InNorse mythology,Gungnir (/ˈɡʌŋ.nɪər/, "the rocking") is thespear of the godOdin. It is known for always hitting the target of the attacker regardless of the attacker's skill.
In the Poetic Edda poemVöluspá, theÆsir-Vanir War is described as officially starting when Odin throws a spear over the heads of an assembly ofVanir gods. Whether or not this was specifically Gungnir is, however, unstated. InSigrdrífumál, thevalkyrieSigrdrífa advisesSigurd on the magical application ofrunes. She gives Sigurd advice and shares with him lore, including that runes were carved on the tip of Gungnir.
According to chapter 51 of theProse Edda book,Gylfaginning, Odin will ride in front of theEinherjar while advancing on to the battle field atRagnarök wearing a gold helmet, an impressive cloak ofmail and carrying Gungnir. He will then attack the wolfFenrir with it.
InSkáldskaparmál, more information regarding the spear is presented. The spear was fashioned by thedwarves known as theSons of Ivaldi under the mastery of the blacksmith dwarfDvalinn. The spear was obtained from the dwarfs byLoki, the result of a scheme he concocted as a partial reparation for his cutting of the goddessSif's hair. The spear is described as being so well balanced that it could strike any target, no matter the skill or strength of the wielder.
If the rider on horseback on the image on theBöksta Runestone has been identified as Odin, then Odin is shown carrying Gungnir while hunting an elk.[1]
InRichard Wagner's opera cycle,Der Ring des Nibelungen, Wotan's (Odin's) spear is made from the wood of theworld tree, theash treeYggdrasil, and engraved with the contracts from which Wotan's power derives. He uses the spear to break the sword ofSiegmund, leading to Siegmund's death. When he later tries to bar Siegmund's sonSiegfried from awakeningBrünnhilde from her magic sleep, Siegfried breaks the spear in two and Wotan flees. In the concluding operaGötterdämmerung Wotan is said to have returned to his strongholdValhalla with the broken spear and withdrawn from worldly matters.
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