Creature

Bestla

Borr’s consort and mother of Odin, Vili and Ve, from giant kin.

MythWeave AI-generated editorial illustration, Norse portrait v1 full approved batch

Overview

Bestla is named in chapter 6 as the daughter of the giant Bolthorn and the mother of Odin, Vili and Ve with Borr. She links the world-shaping brothers to both divine ancestry and giant kin, keeping Norse origins from becoming a simple separation of gods and giants.

Key facts

Daughter of Bolthorn

Chapter 6 calls Bestla the daughter of the giant Bolthorn.

Mother of the three brothers

The same chapter says she and Borr have Odin, Vili and Ve.

Relationships

Odinmother of
Chapter 6 makes Bestla the mother of Odin, Vili and Ve.
Vilimother of
Chapter 6 lists Vili as Bestla’s son.
Vemother of
Chapter 6 lists Ve as Bestla’s son.

Story appearances

Yggdrasil and the WorldsMother from giant kin
Bestla connects the world-shaping brothers to giant kin.

Ancient sources

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

Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning, Chapter 6, Buri, Borr, Bestla, Odin, Vili and Ve, and the brothers killing Ymir

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