Aegir

Greek bronze sculpture depicting the god Poseidon. "Poseidon Soter at Artemisium" (c. 575 B.C.). The statue was found in the Aegean Sea in 1926.
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Image courtesy of the National Archaeological Museum at Athens, Greece. (c) Greek Ministry of Culture - Archaeological Receipt Fund.

Aegir was a fierce god of the sea. He had fingers like claws. His wife was named Ran, and they had nine daughters, the maidens believed to move the waves. Aegir would sometimes appear on the sea to destroy ships.

Often, he and his wife would use nets to capture sailors, and take them down into his underwater kingdom. Captain's would give coins to every sailor, so if they were captured they would have a gift for the gods.

Saxon pirates would often sacrifice every tenth prisoner, ensuring a safe journey across Aegir's sea. Aegir was shown as a powerful god, often holding a spear. He is very similar to the Greek god Poseidon.

Last modified March 27, 1997 by the Windows Team

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