"The Billow Maidens", were the nine daughters of Aegir and Ran and their names were poetic names for waves.
The daughters of Aegir were the personifications of the waves, they were beautyful maidens with white robes and veils.
They always helped their father, brew the beer for the gods.
By Odin, they were the mothers of Heimdall, who guarded the rainbow Bifröst.
Their names were:
(Poetic Edda)
- Angeyja ("Sorrow-Whelmer")
- Atla ("Fury")
- Eistla ("Foamer")
- Eyrgjafa ("Sand-Strewer")
- Gjalp ("Yelper")
- Greip ( "Griper")
- Iarnsaxe ("Iron-Sword")
- Imd ( "Dusk")
- Ulfrun ("She-Wolf")
Or (Prose Edda):
- Bylgja ("Billow")
- Blodughadda ("Bloody Hair")
- Drofn ("Foam-Fleck", "Comber" or "Foaming Sea")
- Dufa ("The Pitching One" or "Dipping")
- Hefring ("Riser")
- Himinglaeva ("That through which one can see the heaven", or maybe something like "Heaven-Clear")
- Hrönn ("Welling Wave")
- Kolga ("The Cool One" poetical term for wave)
- Udr ("Frothing Wave")
In later times they were identified with Mermaids.
According to Bugge the maidens who are to weep for Baldr (Poetic Edda: Baldrs Draumar, Stanza.12) were the billow maidens, whose grief will be so tempestuous that they will toss the ships up to the very sky.
Poetic Edda: Hyndluljóð
Old Norse: Ægirsdætra
Meaning: Aegir's Daughters
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