or simple be identical with a frequently found suffix appearing in personal names.

Vörå

Vörå (Finnish: Vöyri) is a municipality of Finland. In 2011, it was created from the municipalities of Vörå-Maxmo and Oravais. Vörå-Maxmo was created in 2007 from the municipalities of (old) Vörå and Maxmo. It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Ostrobothnia region.

The municipality is bilingual, with the majority (7,001,850,000,000,000,000♠85%) speaking Swedish and the minority (7,001,140,000,000,000,000♠14%) Finnish.

Old Vörå

The former municipality had a population of 3,524 (2003) and covered an area of 427.50 km² of which 2.38 km² is water. The population density was 8.3 inhabitants per km². The majority were speakers of Swedish (85%) and the minority speakers of Finnish (14%).

References

External links

Media related to Vörå at Wikimedia Commons