InNorse mythology,Sjöfn (orSjǫfn[ˈsjɔvn] inOld Norse orthography) is agoddess associated withlove. Sjöfn is attested in theProse Edda, written in the 13th century bySnorri Sturluson; and in threekennings employed inskaldic poetry. Scholars have proposed theories about the implications of the goddess.
In chapter 35 of theProse Edda bookGylfaginning,High provides brief descriptions of 16ásynjur. High lists Sjöfn seventh, and says that Sjöfn is "concerned to direct people's minds to love, both women and men." In addition, High states that from Sjöfn's name comes the Old Norse wordsjafni.[1] In theNafnaþulur section appended to theProse Edda bookSkáldskaparmál, chapter 75, Sjöfn is included in a list of 27 names of ásynjur.[2] Otherwise, the nameSjöfn is thrice employed as a base word inskaldickennings for "woman".[3]
Regarding the information given about Sjöfn inGylfaginning,John Lindow says that the wordsjafni does indeed appear listed in theþulur as a word for "love", yet that outside this description no information about the goddess is known. Lindow states that some scholars theorize that Sjöfn may be the goddessFrigg under another name.[3]Rudolf Simek says that Snorri may have derived hisetymology ofSjöfn from the Old Norse wordssefi ("sense") or fromsefi (possibly "relation"), but that the scant references to Sjöfn do not allow for much more of an elaborate explanation for the goddess. Simek says that, accordingly, Sjöfn is viewed as a goddess of "marriage and love, or else one of relationships" and that Sjöfn is among several goddesses mentioned in theProse Edda "who arematron-like guardian-goddesses."[4]