Naglfari facts for kids
Naglfari is a character from Norse mythology. He is known as the first husband of Nótt, who represents the night. Naglfari is also the father of a son named Auðr. It is believed that Naglfari was created by a famous Icelandic writer named Snorri Sturluson.
Who is Naglfari?
Naglfari is a figure mentioned in ancient Norse stories. He is not one of the main gods or goddesses that you might usually hear about. Instead, he plays a smaller role, mainly through his connection to Nótt and Auðr. His name doesn't appear in the oldest Norse poems, which suggests he might have been added to the myths later on.
Naglfari's Family
Naglfari's most important connections are his wife, Nótt, and their son, Auðr.
- Nótt: Her name means "night." She is the personification of night itself. She rides across the sky in a chariot pulled by a horse named Hrímfaxi, whose foamy breath creates dew on the Earth.
- Auðr: He is the son of Naglfari and Nótt. His name means "wealth" or "prosperity." Not much is known about Auðr himself, but his existence helps connect Naglfari to the wider family tree of Norse myths.
The Storyteller: Snorri Sturluson
Many of the stories we know about Norse mythology today come from a writer named Snorri Sturluson. He lived in Iceland during the 13th century. Snorri wrote two very important books: the Prose Edda and the Heimskringla.
- The Prose Edda is a collection of Norse myths and a guide for poets. It's one of our main sources for understanding the Norse gods, giants, and the creation of the world.
- Snorri often organized and explained the old myths in his own way. Because Naglfari is only mentioned in Snorri's writings and not in older poems, many scholars believe Snorri might have invented Naglfari to help explain the family connections of Nótt. This was a common practice for writers trying to make sense of complex mythological family trees.
