In Norse mythology, Sigyn is the wife of Loki and the goddess of faithfulness, compassion, and loyalty.
Who is Sigyn?
Sigyn is the devoted mate of the difficult trickster god Loki.
Mentions of Sigyn in surviving sources go as far back as the 9th century pagan times Skaldic poem, called Haustlöng. But here, she is often limited to a single role; the wife of Loki.
Old Norse mythology paints Sigyn’s leading role as collecting and pouring out the snake venom that drips over the bound face of her husband Loki (originally a fire god).
Due to the early connections between Loki and Sigyn, some scholars theorize that Sigyn is a goddess that dates back to an older form of Germanic paganism. Therefore, an activity such as this could indicate pre-Christian Scandinavian ritual practices, including pouring liquids onto the fire.
But, some scholars believe that further analysis of the Sigyn Norse myth could include a Germanic and Indo-European background.
How Do You Pronounce Sigyn?
Norse gods and goddesses are commonly bestowed with hard-to-pronounce names, but Sigyn is an easy one.
Split the word into two syllables, like SIG-in.
Sigyn Meaning
Sigyn (siɣˌyn in Old Norse) means the female friend of victory or victorious girlfriend.
This is because Old Norse sources described Sigyn as a female personal name. The name comes from two sources. Sigr means ‘victory’ while Vina means ‘girlfriend’.
The love life of Sigyn features heavily in the Poetic Edda, written by Snorri Sturluson. This is a 13th-century manuscript containing traditional sources from the 800s to the 1200s.
In the Poetic Edda, we learn how this faithful goddess stayed by the trickster Loki’s side during his captivity. Again, her role in assisting Loki throughout his enforced confinement by the gods is reiterated.
In the Prose Edda, her role in helping Loki through his time spent in bondage is featured in various kennings. In both these sources, she is referred to as a goddess twice.
Is Sigyn an Æsir?
In Norse mythology, Sigyn is Æsir.
What are Sigyn’s powers?
As an Asgardian, Sigyn is a hardy and enduring goddess. Her powers and abilities align with the Asgarian gods’ legendary attributes.
Her powers include:
- Vitality
- Immunity to human diseases
- Resistance to injury
- Immortality
- Superhuman strength
Who are the children of Loki and Sigyn?
Does Loki Love Sigyn?
When Ragnarok begins, Sigyn shows her faithfulness and love as the wife of Loki.
Her story jumps to their married life in the only attestations available today. In the Poetic Edda, she is portrayed as a loyal and dutiful wife to Loki during his captivity by the gods.
This is clear again in the Prose Edda, which details Loki’s time spent in bonds, and Sigyn’s role in helping her husband is seen again.
What happens to Sigyn at Ragnarok?
Attestations like the Poetic Edda shine a light on the fate of Sigyn. In stanza 35 of Völuspá (the Poetic Edda), a völva tells Odin that Sigyn sits miserably at the side of her bound husband Loki, beneath a “grove of hot springs.”
Later on, Sigyn is mentioned again for the final time at the end of the poem’s prose section, called Lokasenna. This prose tells the reader how Sigyn holds the basin under the dripping venom threatening Loki’s face.
Cruel as they were, the Asgard gods used the guts of his son Nari to hold him in captivity. Then, Skadi fastens a venomous snake over Loki, where it drips dangerously over his face. All is not well.
As the basin becomes full, Sigyn moves it away to empty it. But, during this time, the venom drips on Loki, and Loki writhes so violently that the whole earth shakes.
And there ended the tale of Loki and Sigyn and the girlfriend of victory.