Aegir, also spelled Ægir, is a figure in Norse mythology, and he is indeed associated with the sea and the ocean. While he is often referred to as a giant, his precise nature and origins are not fully clear, as Norse mythology contains various beings with complex genealogies and characteristics.
Aegir is known for his white hair and long beard, which are characteristic features in many depictions. He is skilled in the arts of magic and is considered one of the jotnar (giants) in Norse mythology.
Aegir is married to his sister, Ran, and together they are the parents of nine daughters, who are spirits of the waves or personifications of various aspects of the sea. The names of Aegir and Ran's nine daughters are Himminglaeva, Dufa, Blodughadda, Hefring, Ud, Hronn, Bolge, Drofn, and Kolga. These daughters play a role in the personification of different qualities or aspects of the ocean.
One notable aspect of Aegir and Ran's mythology is their association with Heimdallr, the watchman of the gods and the guardian of Bifrost, the rainbow bridge. It is said that the nine daughters of Aegir and Ran are the mothers of Heimdallr, which adds an interesting connection between the sea and the god responsible for guarding the realm of the gods.
While the sources for Norse mythology are fragmented, and details about Aegir are limited, he is an important figure within the Norse pantheon, representing the sea and its various aspects in the mythology and cosmology of the Norse world.
Aegir and Ran are, respectively, husband and wife. They dwell in a magnificent hall beneath the ocean, and can be seen as the divine powers of the ocean and its varying qualities. Aegir (“Ocean”), who is often portrayed as a gracious host, seems to correspond to its more benevolent aspects. Ran (“Robber”) seems to correspond to its more sinister aspects; in Old Norse poetry, she’s usually mentioned in the context of drowning unfortunate seafarers and dragging them down to dwell in her underwater abode.
While the relationship between the Aesir gods and the giants is ambivalent at best, and often marked by considerable strife, Aegir and Ran enjoy an overwhelmingly friendly relationship with the gods. The gods are apparently regular guests at Aegir’s magnificent feasts.
Together the couple has nine daughters, who are usually interpreted as being spirits of the waves.