Elli – Norse Goddess And Symbol Of Old Age That No One Ever Could Defeat

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - The story about Elli is a compelling Norse myth that teaches us many important things. According to Norse beliefs, old age has always frightened humans and gods.

Therefore, we must continue to have strength in our old age, and Elli, the Norse goddess of the Old Age, reminds us about it.

Norse god Thor is wrestling with Age. Sculpture by Einar Jónsson (1873–1954), Reykjavik, Iceland (Image source by Fingalo/Used under a Creative Commons license)

Snorri Sturluson tells his story in Prose Edda's book "Gylfaginning." We meet Elli and the trickster god Loki, this time as the giant Utgarda-Loki (or Loki of the Outyards") and the castle ruler Útgarðr in Jötunheimr.

One day, Thor visited Utgard-Loki (also known as 'Skrymir'), the strongest and the most cunning of the giants, in his mighty Utgardr castle.

To test Thor's strength, Utgard-Loki challenged him to wrestle the old giantess Elli rather than the strong men of Utgard-Loki's bodyguard.

Elli seemed to be the weakest of the nurses of Utgardr, and Thor believed it was an easy match to defeat her, so he accepted the challenge. Thor struggled long and hard to beat her, but surprisingly, the older woman stood fast.

Thor, the brave god who could fight many giants, was almost defeated. Finally, she held him to drive him to the ground, and Thor fell to one knee. Then suddenly, Utgard-Loki ended the match and explained how meaningless it was to fight further with his people.

A Depiction of the Norse goddess Elli, wrestling Thor (1919) by Robert Engels (1866-1920) - Herzog, Rudolf (1919). Germaniens Götter. Quelle & Meyer, Leipzig. Public Domain

The following day, Thor left Utgardr castle, but before Thor's departure, Utgard-Loki accompanied him on the way and asked what he thought of his visit to the castle.

Thor was humiliated because of the contest. In response, Utgard-Loki said that he deceived him in the competition.

"In the wrestling, you contested with Old-Age, who defeats everyone, despite their strength," Utgard-Loki said.

"No one can defeat Elli, the personification of Old age. And now we must part, and it will be better if we do not meet again.

"Be warned that I will always defend my castle with similar tricks."

Thor wrestles Elli (Old Age) at Utgard-Loki's. Illustration by Charles E. Brock for The Heroes of Asgard by Annie and Eliza Keary (1930).

No one can defeat old age and remain young forever. The gods in Asgard made several attempts to stay young, and they managed to do it, but it was only artificially - with the help of the magical golden apples of Idun. They had to regularly eat golden apples from Idun's garden to ward off diseases, disabilities, and old age and remain vigorous, beautiful, and young through countless ages.

Later, Thor learned the tricks that had been mounted against him and that his exploits were worthy of the most powerful gods.

Written by – A. Sutherland AncientPages.com Staff Writer

Updated on January 6, 2024

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