Gríðr

Surviving medieval texts do not give a cosmogonic origin tale for Gríðr. Instead she is integrated into genealogical and narrative material: she is named as a jötunn mother of the god Víðarr and as a consort/partner of Óðinn in medieval compilations. Later medieval writers also reuse the name-form in varied roles (e.g., Grytha in Saxo and a witch figure in Illuga saga), but the primary attestations place her within the jötnar as a figure connected by marriage and descent to the Æsir rather than as the subject of an origin narrative.

No contemporary medieval source in the supplied materials provides a physical description of Gríðr. Attestations record her actions and name in prose and skaldic verse (Skáldskaparmál, Þórsdrápa, lists of troll-wives) but offer no details about size, facial features, clothing, or other bodily attributes.

In the Prose Edda (Skáldskaparmál) Gríðr functions as a donor: she provides Thor with a belt of strength, an iron glove, and the staff Gríðarvöl for his hazardous journey to Geirröðr's hall. Her name appears in skaldic kennings (for 'wolf' and for 'axe') and the staff Gríðarvöl is cited in later skaldic poetry (Þórsdrápa), indicating her name was a recognized element of poetic vocabulary associated with forceful or martial imagery. Genealogical attestations (mother of Víðarr; consort/partner of Óðinn) mark her as a figure whose familial relations link jötnar and gods.