Bestla

"Wife?", "Bark?" The mother of Odin, according to Snorri Sturluson in Gylfaginning. He says that Borr wedded the woman named Bestla, the daughter of Bölþorn the giant, and that they had three sons: Odin, Vili, and Vé. This makes Odin descended from the jötnar on his mother's side. In Hávamál Odin says that he got nine mighty songs from Bestla's brother, but this brother remains unnamed.

Two kennings for Odin are Bestla's Son and Bestla's Offspring. She is also mentioned in a verse by the tenth-century Icelandic skald Einarr Helgason, also called Einarr skálaglamm:

Since less with Bestla's Offspring

Prevail most lordly princes

Than thou, my task is singing

Thy praise in songs of battle.

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