Gefjun Facts for Kids

The Gefion fountain in Churchill Park, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Gefjun (also spelled Gefjon or Gefion) is a goddess from Norse mythology. She is one of the Asynjur, which are the main goddesses in the Norse pantheon. Her name might come from an Old Norse phrase meaning "chaste" or "pure."

In old stories, she is often seen as a goddess of purity. However, some experts today think she might have originally been a goddess of fertility and farming. They believe she could be linked to ritual plowing, which helps crops grow. Some even suggest she was once the same goddess as Freyja, another important fertility goddess.

Gefjun's Role in Myths
- The Story of Zealand
Gefjun and Beowulf
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Gefjun's Role in Myths

Gefjun does not appear very often in the old stories that have survived. When she does, she is usually linked to ideas of chastity or purity. However, her connection to farming and fertility is also very important.

The Story of Zealand

One famous story about Gefjun tells how she created the island of Zealand in Denmark. The myth says that the Swedish king Gylfi promised Gefjun as much land as she could plow in one night. Gefjun then turned her four sons into oxen. These giant oxen plowed a huge area of land, pulling it away from Sweden and creating Zealand. The hole left behind in Sweden became Lake Mälaren. This story shows her power and her link to the land.

Gefjun and Beowulf

Some scholars have suggested that Gefjun might be connected to Grendel's mother. Grendel's mother is a monster who appears in the famous Old English epic poem Beowulf. This idea is a theory, but it shows how different myths and stories can sometimes be linked across cultures.