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GambanteinIn Norse mythology, Gambantein (Old Norse gambanteinn 'magic wand') appears in two eddic poems. In the Hrbarslj (Stanza 20) Odin says: A giant hard was Hlbard, methinks:
His gambantein he gave me as gift,
And I stole his wits away. In the Skirnismal (Sanzas 25–26) Skrnir speaks to Gerd: Seest thou, maiden, this keen, bright sword
That I hold here in my hand?
Before its blade the old giant bends,—
Thy father is doomed to die.
I strike thee, maid, with my gambantein,
To tame thee to work my will;
There shalt thou go where never again
The sons of men shall see thee. Skrnir then condemns Gerd to live lonely and hideous, unloved, either married to a three-headed giant or forever unwed. It might seem that this gambantein also refers to the sword which which Skirnir has previously threatened Gerd. But immediately after concluding his curse, Skrnir says (stanza 32): I go to the wood, and to the wet forest,
To win a gambantein;
. . . . . . . . .
I won a gambantein. The poem then continues with further threats by Skrnir condemning Gerd to a life of misery.
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