Goddess of love. Turns people's minds to love.
Sjofn (Old Norse Sjöfn) is an Asynja mentioned by Snorri in Gylfaginning 35. Her function is to turn people's minds to love, and Snorri states that the word sjafni ('love') derives from her name. She is described as a goddess whose role is to awaken tender feelings.
Like several other Asynjur in Snorri's enumeration, Sjofn lacks attestation in the poetic Eddic sources. Her figure may represent an aspect of Freyja's or Frigg's love-function, but the sources provide no support to confirm this. Her brief mention in Gylfaginning is the only surviving testimony.
Sources in the Eddas
- Gylfaginning 35
- Snorri describes Sjofn as the Asynja who turns minds to love.
Interpretive traditions
A What we know
Sjofn turns people's minds to love (Gylfaginning 35).
B What we think we know
Whether Sjofn is an independent goddess or a hypostasis of Freyja/Frigg is uncertain.
C What we do not know
Sjofn's cult and older traditions about her are undocumented.