Part 24

The lower world is more extensive in all directions than the surface of the earth above it. Bifrost would not be able to pass outside and below the crust of the earth to rest with its bridge-heads on the domain of the three world-fountains if this were not the case. The lower world is therefore called _Jormungrund_, "the great ground or foundation" (Forspjallsljod, 25), and its uttermost zone, _jadarr Jormungrundar_, "the domain of the great ground," is open to the celestial canopy, and the under side of the earth is not its roof. From _Hlidskjalf_, the outlook of the gods in Asgard (Forspjallsljod, the prose texts in Skirnersmal and in Grimnersmal), the view is open to Midgard, to the sea, and to the giant-world situated beyond the Elivagar rivers (see the texts mentioned), and should accordingly also be so to the broad zone of Jormungrund, excepting its northernmost part, which always is shrouded in night. From _Hlidskjalf_ the eye cannot discern what is done there. But Heimdal keeps watch there, and when anything unusual is perceived Odin sends the raven _Huginn_ (_Hugr_) thither to spy it out (Forspjallsljod, 10, 3, which strophes belong together). But from Hlidskjalf as the point of observation the earth conceals all that part of Jormungrund below it; and as it is important to Odin that he should know all that happens there, _Huginn_ and _Muninn_ fly daily over these subterranean regions: _Huginn oc Muninn fljuga hverjan dag iormungrund yfir_ (Grimnersmal, 20). The expeditions of the ravens over Nifelhel in the north and over Surt's "deep dales" in the south expose them to dangers: Odin expresses his fear that some misfortune may befall them on these excursions (Grimnersmal, 20).

In the western and eastern parts of _jadarr Jormungrundar_ dwell the two divine clans the Vans and Elves, and the former rule over the whole zone ever since "the gods in time's morning," gave Frey, Njord's bounteous son, Alfheim as a tooth-gift (Grimners., 5). Delling is to be regarded as clan-chief of the Elves (light-Elves), since in the very theogony he is ranked with the most ancient powers. With Mimer's daughter Nat he becomes the father of Dag and the progenitor of _Dag's synir_ (the light-Elves). It has already been emphasised (see No. 53) that he is the lord of the rosy-dawn, and that outside of his doors the song of awakening is sung every morning over the world: "Power to the Asas, success to the Elves, and wisdom to Hroptatyr" (Havamál, 100). The glow of dawn blazes up from his domain beyond the eastern horizon. Where this clan-chieftain of the Elves dwells, thither the mythology has referred the original home of his clan. _Alfheimr_ occupies the eastern part of Jormungrund's zone. It is in the eastern part that Dag, Delling's son, and Sol, his kinswoman, mount their chariots to make their journey around the earth in the sky. Here is also the Hel-gate through which all the dead must pass in the lower world (No. 68).

There are many proofs that the giant settlement with the Ironwood or Myrkwood was conceived as extending from the north over large portions of the east (Völuspa, 39, 48, &c.). These regions of Alfheim constitute the southern coasts of the Elivagar, and are the scenes of important events in the epic of the mythology (see the treatise on the Ivalde race).

_Vanaheimr_ is situated in the western half of the zone. At the banquet in _Ægir's_ hall described in Lokasenna, Loke says to Njord:

thu vast austr hedan gisl um sendr godum--

"From here you were sent out east as a hostage to the gods."

Ægir's hall is far out in the depths of the sea. The ocean known by the Teutons was the North Sea. The author has manifestly conceived Ægir's hall as situated in the same direction from Asgard as Vanaheim, and not far from the native home of the Vans. This lies in the word _hedan_ (from here). According to Vafthrudnersmal (str. 39), Njord was "created in Vanaheim by wise _regin_." When he was sent as a hostage to the gods to Asgard he had to journey eastward (_austr_). The western location of Vanaheim is thereby demonstrated.

In the "western halls" of Vanaheim dwells Billing, Rind's father, the father of the Asa-god, Vale's mother (_Rindr berr Vala i væstrsölum_--Vegt., 11). His name has been preserved in both the German and the Anglo-Saxon mythic records. An Old German document mentions together Billunc and Nidunc, that is, Billing and Mimer (see No. 87). In the mythology Mimer's domain is bounded on the west by Billing's realm, and on the east by Delling's. Delling is Mimer's son-in-law. According to Völuspa, 13 (Codex Hauk.), Billing is a being which in time's morning, on the resolve of the gods, was created by _Modsognir_-Mimer and _Durinn_. Mimer's neighbours in the east and in the west were therefore intimately connected with him. An Anglo-Saxon record (Codex Exoniensis, 320, 7) makes Billing the race-hero of the kinsmen and neighbours of the Angles, the Varnians (_Billing veold Vernum_). This too has a mythological foundation, as appears in Grimnersmal (39) and in the saga of Helge Hjorvardson, which, as before stated, is composed of mythic fragments. When Sol and Mane leave Delling's domain and begin their march across the heavens, their journey is not without danger. From the Ironwood (cp. Völuspa, 39) come the wolf-giants _Skoll_ and _Hate_ and pursue them. _Skoll_ does not desist from the pursuit before the car of the bright-faced goddess has descended toward the western halls and reached _Varna vidr_ (_Scaull heitir ulfr, er fylgir eno scirleita godi til Varna vidar_--Grimnersmal, 39). _Varna vidr_ is the forest of the mythic Varnians or Varinians. Varnians, Varinians, means "defenders," and the protection here referred to can be none other than that given to the journeying divinities of light when they have reached the western horizon. According to Helge Hjorvardson's saga, Hate, who pursues the moon, is slain near Varin's Bay. _Varinn_, the "defender," "protector," is the singular form of the same word as reappears in the genitive plural _Varna_. These expressions--_Billing veold Vernum_, _Varna vidr_, and _Varins vik_--are to be considered as belonging together. So also the local names borrowed from the mythology, _Varinsfjördr_ and _Varinsey_, in Helge Hjorvardson's saga, where several names reappear, _e.g._, _Svarinn_, _Móinn_, _Álfr_, and _Yngvi_, which in connection with that of Billing occur in the list of the beings created by Mimer and _Durinn_. It is manifest that _Varna vidr_, where the wolf _Skoll_ is obliged to turn back from his pursuit of Sol, and that _Varins vik_, where the moon's pursuer Hate is conquered, were conceived in the mythology as situated in the western horizon, since the sun and the moon making their journey from the east to west on the heavens are pursued and are not safe before they reach the western halls. And now as Billing dwells in the western halls and is remembered in the Anglo-Saxon mythic fragments as the prince of the Varnians or Varinians, and as, furthermore, _Varinsfjördr_ and _Varinsey_ are connected with adventures in which there occur several names of mythic persons belonging to Billing's clan, then this proves absolutely an original mythic connection between Billing and his western halls and those western halls in whose regions _Varna vidr_ and _Varinsvik_ are situated, and where the divinities of light, their journey athwart the sky accomplished, find defenders and can take their rest. And when we add to this that Delling, Mimer's kinsman and eastern neighbour, is the lord of morning and the rosy dawn, and that Billing is Mimer's kinsman and western neighbour, then it follows that Billing, from the standpoint of a symbol of nature, represents the evening and the glow of twilight, and that in the epic he is ruler of those regions of the world where the divinities of light find rest and peace. The description which the Havamál strophes (97-101) give us of life in Billing's halls corresponds most perfectly with this view. Through the epic presentation there gleams, as it seems, a conscious symbolising of nature, which paints to the fancy the play of colours in the west when the sun is set. When eventide comes Billing's lass, "the sun-glittering one," sleeps on her bed (_Billing's mey ec fann bedjum á solhvita sofa_--str. 97). In his halls Billing has a body-guard of warriors, his _saldrótt_, _vigdrótt_ (str. 100, 101), in whom we must recognise those Varnians who protect the divinities of light that come to his dwelling, and these warriors watch far into the night, "with burning lights and with torches in their hands," over the slumbering "sun-white" maiden. But when day breaks their services are no longer necessary. Then they in their turn go to sleep (_Oc nær morni ... thá var saldrott um sofin_--str. 101).

When the Asas--all on horseback excepting Thor--on their daily journey to the thingstead near Urd's fountain, have reached the southern rune-risted bridge-head of Bifrost, they turn to the north and ride through a southern Hel-gate into the lower world proper. Here, in the south, and far below Jormungrund's southern zone, we must conceive those "deep dales" where the fire-giant Surt dwells with his race, Suttung's sons (not Muspel's sons). The idea presented in Gylfaginning's cosmogony, according to which there was a world of fire in the south and a world of cold in the north of that Ginungagap in which the world was formed, is certainly a genuine myth, resting on a view of nature which the very geographical position forced upon the Teutons. Both these border realms afterwards find their representatives in the organised world: the fire-world in _Surt's Sökkdalir_, and the frost-world in the Nifelhel incorporated with the eschatological places; and as the latter constitutes the northern part of the realm of death, we may in analogy herewith refer the dales of Surt and Suttung's sons to the south, and we may do this without fear of error, for Völuspa (50) states positively that Surt and his descendants come from the south to the Ragnarok conflict (_Surtr fer sunan med sviga læfi_). While the northern bridge-head of Bifrost is threatened by the rimthurses, the southern is exposed to attacks from Suttung's sons. In Ragnarok the gods have to meet storms from both quarters, and we must conceive the conflict as extending along Jormungrund's outer zone and especially near both ends of the Bifrost bridge. The plain around the south end of Bifrost where the gods are to "mix the liquor of the sword with Surt" is called _Oskópnir_ in a part of a heathen poem incorporated with Fafnersmal. Here Frey with his hosts of einherjes meets Surt and Suttung's sons, and falls by the sword which once was his, after the arch of Bifrost on this side is already broken under the weight of the hosts of riders (Fafnersmal, 14, 15; Völuspa, 51). _Oskópnir's_ plain must therefore be referred to the south end of Bifrost and outside of the southern Hel-gate of the lower world. The plain is also called _Vigridr_ (Vafthrudnersmal, 18), and is said to be one hundred rasts long each way. As the gods who here appear in the conflict are called _in svaso god_, "the sweet," and as Frey falls in the battle, those who here go to meet Surt and his people seem to be particularly Vana-gods and Vans, while those who contend with the giants and with Loke's progeny are chiefly Asas.

When the gods have ridden through the southern Hel-gate, there lie before them magnificent regions over which Urd in particular rules, and which together with Mimer's domain constitute the realms of bliss in the lower world with abodes for departed children and women, and for men who were not chosen on the field of battle. Rivers flowing from Hvergelmer flow through Urd's domain after they have traversed Mimer's realm. The way leads the gods to the fountain of the norns, which waters the southern root of the world-tree, and over which Ygdrasil's lower branches spread their ever-green leaves, shading the gold-clad fountain, where swans swim and whose waters give the whitest colour to everything that comes in contact therewith. In the vicinity of this fountain are the thingstead with judgment-seats, a tribunal, and benches for the hosts of people who daily arrive to be blessed or damned.

These hosts enter through the Hel-gate of the east. They traverse deep and dark valleys, and come to a thorn-grown plain against whose pricks Hel-shoes protect those who were merciful in their life on earth, and thence to the river mixed with blood, which in its eddies whirls weapons and must be waded over by the wicked, but can be crossed by the good on the drift-wood which floats on the river. When this river is crossed the way of the dead leads southward to the thingstead of the gods.

Further up there is a golden bridge across the river to the glorious realm where _Mimer's holt_ and the glittering halls are situated, in which Balder and the _ásmegir_ await the regeneration. Many streams come from Hvergelmer, among them _Leiptr_, on whose waters holy oaths are taken, and cast their coils around these protected places, whence sorrow, aging, and death are banished. The halls are situated in the eastern part of Mimer's realm in the domain of the elf of the rosy dawn, for he is their watchman.

Further down in Mimer's land and under the middle root of the world-tree is the well of creative force and of inspiration, and near it are Mimer's own golden halls.

Through this middle part of the lower world goes from west to east the road which Nat, Dag, Sol, and Mane travel from Billing's domain to Delling's. When the mother Nat whose car is drawn by _Hrimfaxi_ makes her entrance through the western Hel-gate, darkness is diffused along her course over the regions of bliss and accompanies her chariot to the north, where the hall of Sindre, the great artist, is located, and toward the Nida mountains, at whose southern foot Nat takes her rest in her own home. Then those who dwell in the northern regions of Jormungrund retire to rest (Forspjallsljod, 25); but on the outer rim of Midgard there is life and activity, for there Dag's and Sol's cars then diffuse light and splendour on land and sea. The hall of Sindre's race has a special peculiarity. It is, as shall be shown below, the prototype of "the sleeping castle" mentioned in the sagas of the middle ages.

Over the Nida mountains and the lands beyond them we find Ygdrasil's third root, watered by the Hvergelmer fountain, the mother of all waters. The Nida mountains constitute Jormungrund's great watershed, from which rivers rush down to the south and to the north. In Hvergelmer's fountain and above it the world-mill is built through whose mill-stone eye water rushes up and down, causing the maelstrom and ebb and flood tide, and scattering the meal of the mill over the bottom of the sea. Nine giantesses march along the outer edge of the world pushing the mill-handle before them, while the mill and the starry heavens at the same time are revolved.

Where the Elivagar rivers rise out of Hvergelmer, and on the southern strand of the mythic Gandvik, is found a region which, after one of its inhabitants, is called _Ide's_ pasture (_setr_--Younger Edda, i. 292). Here dwell warriors of mixed elf and giant blood (see the treatise on the Ivalde race), who received from the gods the task of being a guard of protection against the neighbouring giant-world.

Farther toward the north rise the Nida mountains and form the steep wall which constitutes Nifelhel's southern boundary. In this wall are the Na-gates, through which the damned when they have died their second death are brought into the realm of torture, whose ruler is _Leikinn_. Nifelheim is inhabited by the spirits of the primeval giants, by the spirits of disease, and by giants who have fallen in conflict with the gods. Under Nifelhel extend the enormous caves in which the various kinds of criminals are tortured. In one of these caves is the torture hall of the Nastrands. Outside of its northern door is a grotto guarded by swarthy elves. The door opens to Armsvartner's sea, over which eternal darkness broods. In this sea lies the Lyngve-holm, within whose jurisdiction Loke, Fenrer, and "Muspel's sons" are fettered. Somewhere in the same region Bifrost descends to its well fortified northern bridge-head. The citadel is called _Himinbjörg_, "the defence or rampart of heaven." Its chieftain is Heimdal.

While Bifrost's arch stands in a direction from north to south, the way on which Mane and Sol travel across the heavens goes from east to west. Mane's way is below Asgard.

The movable starry heaven is not the only, nor is it the highest, canopy stretched over all that has been mentioned above. One can go so far to the north that even the horizon of the starry heavens is left in the rear. Outside, the heavens _Andlánger_ and _Vidblainn_ support their edges against Jormungrund (Gylfag., 17). All this creation is supported by the world-tree, on whose topmost bough the cock Vidofner glitters.

[17] Possibly the same as that of which a few strophes are preserved in _Baldrs draumar_, an old poetic fragment whose gaps have been filled in a very unsatisfactory manner in recent times with strophes which now are current as Vegtamskvida. That Odin, when he is about to proceed to the abode which in the subterranean realms of bliss is to receive Balder, chooses the route through Nifelhel is explained not by Vegtamskvida, where this fact is stated, but by the older poem mentioned by Saxo, which makes him seek the dweller in Nifelhel, the rimthurs _Hrossthiófr_, son of _Hrimnir_.

(_Continuation of Part IV in Volume III._)

INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES.

TEUTONIC MYTHOLOGY.

Transcriber's Note: This index has been copied in from Volume III for the convenience of the reader (although it doesn't use the accented letters found in the rest of the text).

A

Achilles, 44, 192.

Achivians, 62.

Adalbert, 320.

Adam, 86, 132, 319, 338.

Adam of Bremen, 714.

Adriatic, 62.

Aeduans, 66.

Aegir, 43, 136, 235, 422, 575, 697, 813, 822, 967.

Aeneas, 44, 66, 81, 730.

African, 6.

Agelmund, 858.

Aggo, 104, 861, 893, 953, 1008.

Agni, 587, 605, 886.

Agrippa, 76, 86.

Ahriman, 817.

Ahura, 8.

Ahuramazda, 127, 381, 450.

Ai, 140.

Ajo, 100, 861, 992.

Alamannians, 53, 119, 708.

Alarik, 25.

Alba-Longa, 66.

Aldonus, 101.

Aldrian, 981, 991.

Alexander, 50, 55.

Alf, 167.

Alfather, 376, 220, 340.

Alfheim, 696, 865, 947.

Alfhild, 168.

Alfrandull, 1002.

Alfsol, 168.

Alps, 62.

Almveig, 1000.

Alvalde, 174, 584, 898, 953, 992.

Alveig, 173, 257, 263, 273.

Alveig-Signe, 793, 902.

Alvis, 437.

Alvism, 365, 376.

Alvismal, 436, 445.

Alvitr, 898.

Amala, 293.

Amalgort, 293.

Amalian, 147, 285, 293, 980.

Amazons, 168.

Ambri, 100.

Amelolt, 293.

Amelungs, 147, 293.

America, 940.

Amlethus, 317, 843.

Amlodi, 843, 568.

Amma, 140.

Ammianus, 58.

Amsvartner, 564.

Anarr, 157.

Anchises, 54, 112.

Andlanger, 706.

Andvare, a dwarf, 300, 977.

Angerboda, 226, 275, 558, 707, 809.

Angeyja, 597.

Angles, 55.

Anglo-Saxon, 86.

Angra-Mainyu, 127.

Angul, 89.

Animals, 23.

Anses, 738.

Ansgarius, 806.

Ansgis, 54, 112.

Antenor, 53, 62.

Anthaib, 101.

Anthropology, 729.

Anti-Christ, 722.

Anundus, 848, 884, 896, 932, 951.

Anus, 879.

Anzius, 147.

Apaosha, 970.

Apollo, 79.

Aquili, 553.

Are, 57, 425, 438.

Arinbjorn, 173, 464.

Aristarchus, 53.

Armenia, 3.

Arnulf, 54.

Artimis, 79.

Arvidson, 844.

Aryan, 3, 14, 30, 124, 188, 253, 380, 746.

Asa-Brage, 256, 801.

Asa-father, 746.

Asa-god, 147, 191, 210, 246, 740, 777, 793, 820.

Asaland, 33.

Asalfr, 926.

Asas, 34, 41, 83, 211, 235, 254, 275, 364, 376, 397, 436, 485, 580, 620, 720, 819, 838, 852, 875, 888, 946.

Asasynir (goddesses), 446.

Asbjorn, 245.

Asciburgium, 122, 839.

Asgard, 33, 41, 166, 218, 229, 245, 276, 376, 397, 423, 443, 467, 575, 601, 693, 724, 751, 772, 790, 806, 845, 865, 877, 909, 938, 959, 977, 989, 1004.

Asia-land, 45.

Asia Minor, 77.

Asiatic, 4, 14.

Ask, 127, 140, 604, 733.

Asmegir, 353, 436, 446, 827, 878.

Asmund, 265, 743.

Assi, 100.

Assyrians, 37.

Astrology, 71.

Asvid, 365, 743.

Asvinians, 880, 910.

Atlakvida, 512.

Atlantic, 87.

Atlas, 977.

Atle, 471, 915.

Attic, 53.

Attila, 286, 809, 983.

Audhumbla, 389, 574, 733, 433.

Augustus, 711.

Aurboda, 213, 242, 781, 815, 845, 962.

Aurgelner, 433, 570.

Aurnir, 899, 948, 992.

Austria, 28.

Ave, 140.

Avo, 848, 884, 896.

Avernians, 66.

Avesta, 8, 17, 30, 450, 878.

Azdingi, 159.

B

Baal, 37.

Babel, 37, 84.

Babylon, 37, 84.

Bacchus, 900.

Bactria, 9, 84.

Bærmagnis-Sogo, 310.

Bainaib, 101.

Balder, 36, 88, 191, 212, 248, 346, 368, 377, 400, 413, 436, 465, 622, 684, 726, 782, 796, 809, 833, 877, 888, 898, 963, 985.

Banings (destroyers), 297.

Barbarossa, 55.

Baugregin's Well, 577.

Beda, 55, 88.

Beistla, 624.

Bel, 836.

Beldegg, 40, 88.

Belgium, 28.

Beli, 836.

Benfey, 18.

Beowulf, 130, 191, 472, 605, 749, 811, 825, 844, 986, 1002.

Berchter, 591.

Berchtung, 146, 291.

Bergelmer, 434, 570, 626.

Bergio, 115.

Berggram, 848.

Berig, 116.

Berker, 146.

Bergtrollet, 844.

Berserks, 39.

Berther, 146.

Bessarabia, 25.

Bestla, 160, 389, 476.

Beyla, 575.

Bhrigu, 587.

Bifrost, 397, 415, 462, 534, 586, 693, 705, 758, 827, 989.

Bil, 676, 985, 1003.

Billing, 471, 698.

Birka, 806.

Biterolf, 359, 644, 977, 997.

Bjaef, 88.

Bjarmia, 563.

Bjorn, 245.

Bjorno, 884.

Bjort, 229, 756.

Blekingia, 104.

Blid, 229, 756.

Bodn, 331.

Bodvar, 530.

Boethius, 812.

Bolthorn, 361, 624.

Bor, 389, 434, 574, 603.

Borgar, 145, 255, 281, 293, 591, 847, 861, 976.

Bose Saga, 310.

Bosphorus, 48.

Bous, 787.

Bragarædur, 959.

Brage, 43, 468, 675, 824, 967, 986.

Bravalla, 283.

Breidablik, 36.

Brimer, 643.

Brisingamen, 272, 364, 725, 819, 829, 876.

Britain, 55.

Brok, 361, 718, 895.

Brunnakr, 898, 953.

Brunnie, 898, 953.

Brutus, 66.

Brynhild, 491, 979.

Buddhism, 732.

Budlungs, 189.

Bundehash, 126.

Bure, 389.

Burgarus, 145.

Burgundaib, 101, 113.

Byggvir, 575.

Byleipt, 559.

Byrgir, 676, 986, 1003.

Byzantium, 48.

C

Cæsar, 66, 283.

Cain, 813.

Capitoline Hill, 74.

Carthage, 58.

Cassiodorus, 114.

Cave of Punishment, 552.

Celts, 10, 25, 254.

Cerberus, 38, 413.

Ceres, 79.

Chaldæans, 72.

Cham, 85.

Chaos, 389.

Charlemagne, 53, 101, 807.

Cheldricus, 981, 990.

Cherson, 25.

Christ, 77, 284, 807.

Christianity, 50, 285.

Chus, 85.

Cimmerians, 76.

Cis-Alpine, 66.

Claudius, 114.

Claybrimer, 570.

Codex Regius, 233.

Codex Upsalensis, 353, 538.

Cool, 519.

Cosmogony, 157.

Cosmographic Review, 692.

Creator, 813.

Creation of Man, 126.

Crete, 38.

Crimea, 25.

Cumæan Prophetess, 75.

Curetians, 261.

Cuso, 784.

Cybile, 79.

Cyclops, 715.

D

Dacians, 129.

Dag, 366, 420, 433, 446, 602, 696.

Dainn, an elf artist, 240, 365, 717.

Dalmatia, 63.

Damkan, 386.

Dan, 137.

Danai, 56, 255.

Danes, 27, 56, 117, 178, 257.

Danische Wold, 811.

Danish Adventurers, 714.

Dankrat, 981.

Danmark, 89.

Dannevirke, 913, 927.

Danr Draupr, 142.

Danube, 62.

Dardanus, 38.

Darius, 3.

Darnanians, 58.

Dasyus, 596.

Decius, 710.

Delling, 356, 366, 377, 416, 461, 602, 696, 823.

Diaconus, 54, 101, 859.

Dictys, 59.

Dieterich, 285, 980.

Dis, sun goddess, 167.

Disertus, 794.

Ditevin, 109.

Dobrudscho, 25.

Domarr, 137.

Don, 113.

Doom of the Dead, 485.

Dore, 356.

Drauper, 361, 374, 427, 635.

Draupner, 725, 824, 862.

Drott, 143.

Duben, 29.

Dudo, 56, 67.

Dulsi, 608, 652.

Dunelmensis, 130.

Durin, 357, 653.

Durnir, 652.

Dutch, 27.

Dvalinn, a dwarf artist, 164, 244, 356, 461, 717.

Dwarfs, 445.

Dygve, 144, 621.

E

Earendel, 769.

East Goths, 25.

Ebbo, 104, 779, 847.

Ebur, 863, 953.

Eckenbrecht, 896.

Eckihard, 360.

Edda, 325, 354, 406, 562, 603, 647, 718, 791, 827, 851, 888, 927, 962.

Egil, 425, 463, 529, 838, 847, 863, 873, 884, 901, 926, 941, 969, 977, 990.

Egilsson, 733.