NAME: The root has a range of cognates, from Irish nert, (masculine) "strength," to Greek andro-, to Sanskrit sú-nrta, (feminine) "vitality." Thus even in the name there is gender ambiguity. The masculine Njørðr is the cognate of the continental female Nerthus, although the worship of this goddess suggests practices associated in Scandinavia with Freyr.

CHARACTERISTICS: Njørðr has certain affinities with the sea, but his major role in the extant tradition is to provide a pedigree for his offspring Freyr and Freyja (via an incestuous relationship with his sister). Njørðr abandons his sister/wife to marry the giantess Skaði when she selects him for his beautiful feet (although she hopes to be picking Baldr). It is a curious (and doomed) marriage, since the rugged mountain huntress Skaði shares numerous traits with a little-known god, Ullr, but has little in common with the delicate Njørðr.