In a paper titled for this group’s “Obituary,” Rudolf Simek argues that they were just an alliterative poetic device, though the author of The Cowboy Hávamál, Jackson Crawford, disputes this. For 10 points each:
[10h] Name this group of Norse gods who received two men as a gift, but decapitated one after the other couldn’t make any decisions without him.
ANSWER: Vanir [or Vena; or Wena]
[10m] Along with the indecisive Hœnir, this wise man was given to the Vanir as a hostage in the Aesir-Vanir war in exchange for Kvasir. Odin later embalmed his head with herbs.
ANSWER: Mimir [or Mim]
[10e] Like many scholars, Leszek P. Słupecki (“slu-PECK-i”) rejects Simek’s claim, though he believes that this Vanir twin brother of Freya is actually an Aesir.
ANSWER: Freyr [or Frey]
<Lalit Maharjan, RMP - World Mythology> ~20328~ <Editor: Jaimie Carlson>