Part 2 (2/2)

Of all the G.o.ds Thor only, the G.o.d of thunder, never pa.s.sed over the bridge, for fear lest his heavy tread or the heat of his lightnings would destroy it. The G.o.d Heimdall kept watch and ward there night and day. He was armed with a trenchant sword, and carried a trumpet called Giallar-horn, upon which he generally blew a soft note to announce the coming or going of the G.o.ds, but upon which a terrible blast would be sounded when Ragnarok should come, and the frost-giants and Surtr combined to destroy the world.

”Surt from the south comes With flickering flame; s.h.i.+nes from his sword The Val-G.o.d's sun.

The stony hills are dashed together, The giantesses totter; Men tread the path of Hel, And heaven is cloven.”

Saemund's Edda (Thorpe's tr.).

The Vanas

Now although the original inhabitants of heaven were the aesir, they were not the sole divinities of the Northern races, who also recognised the power of the sea- and wind-G.o.ds, the Vanas, dwelling in Vana-heim and ruling their realms as they pleased. In early times, before the golden palaces in Asgard were built, a dispute arose between the aesir and Vanas, and they resorted to arms, using rocks, mountains, and icebergs as missiles in the fray. But discovering ere long that in unity alone lay strength, they composed their differences and made peace, and to ratify the treaty they exchanged hostages.

It was thus that the Van, Niord, came to dwell in Asgard with his two children, Frey and Freya, while the Asa, Hoenir, Odin's own brother, took up his abode in Vana-heim.

CHAPTER II: ODIN

The Father of G.o.ds and Men

Odin, Wuotan, or Woden was the highest and holiest G.o.d of the Northern races. He was the all-pervading spirit of the universe, the personification of the air, the G.o.d of universal wisdom and victory, and the leader and protector of princes and heroes. As all the G.o.ds were supposed to be descended from him, he was surnamed Allfather, and as eldest and chief among them he occupied the highest seat in Asgard. Known by the name of Hlidskialf, this chair was not only an exalted throne, but also a mighty watch-tower, from whence he could overlook the whole world and see at a glance all that was happening among G.o.ds, giants, elves, dwarfs, and men.

”From the hall of Heaven he rode away To Lidskialf, and sate upon his throne, The mount, from whence his eye surveys the world.

And far from Heaven he turned his s.h.i.+ning orbs To look on Midgard, and the earth, and men.”

Balder Dead (Matthew Arnold).

Odin's Personal Appearance

None but Odin and his wife and queen Frigga were privileged to use this seat, and when they occupied it they generally gazed towards the south and west, the goal of all the hopes and excursions of the Northern nations. Odin was generally represented as a tall, vigorous man, about fifty years of age, either with dark curling hair or with a long grey beard and bald head. He was clad in a suit of grey, with a blue hood, and his muscular body was enveloped in a wide blue mantle flecked with grey--an emblem of the sky with its fleecy clouds. In his hand Odin generally carried the infallible spear Gungnir, which was so sacred that an oath sworn upon its point could never be broken, and on his finger or arm he wore the marvellous ring, Draupnir, the emblem of fruitfulness, precious beyond compare. When seated upon his throne or armed for the fray, to mingle in which he would often descend to earth, Odin wore his eagle helmet; but when he wandered peacefully about the earth in human guise, to see what men were doing, he generally donned a broad-brimmed hat, drawn low over his forehead to conceal the fact that he possessed but one eye.

Two ravens, Hugin (thought) and Munin (memory), perched upon his shoulders as he sat upon his throne, and these he sent out into the wide world every morning, anxiously watching for their return at nightfall, when they whispered into his ears news of all they had seen and heard. Thus he was kept well informed about everything that was happening on earth.

”Hugin and Munin Fly each day Over the s.p.a.cious earth.

I fear for Hugin That he come not back, Yet more anxious am I for Munin.”

Norse Mythology (R. B. Anderson).

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