Hrímgrímnir
# Hrímgrímnir

Hrímgrímnir (Old Norse:, 'frost-masked') is a jötunn in Norse mythology. He is invoked by Freyr's servant Skírnir as he tries to coerce the beautiful jötunn Gerðr on his master's behalf.

## Name

The Old Norse name Hrímgrímnir has been translated as 'frost-masked'.

## Attestations

In Skírnismál (The Lay of Skírnir), after Gerðr refuses to marry Freyr, his messenger Skírnir threatens her with a curse involving her marriage to Hrímgrímnir in Hel:

   [Skírnir:] Hrímgrímnir is the name of the giant who shall possess you [Gerðr], Down below Nágrind [the gate to Hel’s realm]. There let wretches on the roots of the tree Give you goat piss. A better drink you will never get, Maiden, from your mouth, Maiden, to your mouth.

Hrímgrímnir is also mentioned in the þulur among fellow jötnar but is not otherwise found elsewhere.

## Theories

Scholar John Lindow comments that Hrímgrímnir is evidently a "part of something bigger"; if Gerðr refuses Skírnir's offer, she will "be denied all ordinary sexual congress", resulting in social consequences—even though she would be married, she would live in social exile.

