Editing Vanir (section)

==Attestations==

===''Poetic Edda''===
[[File:Freyr by Johannes Gehrts.jpg|thumb|The sun shining behind them, the god [[Freyr]] stands with his boar [[Gullinbursti]] (1901), by [[Johannes Gehrts]].]]
In the ''Poetic Edda'', the Vanir, as a group, are specifically referenced in the poems ''[[Völuspá]]'', ''[[Vafþrúðnismál]]'', ''[[Skírnismál]]'', ''[[Þrymskviða]]'', ''[[Alvíssmál]]'', and ''[[Sigrdrífumál]]''. In ''Völuspá'', a stanza describes the events of the [[Æsir–Vanir War]], noting that during the war the Vanir broke the walls of the stronghold of the Æsir, and that the Vanir were "indomitable, trampling the plain".{{sfn|Larrington|1999|p=7}}

In ''[[Vafþrúðnismál]]'', [[List of names of Odin|Gagnráðr]] (the god [[Odin]] in disguise) engages in a game of wits with the [[jötunn]] [[Vafþrúðnir]]. Gagnráðr asks Vafþrúðnir where the Van god [[Njörðr]] came from, for though he rules over many [[Heathen hofs|hofs]] and [[hörgr]]s, Njörðr was not raised among the Æsir. Vafþrúðnir responds that Njörðr was created in [[Vanaheimr]] ("home of the Vanir") by "wise powers" and details that during the Æsir–Vanir War, Njörðr was exchanged as a hostage. In addition, when the world ends ([[Ragnarök]]), Njörðr "will return to the wise Vanir".{{sfn|Larrington|1999|p=46}}

''[[Alvíssmál]]'' consists of question and answer exchanges between the dwarf [[Alvíss]] and the god [[Thor]]. In the poem, Alvíss supplies terms that various groups, including the Vanir, use to refer to various subjects. Alvíss attributes nine terms to the Vanir; one for Earth ("The Ways"), Heaven ("The Weaver of Winds"), clouds ("Kites of the Wind"), calm ("The Hush of the Winds"), the sea ("The Wave"), fire ("Wildfire"), wood ("The Wand"), seed ("growth"), and ale ("The Foaming").{{sfn|Bellows|1923|pp=186–187, 189–193}}

The poem ''[[Þrymskviða]]'' states that the god [[Heimdall]]r possesses foreknowledge, "as the Vanir also can".{{sfn|Larrington|1999|p=99}} ''[[Sigrdrífumál]]'' records that the Vanir are in possession of a "sacred [[mead]]". In the poem, the [[valkyrie]] [[Sigrdrífa]] provides mystical lore about [[runes]] to the hero [[Sigurd]]. Sigrdrífa notes that runes were once carved on to various creatures, deities, and other figures, and then shaved off and mixed with a "sacred [[mead]]". This mead is possessed by the Æsir, the [[elves]], mankind, and the Vanir.{{sfn|Larrington|1999|p=169}}

In ''[[Skírnismál]]'', the beautiful [[jötunn]] [[Gerðr]] first encounters the god [[Freyr]]'s messenger [[Skírnir]], and asks him if he is of the elves, of the Æsir, or of the "wise Vanir". Skírnir responds that he is not of any of the three groups.{{sfn|Larrington|1999|p=64}} Later in the poem, Skírnir is successful in his threats against Gerðr (to have Gerðr accept Freyr's affections), and Gerðr offers Skírnir a crystal cup full of mead, noting that she never thought that she would love one of the Vanir.{{sfn|Larrington|1999|p=67}}

===''Prose Edda''===
[[File:Hyndla og Freia by Frølich.jpg|thumb|Flanked by her boar [[Hildisvini]], the Vanr goddess [[Freyja]] (right) (1895), by [[Lorenz Frølich]]]]
The Vanir are mentioned in the ''[[Prose Edda]]'' books ''[[Gylfaginning]]'' and ''[[Skáldskaparmál]]''. In chapter 23 of ''Gylfaginning'', the enthroned figure of [[High, Just-As-High, and Third|High]] relates that Njörðr was raised in [[Vanaheimr]]. High says that during the [[Æsir–Vanir War]], the Vanir sent Njörðr as a hostage to the Æsir, and the Æsir sent to the Vanir the god [[Hœnir]]. The sending of Njörðr as a hostage resulted in a peace agreement between the Æsir and the Vanir.{{sfn|Faulkes|1995|p=23}}

Chapter 35 provides information regarding the goddess [[Freyja]], including that one of her names is "[[Dís|Dis]] of the Vanir". In the same chapter, High tells that the goddess [[Gná]] rides the horse [[Hófvarpnir]], and that this horse has the ability to ride through the air and atop the sea.{{sfn|Byock|2005|p=43}} High continues that "once some Vanir saw her path as she rode through the air" and that an unnamed one of these Vanir says, in verse (for which no source is provided):
<blockquote>
:"What flies there?
:What fares there?
:or moves through the air?"{{sfn|Byock|2005|p=44}}
</blockquote>
Gná responds:
<blockquote>
:"I fly not
:though I fare
:and move through the air
:on [[Gná and Hófvarpnir|Hofvarpnir]]
:the one whom [[Hamskerpir and Garðrofa|Hamskerpir]] got
:with [[Hamskerpir and Garðrofa|Gardrofa]]."{{sfn|Byock|2005|p=44}}
</blockquote>
[[File:Wildschwein Sus scrofa.jpg|thumb|A [[wild boar]] in Northern Europe. In the ''Prose Edda'', "Van-child" is listed as a name for boars. Both Freyja and Freyr are attested as accompanied by boars.]]
In chapter 57 of ''[[Skáldskaparmál]]'', the god [[Bragi]] explains the origin of poetry. Bragi says the origin of poetry lies in the Æsir-Vanir War. During the peace conference held to end the war both the Æsir and the Vanir formed a truce by spitting into a vat. When they left, the gods decided that it shouldn't be poured out, but rather kept as a symbol of their peace, and so from the contents they made a man; Kvasir. Kvasir is later murdered by [[Norse dwarves|dwarves]], and from his blood the [[Mead of Poetry]] is made.{{sfn|Faulkes|1995|pp=61–62}}

In chapter 6, poetic names for Njörðr are provided, including "descendant of Vanir or a Van". As reference, a poem by the 11th century [[skald]] [[Þórðr Sjáreksson]] is provided where Njörðr is described as a Vanr. In chapter 7, poetic [[List of names of Freyr|names for Freyr]] are listed, including names that reference his association with the Vanir; "Vanir god", "descendant of Vanir", and "a Van".{{sfn|Faulkes|1995|p=57}} Freyja is also repeatedly cited as a Vanr. In chapter 20, some of Freyja's names are listed and include "Van-deity" and "Van-lady", and chapter 37 provides skaldic verse referring to Freyja as "Van-bride".{{sfn|Faulkes|1995|p=86-89}} In chapter 75, names for [[pig]]s are provided, including "Van-child", a [[List of names of Freyr|name shared with Freyr]].{{sfn|Faulkes|1995|p=164}}{{sfn|Simek|1993}}

===''Heimskringla''===
[[File:Æsir-Vanir war by Frølich.jpg|right|thumb|Odin throws his spear at the Vanir host, illustration (1895) by [[Lorenz Frølich]].]]
The ''[[Heimskringla]]'' book ''[[Ynglinga saga]]'' (chapter&nbsp;4) provides an [[euhemerism|euhemerized]] account of the [[Æsir–Vanir War]]. As a peace agreement, the two sides agreed to trade hostages. The Vanir sent Njörðr and Freyr to the Æsir, and in turn the Æsir sent [[Hœnir]] and [[Mímir]] to the Vanir.

Upon receiving [[Mímir]], the Vanir sent the "cleverest amongst them", [[Kvasir]]. In Vanaheimr, the Vanir made Hœnir a chieftain. However, whenever Hœnir appeared at assemblies or meetings where the Vanir asked him his opinion on difficult issues, his response was "let others decide". The Vanir suspected that they had been cheated by the Æsir in the hostage exchange, and so grabbed hold of Mímir, cut off Mímir's head, and sent it to the Æsir.{{sfn|Hollander|2007|p=8}}

The same chapter describes that while Njörðr lived among the Vanir, his wife (unnamed) was his sister, and the couple had two children: Freyr and Freyja. However, "among the Æsir it was forbidden to marry so near a kin". By Odin's appointment, Njörðr and his son Freyr became [[gothi|priests]] over [[Blót|offerings of sacrifice]], and they were recognized as gods among the Æsir. Freyja was priestess at the sacrifices, and "it was she who first taught the Æsir magic as was practiced among the Vanir".{{sfn|Hollander|2007|p=8}}

In chapter&nbsp;15, the king [[Sveigðir]] is recorded as having married a woman named Vana in "Vanaland", located in [[Sweden]]. The two produced a child, who they named [[Vanlandi]] (Old Norse "Man from the Land of the Vanir".{{sfn|McKinnell|2005|p=70}}{{sfn|Hollander|2007|p=15}}