aegir

Aegir (Old Norse: Ægir) is a figure in Norse mythology who personifies the sea. He is described as a jötnar (giant) and is often portrayed as a hospitable host who invites the Æsir, the Norse gods, to his hall beneath the waves and serves them ale brewed in a large cauldron.

Etymology of the name Ægir is uncertain. Most scholars link it to Old Norse terms associated with the sea or water, though there is no definitive consensus on its exact meaning.

In myth, Ægir and his wife Rán, a sea goddess associated with drowning, are depicted as rulers of the ocean. They are sometimes said to have nine daughters who personify the waves or the sea’s breakers. Ægir’s hall and his great cauldrons are recurring motifs in sources such as the Prose Edda, where his hospitality toward the gods underscores the sea’s vastness and mystery.

In modern usage, the name Aegir has been adopted in literature, branding, and popular culture to evoke the power and majesty of the sea. The figure remains a common reference point in discussions of Norse myth and its influence on contemporary art and media.