Seiðr and Ergi. Limited Sources, Diverse Explanations
Kendra Willson
Acta scandinavica March 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1484/m.as-eb.5.150810 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the evidence for seiðr's association with ergi rests mainly on Snorri's Ynglinga saga ch. 7, since other relevant passages involve hapax legomena or difficult words or are brief. Contends that scholarly explanations of this ergi, including those invoking a disputed seiðr–shamanism link, appear to reflect the gender discourses of the scholars' own eras. |
Abstract
Snorri Sturluson states in Ynglinga saga ch. 7 that the type of magic known as seiðr, listed as one of Óðinn’s skills, is attended by such ergi (unmanliness or perversity) that it is considered hazardous to a male practitioner. Other passages that have also been taken to indicate that seiðr is argr involve hapax legomena or difficult words or else concern the topic only briefly. Many attempts have been made to explain the ergi of seiðr and reconcile this with its association with Óðinn. Some of these draw on the disputed association between seiðr and shamanism. Scholars have understood ergi in different ways, which seem to reflect the gender discourses of the scholars’ own time.