Editing Vanir (section)

===''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}}