I tried to think of a pun involving keys and Odin, but drew a blank.
October 19, 2007 10:40 PM Subscribe
MythologyFilter: In Norse mythology, is there an object that serves as the 'key' to anything important?
Being the good nerd that I am, the name of my (Windows) computer and my hard drives are all taken from Norse mythology. My computer's name is Yggdrasil, my boot volume is Asgard, my music drive is Midgard, and my spare hard drive, which contains an old installation of XP, is Niflheim.
I have a thumb drive that I'm currently using as a key to unlock my password database file, and since I'd like to continue with my naming scheme, I wanted to name it after the key to something important, if such a thing exists in Norse mythology. However, my knowledge of said mythology consists of what I learned in part of a mythology class I took in college a couple years ago, so I'm guessing that there are people here who know more about this than I do. Googling/Wikipedia-ing didn't help me out very much, so I am instead turning to the hive mind.
Being the good nerd that I am, the name of my (Windows) computer and my hard drives are all taken from Norse mythology. My computer's name is Yggdrasil, my boot volume is Asgard, my music drive is Midgard, and my spare hard drive, which contains an old installation of XP, is Niflheim.
I have a thumb drive that I'm currently using as a key to unlock my password database file, and since I'd like to continue with my naming scheme, I wanted to name it after the key to something important, if such a thing exists in Norse mythology. However, my knowledge of said mythology consists of what I learned in part of a mythology class I took in college a couple years ago, so I'm guessing that there are people here who know more about this than I do. Googling/Wikipedia-ing didn't help me out very much, so I am instead turning to the hive mind.
I'd go with Thor's hammer, Mjolnir. The key to a serious ass-kicking.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:45 PM on October 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:45 PM on October 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
Mjolnir (Thor's hammer)? Not a key but a very important weapon.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 10:49 PM on October 19, 2007
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 10:49 PM on October 19, 2007
(dammit. sorry.)
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 10:50 PM on October 19, 2007
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 10:50 PM on October 19, 2007
(Plus if you want to get extra nerdy, Mjolnir is also the name of the armour worn by the Spartans in the Halo series. So it's Norse mythology, important, AND it's indestructible/kickass/superhuman.)
posted by Phire at 10:56 PM on October 19, 2007
posted by Phire at 10:56 PM on October 19, 2007
Instead of a key, how about a bridge?
Bifröst is in Norse mythology the bridge leading from the realm of mortals, Midgard, to the realm of the gods, Asgard, which the gods travel daily to hold their councils and pass judgements at Urdarbrunn (Well of Urd) under the shade of the tree Yggdrasill.
The bridge itself is the rainbow and its guardian is the god Heimdallr, whose hall of Himinbjorg is located at the upper end of the bridge. The red color was the flaming fire, which served as a defense against the giants. The bridge is destroyed at the end of the world, Ragnarök. It was built by the Æsir.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 11:04 PM on October 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
Bifröst is in Norse mythology the bridge leading from the realm of mortals, Midgard, to the realm of the gods, Asgard, which the gods travel daily to hold their councils and pass judgements at Urdarbrunn (Well of Urd) under the shade of the tree Yggdrasill.
The bridge itself is the rainbow and its guardian is the god Heimdallr, whose hall of Himinbjorg is located at the upper end of the bridge. The red color was the flaming fire, which served as a defense against the giants. The bridge is destroyed at the end of the world, Ragnarök. It was built by the Æsir.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 11:04 PM on October 19, 2007 [1 favorite]
Gleipnir holds Fenrisulfr at bay (the "key" to holding Fenrisulfr back, etc).
Gungnir, though not a key in and of itself, means "unwavering one" and seems to be a good name for a thing that unlocks something. Unwavering and whatnot.
That's really all I can think of :/
posted by Verdandi at 11:12 PM on October 19, 2007
Gungnir, though not a key in and of itself, means "unwavering one" and seems to be a good name for a thing that unlocks something. Unwavering and whatnot.
That's really all I can think of :/
posted by Verdandi at 11:12 PM on October 19, 2007
Other options:
Gjallarhorn
Gleipnir
Gungnir
Skíðblaðnir
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 11:16 PM on October 19, 2007
Gjallarhorn
Gleipnir
Gungnir
Skíðblaðnir
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 11:16 PM on October 19, 2007
These aren't really keys but they might do.
Sigmund's sword
Heimskringla
Edda
posted by euphorb at 11:31 PM on October 19, 2007
Sigmund's sword
Heimskringla
Edda
posted by euphorb at 11:31 PM on October 19, 2007
Heimdall was the guardian of the Bifrost Bridge.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 12:26 AM on October 20, 2007
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 12:26 AM on October 20, 2007
Best answer: Or just browse Wikipedia's Artifacts in Norse Mythology category. Swords and necklaces aplenty for you to pick from. However, I suggest Óðrerir, the vessel which contained the mead of poetry (well, sort of). Seems a fitting metaphor for your thumbdrive filled with magical words of power.
posted by mumkin at 12:36 AM on October 20, 2007
posted by mumkin at 12:36 AM on October 20, 2007
I remember reading a children's collection of Norse legends when I was young, and it had a story about an apple tree whose apples kept the gods eternally youthful. At some point, Loki stole all the apples or some such nonsense, and someone had to be dispatched to get them back.
Also, the serpent Niddhog, who stretched around the entire world and eternally gnawed at the roots of Yggdrasil.
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 12:40 AM on October 20, 2007
Also, the serpent Niddhog, who stretched around the entire world and eternally gnawed at the roots of Yggdrasil.
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 12:40 AM on October 20, 2007
there was something called the "tarnhelm", a helmet that gave its wearer invisibility and the power to relocate at the speed of thought.
posted by bruce at 2:40 AM on October 20, 2007
posted by bruce at 2:40 AM on October 20, 2007
Hah, I also use Norse mythology for naming computer related stuff. My local network is called Asgard, and the wifi network in my house is Bifrost (connecting the world of humans to Asgard). The naming scheme I started with used gods as the name for computers (Loki, Odin) and their offspring as their respective hard drives (Fenrir, Jormungand, etc.). I began to run out of gods so I decided to use the gods' possessions as hard drive names (Mjollnir).
My own thumb drive was christened in the old nomenclature and I chose Aegir. Encyclopedia Mythica helped me a lot in my choices.
Gleipnir is a good name, as people have suggested. I would also consider Hugin or Munin, thought and memory, Odin's two ravens.
posted by kepano at 2:53 AM on October 20, 2007 [2 favorites]
My own thumb drive was christened in the old nomenclature and I chose Aegir. Encyclopedia Mythica helped me a lot in my choices.
Gleipnir is a good name, as people have suggested. I would also consider Hugin or Munin, thought and memory, Odin's two ravens.
posted by kepano at 2:53 AM on October 20, 2007 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: @mumkin: Oh, I like Óðrerir. Óðrerir it is.
Unfortunately, Vista immediately renamed that to ODRERIR, but I know what it's supposed to be and that's what matters.
To the rest of you, thank you: this was like waking up on Christmas morning to all sorts of treats. Except in October. And answers instead of treats.
posted by phaded at 7:40 AM on October 20, 2007 [1 favorite]
Unfortunately, Vista immediately renamed that to ODRERIR, but I know what it's supposed to be and that's what matters.
To the rest of you, thank you: this was like waking up on Christmas morning to all sorts of treats. Except in October. And answers instead of treats.
posted by phaded at 7:40 AM on October 20, 2007 [1 favorite]
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posted by edgeways at 10:45 PM on October 19, 2007 [1 favorite]