Goddess of wisdom and good conduct.
Snotra (Old Norse Snotra) is an Asynja described by Snorri in Gylfaginning 35. She is wise and restrained, and Snorri states that a clever and well-mannered man or woman is called snotr after her. Her name is related to the Old Norse adjective snotr ('clever, wise').
Snotra belongs to the group of Asynjur whose figure appears to be the personification of a virtue. Beyond Snorri's brief mention she lacks attestation in the poetic Eddic sources. Whether she represents an actual cult figure or is part of Snorri's systematization of divine attributes is unknown.
Sources in the Eddas
- Gylfaginning 35
- Snorri describes Snotra as wise and well-mannered; clever people are called snotr after her.
Interpretive traditions
A What we know
Snotra is associated with wisdom and good conduct (Gylfaginning 35).
B What we think we know
Whether Snotra is an independent goddess or a personification in Snorri's text is unclear.
C What we do not know
Snotra's cult and older traditions lack any attestation.