Fjölsviðrs

Fjölsviðr is a figure who appears in Old Norse mythology, most prominently in the poem Fjölsvinnsmál, part of the Poetic Edda. The name Fjölsviðr, meaning "much-wise" or "wide-seeing," suggests a character of great knowledge and perception. In the poem, Fjölsviðr is presented as the guardian of Lyfjaberg, the "healing mountain," a place associated with restorative powers and often linked to the goddess Vör.

He is depicted as a wise old man, a gatekeeper who tests those who seek entry to Lyfjaberg. His role is to ascertain the worthiness and intentions of visitors. Fjölsviðr often poses riddles or questions to the supplicant, and only those who can answer correctly are granted passage to the mountain and its healing properties. This testing motif emphasizes the importance of wisdom and understanding in accessing blessings or aid within the Norse cosmological framework.

The character of Fjölsviðr may also be connected to other figures in Norse myth, such as Odin, who is also known for his wisdom and his role as a wanderer and tester of mortals. Some scholars suggest that Fjölsviðr could be an epithet or a guise of Odin himself, reflecting the god's multifaceted nature and his involvement in various aspects of the divine and mortal realms. His presence on Lyfjaberg underscores the interplay between wisdom, healing, and divine protection in Norse belief.