InNorse mythology,Hœnir (alsoHǿnir; modern IcelandicHænir, modern SwedishHöner) is one of theÆsir. He is mentioned inVǫluspá as one of the three gods (along withOdin andLóðurr) that created the first humans.
InVöluspá, at the creation of the first human beings,Ask and Embla, Hœnir andLóðurr helpOdin. According to theProse Edda, Hœnir is said to have given reason to man.[1]
InGylfaginning,Vili andVé are mentioned instead. AsSnorri Sturluson knewVöluspá, it is possible that Hœnir was another name forVili. Also according toVöluspá, Hœnir was one of the few gods that would surviveRagnarök. InYnglinga saga, along withMímir, he went to theVanir as a hostage to seal a truce after theÆsir-Vanir War. Upon arrival inVanaheim, Hœnir, described here as large, handsome, and thought of by thevanir well-suited to be a chief, was immediately made chief. There, Hœnir was indecisive and relied onMímir for all of his decisions, grunting noncommital answers when Mímir was absent.
Hœnir also has a minor role inHaustlöng andReginsmál.
In the medievalFaroese balladLokka táttur, Hœnir protects a farmer's boy through summoning sevenswans.[2]
According toViktor Rydberg and other scholars, such asGudbrand Vigfusson, the epithetslangifótr 'Long-legs' andaurkonungr 'mud-king', together with the Greekcognateκύκνος 'swan' and Sanskritशकुन (śakuna) 'bird of omen', suggest that Hœnir was connected with thestork.[3] This seems to be supported by Hœnir's connection with the Europeanfolkloric legend of thestork delivering babies to their parents, and his role in the medieval folktaleLoka Táttur, which further confirms his association with birds.
