The wisest giant. Competed in knowledge with Odin.
Vafthrudnir (Old Norse Vafþrúðnir) is a giant famed for his cosmological wisdom. The entire poem Vafþrúðnismál concerns his contest of knowledge with Odin, who visits him disguised as Gagnrad. The two pose each other questions about the origin of the world, gods, giants, and Ragnarok.
The contest ends when Odin asks what he himself whispered in Baldr's ear on the pyre, a question only Odin can answer. Vafthrudnir realizes he has been contesting with Odin and acknowledges his defeat. The poem is one of the most important cosmological sources in the Poetic Edda.
Sources in the Eddas
- Vafþrúðnismál 1–55
- The entire poem depicts the contest of knowledge between Odin and Vafthrudnir.
Interpretive traditions
A What we know
Vafthrudnir competed in cosmological knowledge with Odin and lost (Vafþrúðnismál).