ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Lay of Hyndla

The Lay of Hyndla is a story from Norse mythology that tells of a conversation between a goddess named Freyja and a giantess named Hyndla.

Freyja, who is very beautiful and powerful, goes to Hyndla to seek her help in finding out about her family tree. Hyndla is known for being knowledgeable about ancestry and genealogy.

During their conversation, Hyndla uses her magic to summon up a giant boar named Hildisvini, who is actually Freyja’s lover in disguise. Hyndla then goes on to recite a long list of the different family members in Freyja’s ancestry, including many gods and goddesses.

Through this story, we learn about the importance of knowing our family history and ancestry. It also highlights the relationship between gods and giants, and the fact that they sometimes interact and even fall in love with one another.