Vanir

   In Nordic myth the Vanir were the culture heroes of a race which seems to have preceded the Aesir in Scandinavia. A war between them was precipitated by the ill treatment of Gullveig, a Vanir giantess or priestess. After the defeat of the Aesir, peace was made by both sides ritually spitting into Odherir, the magic cauldron of the giants (the story is told in the Conversations of Bragi), and by an exchange of hostages, Njord going to the Aesir and Hoenir to the Vanir. Later the two groups were fused into one. The Vanir would appear to have been a seafaring people, but probably of the same stock as the Aesir, as Freyr and Freyja were the children of Njord, whilst Frigg came with the Aesir.