Comments | lokeans: Narvi & Vali

lokis_dottir in lokeans

Narvi & Vali

Nov 26, 2007 12:17

I'm thinking about commissioning some carving work for some altar pieces to represent Loki & Sigyn's sons, Narvi & Vali. I'd like to have some sort of design motif to the pieces to both tie them together, but also have variations in the design motif so each is unique. But I can't seem to figure out what this motif would be precisely. A design motif ( Read more... )

narvi, commision, altar, vali

Comments 6

fyrechylde November 27 2007, 18:26:50 UTC

Well, since there is hardly anything about them in the lore, you have to go on UPG (and someone else's UPG may not be the same as yours). The best thing you could do is meditate on Them and see what comes about.

My UPG consists of this: I see Vali as a hunter and more of a trickster like his father. I see Narvi as a carver or metalsmith. He is quiet and more easy-going than his brother. But like I said, this is my UPG and it might not match yours or anyone elses for that matter.

Good luck! I'd like to see what you come up with. ^_^

lokis_dottir November 27 2007, 18:35:26 UTC

I was hoping maybe there's something with the etymology of their names that might hint a bit more at something. Or perhaps some subtle little hint in the brief bit of lore they do appear in that I just hadn't noticed. Or perhaps some obscure bit of lore, or folklore I was unfamiliar with.

fyrechylde November 27 2007, 18:41:38 UTC

As far as I know, they only appeared in the binding of Loki. I do know that one of Odin's sons is named Vali (and there is very bitter debate about that still raging) and I *think* (don't quote me on this) that is a famous dwarf by the name of Narvi...

Other than these tidbits, that is all I know.

sinhak November 30 2007, 02:22:59 UTC

Vali was turned into a wolf in the story of loki's Binding so maybe you could use that.

moonwolf23 November 30 2007, 17:40:40 UTC

I have no idea if the Vikings, Saxons, or whatever Germanic tribes there are had spirals.(I'm thinking Celtic type knotwork type spirals. Or not spirals, but the flowy twisty knotwork stuff. However, maybe some spirals that link the two, to link to the binding of loki(also to symbolise the blood ties).

But yeah, I'd go upg on this one. See what they want. I feel it might be healing to that particular story, but then again, I'm weird.

aecoleman December 3 2007, 02:31:36 UTC

Since you're looking for etymology, I dragged out A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic. I'm not sure if the dash over the a makes a difference, but I thought I should mention them.

nár, m. corpse, dead man
nári, m. the groin

There's nothing similar to Vali in the dictionary so I checked Cassell's Dictionary of Norse Myth & Legend.

Nar(f)i ("narrow?")
Váli (2) The name Váli is also given in some sources as that of the son of LOKI, and in some versions of the Voluspá as that of a dwarf.