Skip to content
Gefjon, a MythSource painting
Norse

Gefjon

The Maiden · The Virgin · The Plougher

01Identity

Gefjon in Norse tradition

As a goddess of ploughing and cultivation, Gefjon is linked with Zealand and its legendary origin, and with unmarried maidens after death. She ploughed a tract of land from Sweden with four oxen born to a giant and herself, then drew it into the sea to form Seeland, later called Zealand. The displaced ground became Lake Logrinn, identified with Lake Mälaren, while the new land became an increase to Denmark.

Top questions

The quick answers

  • Who is Gefjon?

    Gefjon is a Norse deity associated with ploughing and cultivation, Zealand and its legendary origin, unmarried maidens after death.
    Source

    Source

    • Dictionary of northern mythology

  • What is Gefjon the god of?

    ploughing and cultivation, Zealand and its legendary origin, unmarried maidens after death
    Source

    Source

    • Dictionary of northern mythology

  • What family links are recorded for Gefjon?

    Spouse: Skjöldr.
02Family

Gefjon’s family, at a glance

Parents above, children below, and the figure’s consorts named in between, the same family data as the fact box, laid out as a chart instead of a field list.

Gefjon

with Skjöldr

03The names

The names Gefjon answers to

Gefjun

Old Norse variant form of Gefjon

SourceDictionary of northern mythology

Gefion

Danish and Latinized form of Gefjon

SourceDictionary of northern mythology

The Maiden

The unmarried maiden goddess

SourceDictionary of northern mythology

The Virgin

The virgin goddess associated with maidens

SourceDictionary of northern mythology

The Plougher

The goddess who ploughed Zealand from Sweden

SourceDictionary of northern mythology

04The myths

The myths of Gefjon

3 myths, each traced to its primary text and corpus sources.

Gefjon’s Quarrel with Loki

Loki entered Ægir’s hall during the feast. The company fell silent when they saw him. Before he entered, Eldir warned him that the gods discussed their weapons and readiness for war, and that no Æsir or elf inside had a friendly word for him. Loki said that he would bring quarrelling to the feast and mix their mead with malice. Eldir warned that the guests would turn accusations and scandal against him, but Loki trusted his replies.

Loki demanded a place at the feast. He reminded Odin of an old agreement between them. They had sworn that neither would drink ale unless it was offered to both of them. Odin ordered that Loki receive a seat. Loki sat down and attacked those gathered there.

Gefjon rebuked Loki for provoking the gods and stirring conflict at the feast. Loki answered by claiming that she exchanged sexual favours with a mortal for a necklace. He then attacked the gods and goddesses in turn, and he treated their conduct as open to the same accusations as human conduct.

The quarrel continued. Bragi threatened Loki, and Idunn asked Bragi to restrain his words. Loki traded insults with them and with other members of the company. He remained bold while Thor was absent. Thor returned from Giant-land and threatened Loki with his hammer, Miollnir. Loki fell silent and agreed to leave the hall.

Gefjon’s Quarrel with Loki, a MythSource painting of the scene

In the modern world

No modern rework confirmed yet.

2 sources· checked 2026-08-19

  1. 1The Poetic EddaT1
  2. 2the ancient sourcesT1

    Quote

    “Gefjon tells Loki to cease his quarrelling, and he responds by alleging that she obtained a necklace through sexual favours with a mortal.”

    the ancient sources

Gefjon’s Ploughing of Zealand

Gefjon received a reward from King Gylfi after she entertained him with her storytelling. Gylfi granted her as much plough-land as four oxen could work in a day and a night. Gefjon belonged to the Asa-race. She travelled north to Jotunheim and took four oxen. They were the sons of a giant and of Gefjon herself.

She set the four oxen before the plough. They pulled with such force that the plough cut deeply into the ground and tore the land from its place. The oxen drew the land westwards into the sea. The torn ground followed them until it stood still in a sound. As the running oxen worked, the land steamed beneath them.

Gefjon set the land in the sound, gave it a name, and called it Seeland. The ground where the land had been became a lake in Sweden called Logrinn, which was identified with Lake Mälaren. Its bays corresponded to the capes of Seeland. A skaldic verse described the oxen as bearing four heads and eight eyes while they drew the wide, grassy land away. It called Seeland an increase to Denmark.

Gefjon then held the land she had taken, and Seeland became Denmark's increase.

Gefjon’s Ploughing of Zealand, a MythSource painting of the scene

In the modern world

No modern rework confirmed yet.

3 sources· checked 2026-08-19

  1. 1The Prose EddaT1
  2. 2the ancient sourcesT1

    Quote

    “Four oxen, born of a giant and Gefjon, drag the allotted land from Sweden into the sea, where she sets it as Zealand and leaves a lake called Logrinn.”

    the ancient sources

  3. 3The Prose EddaT1

Gefjon’s Marriage to Skjöld

Gylfaginning says that Gefjon accepted Gylfi’s offer of as much land as four oxen could plough in a day and a night. She went north to Jotunheim and took four oxen. They were the sons of a giant and herself. She set them before the plough. They pulled with such force that the plough tore deep into the ground and drew the land westwards into the sea. The land came to rest in a sound, where Gefjon set it and named it Seeland, now called Zealand.

The land removed by the plough became a lake in Sweden called Logrinn, or Lake Mälaren. Its bays were said to match the capes of Zealand. A skaldic verse describes Gefjon drawing the land from Gylfi. The four oxen bear four heads and eight eyes as they pull the grassy island from its place.

The ploughing account appears in Gylfaginning. The account of Gefjon’s marriage to Skjöld is given in Ynglinga saga. Odin’s son Skjöld had been established as ruler in the land now called Denmark. The land was then called Gotland or Reidgotaland. Skjöld’s son was Fridleif. From Fridleif came the line called the Skjoldungs, the Danish kings. After Gefjon established Zealand, she married Skjöld and lived with him at Lejre in Denmark.

Gefjon’s Marriage to Skjöld, a MythSource painting of the scene

In the modern world

No modern rework confirmed yet.

3 sources· checked 2026-08-19

  1. 1The Prose EddaT1
  2. 2the ancient sourcesT1

    Quote

    “After ruling the land called Denmark, Skjöld marries Gefjon, lives at Lejre, and fathers Fridleif, from whom the Danish kings called Skjoldungs descend.”

    the ancient sources

  3. 3Teutonic Mythology: Gods and Goddesses of the NorthlandT1

Also appears in

The myths across MythSource where Gefjon features, each on that figure’s page.

The film

The Underdrawing video on Gefjon embeds here once it publishes.