Why is Eivor called Havi?
Hey friend! If you‘ve been enjoying Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla, you may be wondering about the significance behind the protagonist Eivor‘s connection to the name Havi. As a long-time fan of AC lore and Norse mythology, let me break down the meaning behind this appellation and why it‘s important.
A Quick Intro to Norse Mythos
Before we dive into Havi, let‘s do a quick Norse mythos 101! The Vikings worshipped a whole pantheon of gods known as the Æsir, led by the chief god Odin. He went by over 200 names, including Havi! Now onto why…
The Many Names of Odin
As Allfather of the Æsir, Odin had endless aspects to his character. His names reflected this complex, multifaceted nature. Here‘s a quick snapshot:
- Óðinn – His original Old Norse name
- Ygg/Yggr – "The Terrible," referencing his ties to death
- Grímnir – "The Masked One," due to his penchant for disguise
- Gangleri – "The Wanderer," for his eternal travels seeking knowledge
- Hnikar/Hnikud – "The Striker," speaking to his battle ferocity
- Hár – "The High One," as the exalted chief of the Æsir
Now let‘s focus on that last one – Hár. This is the name that Havi comes directly from!
From Hár to Hávi
Hár evolves from Proto-Norse origins and means "The High One," referring to Odin‘s status over the other Norse gods.
The Old Icelandic variant Hávi stems from Hár and also appears in Eddic poems like the Hávamál (Sayings of the High One).
So in essence, Havi/Hávi connects intrinsically to Odin‘s identity as highest among Norse gods. It‘s a mark of his eminent power and position in the pantheon.
By the Numbers: Names of Odin
To illustrate Odin‘s many appellations, check out this quick data table:
| Name | Meaning | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Óðinn | Unknown etymology | Old Norse |
| Hár | "The High One" | Proto-Norse |
| Hávi | Variant of Hár | Old Icelandic |
| Allfather | Patriarch of gods | kenning |
| Grímnir | "The Masked One" | kenning |
| Yggr | "The Terrible" | kenning |
| Gangleri | "The Wanderer" | kenning |
| Hnikud | "The Striker" | kenning |
This gives you a data-backed snapshot of the god‘s many kennings and names!
Havi in the Hávamál
Now let‘s examine a key source – the Eddic poem Hávamál (Sayings of the High One), attributed to Odin himself.
In this poem, Odin repeatedly refers to himself as Hávi, almost using it as a literary device as he imparts wisdom. For instance:
"Hávi hight me | when I hanged on the windy tree"
"None so wise that | he needs not use all wisdom"
Here, we clearly see how tightly bound the name Hávi is to Odin‘s persona in these legends. It‘s an inextricable part of his identity.
Odin Reborn as Eivor
Flash forward to Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla! As you‘ve seen in the game, Eivor is Odin reborn, which is signified by the name Havi.
Throughout the story, Eivor embodies the core traits of Odin/Havi – thirst for knowledge, wanderlust, glory in combat, but also inner darkness.
We also learn of Havi‘s past conflicts with with Loki during the Isu era – echoes of the antagonism between Eivor and Basim‘s incarnation of Loki.
So in Assassin‘s Creed‘s lore, Havi‘s actions influenced all subsequent events, just like in real Norse myth!
The High One Lives On
Hopefully this provides more insight into why Havi is such a crucial part of Eivor and Odin‘s shared identity! It represents Odin‘s role as highest of the Æsir, connecting deeply with his personality and power.
This name endures as a thread between Eivor and her Isu past, continuing that legacy ages later. Let me know if you have any other AC lore questions! This mythology is fascinating stuff.
