Gunnr

Gunnr (alternatively GuÃÂ°r) is one of the named Valkyries in Norse mythology, specifically referenced in the VÃÂ¶luspÃÂ¡ (st. 30/7; NK, p. 7), HelgakviÃÂ°a Hundingsbana II (st. 7/4; NK, p. 152), and the Prose Edda. Her name is an Old Norse term that translates to "battle". The Valkyries Gunnr, Rota, and the young norn Skuld were said to decide the outcome of battles, and, at its conclusion, would ride out to take the slain.

Gunnr was also a feminine given name among Norsemen. The modern forms Gun and Gunn remain in use as a feminine given name in Scandinavia. The word is from Proto-Germanic ', a common element of Northern and Western Germanic names. It is often used as the second element in feminine names (as in Hildegund), and as the first element in masculine names (as in Gunther).

The earliest attestation of the name is on the RÃÂ¶k Stone where it occurs as part of a kenning for wolf:

ÃÂat sagum tvalfta, hvar hÃÂ¦stÃÂ se GunnaÃÂ etu vettvangi a, kunungaÃÂ tvaiÃÂ tigiÃÂ svaÃÂ° a liggia.

"I say this the twelfth, where the horse of Gunnr sees fodder on the battlefield, where twenty kings lie."

Valkyrie

Gunnr is mentioned in the VÃÂ¶luspÃÂ¡ in a list of valkyries, Gunnr, Hildr, GÃÂ¶ndul / ok GeirskÃÂ¶gul. The DarraÃÂ°arljÃÂ³ÃÂ° gives GuÃÂ°r as one of six names of valkyries.

In the Prose Edda Gunnr is singled out along with RÃÂ³ta and Skuld as one of the valkyries who always ride out to decide battles and take the slain. Another mention of Gunnr specifically states that those named are "Odin's Valkyries":

GuÃÂ°r ok RÃÂ³ta ok norn in yngsta, er Skuld heitir, rÃÂÃÂ°a jafnan at kjÃÂ³sa val ok rÃÂ¡ÃÂ°a vÃÂgum.

"Gunnr and RÃÂ³ta and the youngest Norn, she who is called Skuld, ride ever to take the slain and decide fights."

Ek man nefna valkyrjur ViÃÂ°ris: Hrist, Mist, Herja, HlÃÂ«kk, GeiravÃÂ«r, GÃÂ«ll, HjÃÂ«rÃÂ¾rimul, GuÃÂ°r, HerfjÃÂ«tur, Skuld, GeirÃÂ«nul, SkÃÂ«gul ok RandgniÃÂ°.

"I can name ViÃÂ°rirÃ¢ÂÂs <= ÃÂÃÂ°innÃ¢ÂÂs> valkyries: Hrist, Mist, Herja, HlÃÂ«kk, GeiravÃÂ«r, GÃÂ«ll, HjÃÂ«rÃÂ¾rimul, Gunnr, HerfjÃÂ«tur, Skuld, GeirÃÂ«nul, SkÃÂ«gul and RandgniÃÂ°."

<nowiki>{HerskerÃÂ°ir} klauf {harÃÂ°an stofn svarÃÂ°ar} {kunnum eldviÃÂ°um} meÃÂ° sverÃÂ°i sunnr; hann gekk reiÃÂ°r of skeiÃÂ°ar. Gramr kunni sarka {rÃÂ´ {holdbarkar at gunni; {margr heggr {GunnÃÂ¾inga lÃÂ¡ of hÃÂ«ggvinn jarnmunnum.</nowiki>

<nowiki>"{The army-diminisher} [RULER] split {the hard stump of the scalp} [HEAD] {of famous sword-trees} [WARRIORS] with a sword in the south; he went angry through the warships. The prince knew how to redden {the yard-arm {of flesh-bark [MAIL-SHIRT > SWORD] in battle; {many a cherry-tree {of meetings of Gunnr <valkyrie> [BATTLES > WARRIOR] lay chopped down by iron mouths."</nowiki>

References