Gunnlöd

Gunnlöd is a figure from Norse mythology, primarily known for her role in the story of Odin's acquisition of the mead of poetry. She is depicted as a daughter of the jötunn Suttungr, who possessed the precious mead.

According to the Eddic poem "Skáldskaparmál" (The Language of Poetry), Odin, in disguise, managed to get close to Gunnlöd. He seduced her and spent three nights with her. In return for her affection, Odin was granted three sips of the mead of poetry, which he then stole. Gunnlöd's compliance and subsequent betrayal by Odin are central to the narrative of how this potent substance, said to grant poetic skill and wisdom, came to the gods.

The story highlights themes of cunning, desire, and the acquisition of knowledge. Gunnlöd’s character, while not extensively detailed beyond her role in this specific event, serves as a crucial link in the mythological chain of events surrounding the mead of poetry. Her father, Suttungr, was enraged by the theft, and Odin had to flee in his eagle form to escape retribution. Gunnlöd's story is a significant, albeit brief, episode in the wider mythological tapestry.