Draupnir
Odin's ring of infinite wealth
NORSE MYTHOLOGY
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Introduction
Draupnir is a magical gold ring in Norse Mythology with a mythical origin story. In Old Norse, its name means „The dripper.” The name springs from the ring’s unusual power. Because, every ninth night, it would drip eight new gold rings equal to the original one. Due to that reason, the ring is immensely valuable because it essentially is a source of infinite wealth for its owner.
In this article, we’re not just going to skim the surface. No, we’re going deep into the sources to dig up all mentions of Draupnir and examine what they have to say about this fascinating item.
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The Origin Story of Draupnir
Let’s start at the beginning, at the creation of Draupnir. The tale goes that the ring was created as a part of a wager. Loki, the trickster, wagered his head to a dwarf named Brokkr. He bet Brokkr, that his brother, Sindri, would not be able to craft items that would be equal in quality to the three made by the dwarfs referred to as Ivaldi’s sons. Those dwarfs had made some interesting and unique magical items. One was the ship called Skithblathnir, which could be folded into a pocket, another was golden hair for the goddess Sif, and the third item was the spear Gungnir, which was gifted to Odin.
So, after Brokkr took the bet with Loki, he and his brother got to work. Sindri crafted the items while he fanned the flames of the furnace. Three items they made in total. The first item was Gullinbursti, a gold-maned boar; it was given to Freyr, the Vanir god. Draupnir was the second item from the furnace. They gave the gold ring to the chief of the Aesir gods, Odin. The third item was a short-handled iron hammer called Mjolnir, it was gifted to Thor.
The story is told in greater detail and full length in chapter 35, in the Prose-Edda (a.k.a Snorra-Edda), a source written in the 1200s in Iceland. We Vikings have it available in English in our Library of Viking Age Literary Sources.
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Draupnir's Role in the Tale of Baldr's Death
Draupnir’s significance is underscored in the story about the death of Baldr, one of the Aesir gods and son of Odin. In the story, Baldr is met by an untimely end and the gods are struck with grief. A funeral pyre was held for Baldr, where Odin sacrificed his ring, Draupnir, on the fire in a poignant gesture. His act highlights the ring’s value, which is the item Odin chose to sacrifice at his son’s funeral.
The god Hermoth later embarks on a perilous journey to Niflhel, the realm of the dead, to retrieve the fallen Baldr. His quest proves unsuccessful, as Baldr is not willing to return. However, Hermoth does retrieve one thing. Just before he rides back home, Baldr hands him Draupnir and requests that he give it back to Odin.
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Who is the True Owner of Draupnir?
Even though Draupnir is commonly known as Odin’s ring, the sources differ a bit on that point. So, let’s take a look at two cases in particular where the stories stray from each other, where Odin’s ownership of the ring is challenged.
In Skáldskaparmál (e. Poesy of Skalds), a short text is written on how one can speak of Baldr in poetic terms, there it is told:
“How should one periphrase Baldr?
By calling him Son of Odin and Frigg, Husband of Nanna, Father of Forseti, owner of Hringhorni and Draupnir, Adversary of Hödr, Companion of Hel, God of Tears. Úlfr Uggason, following the story of Baldr, has composed a long passage in the Húsdrápa; and examples are recorded earlier to the effect that Baldr is so termed.” 1
[Skáldskaparmál, 12th chapter.]
Hvernig skal kenna Baldr?
Svá, at kalla hann son Óðins ok Friggjar, ver Nönnu, faðir Forseta, eigandi Hringhorna ok Draupnis, dólgr Haðar, Heljar sinni, Gráta-goð. Úlfr Uggason hefir kveðit eftir sögu Baldrs langt skeið í Húsdrápu, ok ritat er áðr dæmi til þess, er Baldr er svá kenndr.” 2
[Skáldskaparmál, 12th chapter.]
However, it is uncertain whether it refers to how it briefly came into his possession after his death or if he also held Draupnir long-term. In the surviving form of the tale of Baldr’s death, he returns the ring to Odin. But, one can theorize whether that tale had a different version at some point where he didn’t give it back.
Additionally, in the poem Skírnismál (Lay of Skirnir) the ownership of Draupnir is likewise ambiguous. A servant of Freyr named Skírnir is sent to get the woman Gerðr, whom Freyr has fallen madly in love with and desires to meet. Skírnir offers her things, if she’s willing to have Freyr, among those is the magical ring Draupnir.
The following two stanzas from Skírnismál say this:
“SKÍRNIR:
21
The ring too I will give thee,
which was burnt
with the young son of Odin.
Eight of equal weight
will from it drop,
every ninth night.GERÐR:
22
The ring I will not accept,
burnt thou it may have been
with the young son of Odin.
I have no lack of gold
in Gýmir’s courts;
for my father’s wealth I share.” 3
[Skírnismál stanzas 21 & 22]
Although Draupnir is not mentioned by name in the stanzas, there is no other ring in question. One which was burned with Baldr and has the remarkable property of producing new rings every ninth night.
Rather, what is more puzzling here is how Draupnir gets into the hands of a servant of Freyr. Moreover, how does Skírnir have the authority to give away something which is not his? Unfortunately, the sources poorly explain this part, hence the question remains. Skírnismál only mentions that Freyr gives Skírnir his flaming sword and his steed to take with him on his journey.
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Draupnir's cultural influence
Draupnir was a known poetic motif in the Viking Age, a trope for gold and wealth. Its mentions in the sources reflect the cultural significance of this magical ring and its association with Odin, the Allfather.
Evidence can be found in Skáldskaparmál (e. The Poesy of Skalds) section in The Prose Edda. Its chief purpose is to teach students of poetry how to become a proficient poet, a skald. In doing so, it goes over well-known poetic metaphors.
There it says:
“How should gold be periphrased?
Thus: by calling it Ægir’s Fire, and Needles of Glasir, Hair of Sif, Snood of Fulla, Freyja’s Tears, Talk and Voice and Word of Giants, Draupnir’s Drop and Rain or Shower of Draupnir, or of Freyja’s Eyes, Otter’s Ransom, Forced Payment of the Æsir, Seed of Fýris-Plain, Cairn-Roof of Hölgi, Fire of all Waters and of the Hand, Stone and Reef or Gleam of the Hand.” 5
[Skáldskaparmál, 40th chapter.]
“Hvernig skal kenna gull?
Svá, at kalla þat eld Ægis ok barr Glasis, haddr Sifjar, höfuðband Fullu, grátr Freyju, munntal ok rödd ok orð jötna, dropa Draupnis ok regn eða skúr Draupnis eða augna Freyju, otrgjöld, nauðgjald ásanna, sáð Fýrisvalla, haugþak Hölga, eldr allra vatna ok handar, grjót ok sker eða blik handar.” 6
[Skáldskaparmál, 40th chapter.]
Here Draupnir is recognized as one of many ways to weave the word gold into a poetic composition, called a kenning in Old Norse poetry.
Let’s take a look at one real example where Draupnir is used in a Viking Age poem.
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Draupnir in Viking Age poetry
An example of the use of Draupnir in a poetic context can be found in The Saga of Egill Skalla-Grímsson. A family saga and biography of the Viking warrior and poet Egill. He composed a poem in praise of Athalbjorn, a Norwegian military commander and advisor to King Harald, son of Eirik Bloodaxe.
In stanza 22 he says:
22
“Hinn er fégrimmr er í Fjörðum býr. Sá er of dólgr Draupnis niðja en sökunautr Sónar hvinna, hringum … hoddvegandi.” 7
[Egils saga Skalla-Grímssonar, 82nd chapter]
Here Egill expresses in multiple ways how generous Athalbjorn is with his wealth. What is of interest to us however is the part “Dólgr Draupnis niðja”, which can be translated as “The enemy of Draupnir’s descendants”, meaning that Athalbjorn shares his wealth so generously that it is as if he is the enemy of the gold that springs from the ring, while simultaneously underlining Athalbjorn’s ability to generate wealth.
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Draupnir the dwarf
Delving deep into the literature, one can find some unexpected information. The Poetic Edda contains two stanzas in the poem Völuspá which, among other things, talks about the origin of dwarfs. The poem lists several names of dwarves, including one named Draupnir, which little more is known about apart from this brief mention.
Here, Völuspá states the following:
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The tally of dwarfs of Dvalin’s line as men recount, are descended from Lofar, those who sought out from the stone halls, home of Aurvang to Joruvoll.
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There was Draupnir and Dolgþrasir, Har, Haugspori, Hlevang, Gloinn, Dori, Ori, Duf, Andvari, Skirfir, Virfir, Skafith, Ai. 8
[Völuspá, stanzas 14 and 15. WV translation]
Additionally, in Gylfaginning, one also finds a similar section that speaks of the dwarfs.
There it says:
“And these also are dwarves and dwell in stones, but the first in the soil:
Draupnir, Dolgthvari,
Haur, Hugstari,
Hlethjolf, Gloinn,
Dori, Ori,
Dufr, Andvari,
Heftifili,
Harr, Sviarr.” 10[Prose-Edda, Gylfaginning, chapter 14.]
These are the only mentions of the dwarf Draupnir in the surviving literary sources; hence, little more is known beyond what is said above.
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Mentions of Draupnir in the literary sources
Before we conclude our discussion of Draupnir, let’s summarize all the mentions of the ring in the literary sources.
The ring is mentioned in the Prose Edda, specifically in the sections Gylfaginning (e. Beguiling of Gylfi) and Skáldskaparmál (e. Poesy of Skalds) Additionally, we see Draupnir also attested in another literary source called the Poetic Edda; specifically in the poems Völuspá (e. Prophecy of the seeress) in stanza 15 and Skírnismál (e. Lay of Skirnir) in stanzas 21 and 22. Additionally, Draupnir is mentioned in one of the sagas of Icelanders, in the 82nd chapter of The Saga of Egill Skalla-Grímsson.
Here we end our overview of this mythical item. We Vikings hope it has quenched your thirst for knowledge about Draupnir.
Q&A Summary
What is Draupnir?
Draupnir is a magical gold ring in Norse mythology that can multiply itself and create infinite wealth for its owner.
Who made Draupnir?
The dwarfs Sindri and Brokkr created Draupnir. Sindri crafted the ring while Brokkr blew the bellows.
What does Draupnir mean?
Draupnir means “The dripper” in Old Norse, derived from the verb “Drjúpa” which in the past tense is “Draup”.
What is special about Draupnir?
It’s ability to multiply itself every ninth night, creating eight new gold rings equal to the original.
Who gave Draupnir to Odin?
Loki presented Draupnir to Odin.
What power has Draupnir?
Drips eight new gold rings every ninth night, equal to the original.
Why was Draupnir created?
Draupnir was created after Loki made a bet with the dwarf Brokkr about whether he and Sindri could craft finer items than the dwarfs known as the sons of Ívaldi. One of the items they fashioned was the gold ring Draupnir.
Who offered to give Draupnir away in exchange for marrying Freyr?
Freyr’s servant, named Skirnir.
[1] Eiður Eyþórsson, 2024, Prose Edda, We Vikings, Skáldskaparmál, 12th chapter.
[2] Guðni Jónsson, 1954, Edda Snorra Sturlusonar, Prentverk Odds Björnssonar, Skáldskaparmál, 12th chapter.
[3] Eiður Eyþórsson, 2024, Prose Edda, We Vikings, Skírnismál stanzas 21 & 22.
[4] Skírnismál stanzas 21 & 22.
[5] Eiður Eyþórsson, 2024, Prose Edda, We Vikings, Skáldskaparmál, 40th chapter.
[6] Guðni Jónsson, 1954, Edda Snorra Sturlusonar, Prentverk Odds Björnssonar, Skáldskaparmál, 40th chapter.
[7] [Egils saga Skalla-Grímssonar, 82nd chapter]
[8] Guðni Jónsson, 1954, Edda Snorra Sturlusonar, Prentverk Odds Björnssonar, Gylfaginning, 27th chapter.
[9] Benjamin Thorpe, 1866, The Edda Of Sæmund The Learned, The Lay of Fáfnir, stanza 15.
[10] Guðni Jónsson, 1954, Eddukvæði (Sæmundar Edda). Fáfnismál, stanza 15.
[11] Árni Böðvarsson, 1996, Íslensk orðabók, Mál og menning.
[12] Árni Böðvarsson, 1996, Íslensk orðabók, Mál og menning.
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