Braga (or Bragi)

Braga (Or Bragi)

in Norse mythology, was the son of Odin and Frigga, the god of eloquence and the art of poetry, the wisest among the Asas. Odin gave each of the Asas an attribute which he could loan to his favorites. To Thor he attributed strength; to Freia, love; to Baldur, beauty; and to Braga, the poetry-inspiring nectar. Braga saves this nectar, and endows few with it, but uses it often himself, so that no spiritless word escapes his lips, and all he says is wisdom in the dress of beauty. Those arriving at Walhalla he meets with the welcome of the gods: "We welcome you to Walhalla; partake of peace and drink consecrated nectar with the Asas." His wife is the youthful Itun (later Iduna); she possesses the apples of immortality. To whomsoever her husband gives the nectar, him she presents with eternal life. The god was so highly worshipped that an oath, made by his cup, was inviolable. A king could not sit on his throne until he had emptied the Braga cup, and made an oath relating to his enthronement. If he drank the contents of the cup with more than one draught, it was an evil omen. It is curious that at Aegir's great supper, Braga does not appear to have had any courage or bravery.

⇒See also the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.