Gylfi and Ági identified as original sources of Norse mythology in Snorri's Edda. Gylfi was a human wizard king who ruled near Lake Van (Vänern) in Sweden Ági was a yorton (mysterious human type often translated as 'giant') who lived on the island of Fles (now Lysø) off the Jutland Peninsula in Denmark Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda (written around 1220) and the Poetic Edda are the only written sources for Norse mythology
Research suggests Gylfi was a human king who ruled near Lake Vänern in Sweden while Ági was described as a jötunn (often translated as 'giant') who lived on the island of Fles (now Lysø) off the Jutland Peninsula in Denmark. Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda (written around 1220) and the older Poetic Edda are the primary written sources for Norse mythology. Snorri was educated at the great school at Oddi in Iceland and steeped in Nordic stories. Both figures are mentioned as actual historical people in these sources.
Key Facts
- Gylfi was a human wizard king who ruled near Lake Van (Vänern) in Sweden
- Ági was a yorton (mysterious human type often translated as 'giant') who lived on the island of Fles (now Lysø) off the Jutland Peninsula in Denmark
- Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda (written around 1220) and the Poetic Edda are the only written sources for Norse mythology
- The Poetic Edda is a collection of poems believed to be older than Snorri's writings
- Snorri was educated at the great school at Oddi in Iceland and steeped in Nordic stories
- Gylfi was described as 'Gylfi konungr varinger' (King Gylfi the wizard)
- Ági was described as 'inn holzti' (the very wise one) in Old Norse texts
Source: Will The Real Viking Gods Please Stand Up! by Viking Superpowers