Forseti (deity)

Symbol: Axe

Culture: Norse

Mother: Nanna

Father: Balder

Forseti was a god in Norse mythology and a member of the Aesir, the group of male gods who lived in the holy realm of Asgard. Forseti was known as the god of judgment, who had unmatched skills in mediation and conflict resolution. The god’s peaceful and fair rulings were his hallmark, and they set him apart from fellow Norse god Týr, who settled matters with violence and bloodshed. Despite his important role as a voice of justice, Forseti is considered to be a minor Aesir, secondary to the more legendary gods, including his father Balder and grandfather Odin. Many of Forseti’s traits, including those of gentility, eloquence, and judiciousness, can be attributed to his parents. His father Balder was the god of love, peace, and light—all qualities used by Forseti in crafting his just verdicts—and his mother Nanna was a goddess of purity. Forseti’s commitment to fair, peaceable judgments was unwavering. His judgment remained unwavering in spite of the unfair and tragic death of his father, an event that is central to Norse mythology. Balder’s murder, plotted by the trickster Loki, set in motion those events that led to the Ragnarok—a final battle that brought about the destruction of the gods in a clash between good and evil. As a god of peace, Forseti did not participate in this legendary battle.

In Mythology

Many details about Forseti are not known or are uncertain, because the god’s story is not well documented in Old Norse literature. In fact, his story is only mentioned a few times—for example, in "Grímnismál," a poem that is part of the Poetic Edda cycle (a collection of Old Norse poetry). "Grímnismál" describes Forseti’s dwelling and hall of justice, Glitnir. The name Glitnir, meaning "shining," refers to the court’s brilliant silver ceilings and radiant golden pillars. The light coming from this court could be seen from far away—it was a literal beacon of justice. It was at Glitnir that Forseti presided over the conflicts of both gods and men, listening intently and patiently. He always gave much thought to his verdicts before delivering them, and when he did so, they were always found to be reasonable and just. Even in the bitterest disputes, Forseti’s rulings reconciled the worst enemies and were accepted by all parties in peace. Forseti and his conduct in court served as a divine model for the speakers who chair modern Scandinavian legal assemblies.

The most well-known myth involving Forseti tells of his involvement in the survival of the Frisian people, a group living in coastal parts of the Netherlands and Germany. The events chronicled in this story are detailed in the Life of St. Willibrord, which was written by the eighth century poet Alcuin of York. This book mentions a holy spring at Forseti’s Land, or Heligoland (holy land). Charles the Great wanted to put in place a set of written laws to more effectively govern the many people within his kingdom, and he demanded that the Frisian people be presented to him at court. He summoned a group of twelve Asgeir, or elders, who journeyed to the king to address his requests. Charles the Great demanded that the Frisians fall in line and obey his rule or else choose one of three punishments: death, slavery, or an uncertain future adrift in a boat. The twelve Asgeir chose the final option, and they prayed for help to save them at sea. Suddenly, a thirteenth man appeared in the boat, carrying with him a golden axe that he used as a rudder to steer the Asgeir safely to shore. Upon arriving on the island, the man used his golden axe to strike the land, and where his axe fell, a spring emerged. Then, after teaching the twelve men the laws of the land, the man disappeared. The Frisians believed this man to be Forseti, and they therefore named the island Forseti’s Land in his honor. This tale serves as the origin story for the Lex Frisonum, the Frisian written law.

Some refute the idea that it was Forseti who helped the Asgeir in their time of need. They say instead that it was Jesus Christ who arrived on the scene to answer the prayers of the Christians on board. Those who accept this interpretation see the twelve men in the boat as an echo of Jesus’s twelve apostles, and they look upon Jesus as the thirteenth man and savior of the Frisians.

Origins and Cults

The spring created by Forseti was considered sacred, and any water taken from it was done so in silence. Those who drank its waters were considered sacred as well, including the island’s cattle, whose slaughter was forbidden. Forseti’s Land commanded respect by all those in neighboring nations to the north, and not even the pillaging Vikings dared to invade the island, fearing punishment from the gods for raiding the holy place. Additionally, Forseti was said to only hold his courts during seasons of light—spring, summer, and autumn—and never in the dark winter months. This idea led the people of the northern nations to embrace a similar custom. Believing that just rulings could not be reached during these dark times, the people would recess their courts during the winter.

The name Forseti means "the presiding one" in Old Norse and "president" in Icelandic. Many scholars also identify Forseti as being the older version of Fosite, the name by which the Frisians referred to the god of justice. The meaning of the name Fosite could also mean "whirling stream," which could refer either to the god’s worship by the coastal people or to the god’s assistance of the Asgeir at sea in their time of need.

Bibliography

Bosowski, Normand. The Esoteric Codex: The Æsir. Raleigh: Lulu.com, 2015. Print.

Daly, Kathleen N. Norse Mythology A to Z. New York: Chelsea House Publications, 2009. Print.

Guerber, H.A. Myths of Northern Lands. American Book, 1895. Print.

Larrington, Carolyne, trans. The Poetic Edda (Oxford Worlds Classics). New York: Oxford UP, 2014. Print.

Lindow, John. "Deities, Themes, and Concepts." Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. New York: Oxford UP, 2001. 47-326. Print.

Sturluson, Snorri. The Prose Edda. London: Penguin, 2005. Print.