Víðblindi

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Víðblindi or Viðblindi ("Very blind") is a giant in Norse mythology.

The skald Hallar-Steinn uses the kenning "Viðblindi's boar" (Viðblinda göltr) for whale in a stanza quoted by Snorri Sturluson in his Skáldskaparmál. Snorri explains it as follows:

Here the whale is called Boar of Vidblindi; this Vidblindi was a giant who drew whales out of the sea like fishes.

—Skáldskaparmál (XLVI), Brodeur's translation

A similar kenning for whale, "Víðblindi's pig" (Víðblinda svín), can be found in an anonymous stanza from the 13th century preserved in Laufás Edda.

Rudolf Simek noticed that the only giant known for fishing whales is Hymir^[1], but he is never called Víðblindi / Viðblindi^[2].

Vídblindi is also listed among the giants in the þulur.

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Hymiskviða 21.
2. ^ Simek 1996.

[edit] References

• Brodeur, Arthur Gilchrist (trans.). 1916. Snorri Sturluson: The Prose Edda. New York: The American-Scandinavian Foundation.
• Simek, Rudolf. 1996. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. Translated by Angela Hall. First published: Alfred Kröner Verlang, 1984. Cambridge: D. S. Brewer. ISBN 0-85991-513-1.

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