Creature

Baugi

Suttungr's brother; Odin works for him as Bolverkr and asks one drink of the poetic mead as wages.

MythWeave AI-generated editorial illustration, Poetic Mead batch

Overview

Baugi is Suttungr's brother. Odin first causes his nine workers to kill one another over a whetstone, then calls himself Bolverkr and offers to do nine men's work for one drink of mead. Baugi agrees to try, but Suttungr refuses; Baugi later drills the rock with Rati at Odin's command and first attempts a deception.

Key facts

Employs Bolverkr

Baugi accepts Bolverkr's summer of labour for a drink of Suttungr's mead.

Drills the rock

At Odin's urging, Baugi uses Rati to bore toward the rock holding the mead.

Relationships

Odinbargains with labour
Odin, named Bolverkr, completes nine men's work for Baugi and demands one drink of poetic mead as wages.
Hnitbjorgbores into the rock
At Odin's direction, Baugi uses Rati to bore into the rock of Hnitbjorg.

Story appearances

Odin and the Poetic MeadBargainer and driller
Baugi first employs Bolverkr, then bores into the mountain at his urging.

Ancient sources

MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.

Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, Skaldskaparmal, Chapter 1: Kvasir, the dwarves' mead, Suttungr, Gunnlod, Baugi, Rati and Odin's return to Asgard

Open in the interactive atlas →