Gangleri

Gangleri is a character from Norse mythology, most prominently featured in the Prose and Poetic Eddas. He is primarily known as the king of the Haddingjar, a people who inhabited ancient Denmark. Gangleri is a significant figure in the opening of the Prose Edda, where he appears as a curious mortal who encounters Odin in disguise.

In the Prose Edda, Gangleri travels to Valhalla to seek knowledge about the gods. He questions Odin, who is disguised as an old man named Gangleri, about various aspects of Norse cosmology, theology, and mythology. This question-and-answer format forms the structure of the Gylfaginning, the first part of the Prose Edda. Gangleri's persistent questioning drives the narrative and allows for the exposition of vast amounts of mythological lore.

The character of Gangleri also appears in the Poetic Edda, specifically in the poem Grímnismál. Here, he is again depicted as a seeker of knowledge, enduring a painful ordeal between two fires, which he accepts as a consequence of his curiosity about the gods. Odin, disguised as Grímnir, eventually reveals himself to Gangleri and bestows upon him wisdom.

The name Gangleri itself is thought to mean "one who walks slowly" or "weary traveler," reflecting his journey and quest for understanding. While his role is primarily that of an interlocutor and a recipient of divine wisdom, Gangleri serves as a crucial device for conveying the rich mythology of the Norse people to the audience.