Proto-Germanic: *Æ'gwijaz ("Sea")
Western Germanic: Aki, Eger
Northern Germanic: Æger, Ægir, Gýmir, Hlér
God of:
Seas and Oceans
Appearance:
Ægir was depicted as a wise old man with a beard.
It is unknown to which family Ægir belongs, some sources say that he is a Wanen god, others say he belongs to the Ansen.
Ægir's parents are Giants but he has not inherited the evil nature of others of his kind, he lives on good terms with the gods and is seen as one of them.
Ægir is the god of the seas and the oceans and he is married to Ran, he is a very unpredictable god who can help sailors but also sink their ships; it was believed that sailors who die at sea will go to the undersea palace of Ægir and Ran and many sailors carried something made of gold (a bracelet or a ring) to give to Ran upon entering her hall.
Just like the sea Ægir was both feared and respected; sailors brought offerings to him to please him and to ensure a save journey and it is believed that the Saxons even sacrificed humans to him.
Ægir and his wife Ran have 9 daughters, who are called the "Nine Waves", Mermaids and Mermen were also believed to be their children and around the Northsea there are many legends about humans who capture a Mermaid and are punished for it by Ægir who often silts up their harbours or floods their villages.
The undersea palace of Ægir was believed to be located near the island of "Hler" or "Hlesey", which is the old name for the Danish isle of Læssø.
