Kvasir: Man of Spit, Mead of Poetry Origin

At the conclusion of the war between the Vanir and the Aesir, the gods sealed their truce by each spitting into a shared vessel—a symbolic act of unity. To preserve this powerful sign of peace, the Aesir created a man from the mingled saliva. They named him Kvasir.

Who Was Kvasir?

Kvasir traveled the world, renowned for his unmatched wisdom. He could solve even the most complex riddles and word puzzles. On his journeys, he shared this wisdom freely with humankind.

Other Tales of Kvasir

In one story, Kvasir is the wisest Aesir, who figures out how to catch Loki with Loki’s own net. In another story, he is part of a prisoner exchange between the Aesir and Vanir.

Kvasir’s Demise

Then two dwarves, Fjalarr (‘Deceiver’) and Galarr (‘Screamer’), lured Kvasir into their home and killed him. They drained his blood into two vats, Són and Boðn, and a kettle, Óðrerir, and mixed it with honey. The result was the mead of poetry: whoever drinks it becomes a poet or a sage. That is why skalds called poetry ‘Kvasir’s blood’. When the gods asked what had happened, the dwarves said Kvasir had choked on his own wisdom, because no one was learned enough to ask him questions.

Kvas and Kvasir

Kvas is a fermented bread drink, generally made from rye, in Slavic countries, and Dr. Jackson Crawford says that Kvasir’s name likely comes from this drink. “Odrerir” means the mover to passion or madness, which Crawford finds appropriate for an alcoholic beverage that creates the ecstatic state that comes when composing poetry.

At Asgard Alaska, we’re dedicated to sharing the history, mythology, and lifestyle of the Viking world. Your support helps keep the mead of inspiration—our own Odrerir—flowing. Donate today to fuel the saga.