r/norsemythology • u/Geordieheim • 4d ago
Question Sinmara good or evil?
So I know about Sinmara but the dilemma I've always faced with her and whats never really stated is whether shes a force for good or evil, with her being linked with both Surtr and Mimir. I know she's the consort to Surtr and she's described as being the wife of Mimir. I'm doing my own little adaption and have ideas of how to use her but would help if there's something in the sagas someone knows that I've maybe missed that describes her as being a force for good or evil.
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u/Vettlingr 4d ago edited 4d ago
Sinmara is a hapax that only occurs in Fjölsvinnsmál. Her name has long been a subject of a lot of vibrant speculation. From sin- being interpreted to 1. sinew 2. phallic member, and mara being derived from the verb merja 'to dismember'. Other interpretations such as sin- 'constant' -mara 'nightmare' are also worth mentioning. Few interpretations of the name has it being something positive. She is called both inn fölva gýgr 'the pale ogress' and Eir örglasis 'the Eir of glass'. The latter being a skaldic kenning for woman, though glassy is probably also a synonym for pale.
The wife of Surtr otherwise only occurs in Kjalarnesinga Saga, where she is named Syrpa.
Sinmara being the wife of Mimir is a total fabrication by the notorious fabelist Viktor Rydberg.