The chief gods, who were especially to be worshipped, are twelve ; the goddesses are fourteen. The subordinate superhuman powers are numberless. We only enumerate the chief, which are—I, Odin. who governs all things, and who is obeyed by the other deities, as a father by his children. Hence he is named Alfadir (AU-father) and, with numerous other names, Valfadir, from having prepared Valhalla and Vingolf for the reception of the Einheriar (his selected heroes) who have fallen in battle. Near his seat in Hlithskialf are two wolves, which he feeds with the viands set before him, as he needs no food ; and on his shoulders sit two ravens, Hugin and Munin (Thought and Mind) who whisper in his ear all the tidings they have collected. His wife is Frigga, who foresees all things, but never foretells them. 2, Thor, the mightiest and strongest of gods or men ; possessing a hammer,Miglnir, of enormous power, which returns of itself to him after having been flung at any one ; a belt by which his strength is doubled when it is worn ; and gauntlets without which he cannot grasp the handle of his hammer. He was the son of Odin by Fiiirgyn (the earth), who also figures as a male, the father of Frigga, the wife of Odin. Thor is the protector of the earth, whose cultivation he has established, whose fruitfulness and kindliness in favour of its inhabitants he unweariedly fosters and furthers, and is therefore in continual conflict with the wild elements. His wife is Sif, from whom by a trick Loki stole her hair, and was forced by Thor to supply its place with hair of gold. 3, Baldur, the second son of Odin by Frigga, the handsomest and best of the Asar, the wisest, mildest, and most eloquent. His wife was Nanna. He was early threatened with death, to guard against which every created thing was required to swear to do him no harm ; but, instigated by Loki, his blind half-brother, Hodur (unreasoning strength), slew him by throwing at him a branch of mistletoe, which had been overlooked in the swearing. His fate occasioned the visit of Odin to Bela, which has been paraphrased by Gray. 4, Niord governs the winds, stills the sea, and checks the fire. But he is not of the race of the Asar. Born and bred hi Vanaheim, a district of the giants, he was given as a hostage to the Asar on a peace being concluded with the Vanen, who received from the Asar as a hostage on their part, Hodur, one of the joint creators of mankind. His wife was Skadi, daughter of the giant Thiassi. They bad two children ; a eon narned Freyr, and a daughter named Freyja, both beauteous and powerful. 5, Freyr i governs the rain and sunshine, gives abundant harvests, promotes peace, and dispenses riches to men. He fell in love with Gerda, the daughter of Gymir, one of the giants in JottinheItn, and obtained her for his wife through the intervention of Skirnir, and this forms the subject of one of the poems of the elder Edda, Skirnirsfer or Skirair's Journey. Ills sister is equally benevolent, she assists all who desire her assistance, is especially favourable to lovers, and claims the half of all who fall in battle (the other half belonging to Odin), whom she entertains in Sessrumnir, her mansion in Asgard. C., Tyr, whose descent is uncertain, is bold and courageous, promotes strife, and gives victory in war. Ile has but one hand, as the other was bitten off by Fenrir, the wolf, who demanded of the Aaar the pledge of one of their hands in his mouth before he consented to be bound in order to try his strength. None of the Asar dared this but Tyr. The wolf remains bound until the day of the destruction of the world. 7, Bragi, celebrated for wisdom, eloquence, and his skill in poetry : he was the skald of the gods. His wife was Huns, who had charge of the golden apples. by eating of which the gods renewed their youth. Loki by a trick delivered her and her apples to one of the giants ; the gods became wrinkled and gray - and then Loki by another trick brought re her and her treasure back to the Asar. 8, Heimdall is one of the Asar, the son of nine virgin sisters, but beyond the epithet iodise Aes (white Aes, singular of Asar) his descent must be admitted as obscure. He was a powerful god, and much honoured. He is the warder of the bridge Bifrost (the rainbow), requires less sleep than a bird, sees by night as well as by day, can even hear the grass grow on the earth, and the wool on the sheep's back. His horn when sounded is heard all over the world, and his sword fights of its own accord. 9, Vidar is one of the sons of Odin, and surnames! The Silent. He is next to Thor in strength, and on the day of combat against the giants is to kill the wolf Fenrir, by driving his sword down his open jaws. 10, Vali, another son of Odin's by Itincla, who undertook to revenge the death of Balder, and assisted in binding Loki. 11, Ullur is the son of Sif, . step-son of Thor, skilful with the bow, swift on snow shoes, handsome and brave. 12, Forseti, the son of Baldur and Nanna, celebrated for his correct judgments, from which all disputanta depart satisfied. Other lists somewhat vary from thin. Hodur, the blind and strong, has been mentioned, but seems not to be included among the twelve. The prose FA& says, " the gods might well wish they had never to name him, for too long will his deed remain in their memory." Besides the Asar, there are some other important deities. One of the chief is Loki, one of the sons of the giant Farbauti and Nal, or Lan fey, his wife ; the others being Bylerst and Helbliadi. Loki is handsome in person, but capricious, cunning, and perfidious. He was at times the friend, and commonly the associate, of the Aaar, but the continual contriver of mischief against them. lie had a wife called Siguna, and a son by her named Nari, who was devoured by his brother, the wolf. But his most celebrated progeny was by the giantess Angurbodi, by whom he had the wolf Fenrir, who used to follow the sun. endeavouring to swallow it, whose binding has been already mentioned, and who will at length break loose, and assist in the destruction of the world; the serpent Jormungand, who was thrown by the gods into the deep ocean that surrounds Midgard, which he encircled, holding hie tail in his mouth ; end Hela, who was cast into Niflheim, and has power over nine regions, Into which she distributes all who die through old age or sickness. The dominion of Bela is not a place of punishment, but only the abode of those not deemed worthy of dwelling in Valhalla. Loki himself is at length bound on sharp-pointed rocks, with a serpent suspended over him; whose venom should fall on his face, but his wife Siguna catches the I drops in a cup till it is full ; she then has to empty it; and while this is being done, the drops which fall on his face cause such extreme pains, that he writhes and causes earthquakes. He is thus to lie till the end of the world. Oegir, also called Gymir, is one of the giants, and has dominion over the sea. It will be seen that Odin's two brothers, Veli and Ve, have disappeared. At the end of heaven sits Hriissehwelger (corpse-devourer), one of the giants, in the shape of an eagle, and from the flapping of his wings proceeds the wind, according to the force of their motion. Surtur, another god or giant, who
remains in Muspelheim, is only to appear at the day of destruction. All the monsters are loosed, whom he will lead to the conflict with the Asar, some are killed, but they remain conquerors. After this final cord bat, Surtur spreads flames over the earth, and all will be consumed. But Nastrond is formed, a place of punishment vast and awful, constructed of serpents, whose venom collects in floods, through which wade murderers, perjurers, and adulterers ; but in the plain of Ida, where Asgard formerly stood, another earth will arise from the sea, and says the Voluspd "I see a hall, Brighter than the sun, With gold covered, On Gimli's height; There will the worthy Princes And without end, Enjoy their honour ;" where Sui-tur's fire can no longer harm them.
The prose Edda adds, that a man and woman survive, hid in a forest, and fed with dew, who are to replenish the world ; and the sun is to bring forth a daughter (the sun is feminine in the northern dialects) more lovely than herself. This seems to be an addition. This Edda, compiled by Christians, has much more of the Christian element than the elder, and is therefore less to be depended on as a faithful transcript of the ancient mythology. • Of the goddesses, besides those mentioned, the most prominent after Frigga, were—Saga (history), a favourite of Odin's ; Eir, skilful In the healing art ; Oefion, who is a virgin, and to whom belong all who die unmarried ; Fulls, also a maiden, the attendant and confidant of Frigga • Freyja (already mentioned) was married to Odhur, who left her, Freyja wept tears of gohl. She bears several other names, which she assumed while seeking her husband, and was the possessor of a famous necklace called Brisinga; SiOfna, who turns the hearts of men and women to thoughts of love; Lan and Vora are also deities favourable to lovers; Syn, is door-keeper of the hall of the gods, shutting it against all who have not the right of entering, and likewise presides at trials in which anything is denied on oath ; &tetra, the wise and courteous ; Gni is the messenger of Frigga, riding a horse on which she glides through the air ; Sol, so named by her father on account of her beauty, while her brother he named Mani (moon). This pride offended the gods, who made the sister the driver of the horses of the sun, and the brother those of the moon. There are other goddesses, such as the Valkyrien, who serve the mead in Valhalla, nod are sent by Odin to every battle-field to select the slain and to give victory ; the Nornen also assist in this latter oflfce. Also, JOrd (the earth), Ther'a mother; and Itinda, the mother of Vali, are reckoned among the goddesses.
In Asgard are the twelve heavenly palaces or abodes, of such extra ordinary splendour, that the light of the sun or moon was not needed. Asgard is protected by an abyss crossed by a heavenly bridge, strong enough to bear the gods, but which will break under the weight of the giants. This is called Bifrost, and is the rainbow, formed of water, air, and fire, as shown by its colours. The water and air would have been sufficiently strong for the Asar, but the fire was added to guard against the gianta. On the boundary between Asgard and Midgard stands Tiusidleini, the dwelling of Thor, which forms a thirteenth. The twelve are : 1. Ydali, the valley of moisture, in which Mier the son of Sif, and the step-son of Thor, dwells. 2. Alfheim, or Elfinland, inhabited by Freyr, the son of Niord, and, according to the prose Edda, by the elves of light (by which is thought to be represented the ger minating powers of the sun's rays), who are to exist till the overthrow of the universe, and then to betake themselves to the higher heaven. 3, Vela:Alan, Vali'e watchtower, in which dwells Vali, the son of Odin and Rinda. Here was also built Odin's chief seat, Hlithskialf, from the elevated throne of which, he and his wife Frigga could overlook the whole world. 4. Siickvabeek (the stream of descent or depth), rushing with cold water, whence Odin and Saga (history) drink every day from golden vessels, and intoxicated with the precious drink, rejoice in the love that may be derived from the water-oraele. 5. Oladsheim (realm of joy), where is Idavolle (the field of business), because here are forged the arms with which the heroes disport. This is the gathering-place of the Asar ; here are held the feasts and the combats of the souls of departed heroes who reside in Valhalla ; they wander arm in arm with the virgin Valkyrien, whose love and nnfading charms are the rewards of those who have received their kiss in battle, the sign of an invitation to the feast of the gods. In Idavolle both Valhalla and Vingolf are situated. The last is the residence of the Einheriar (or heroes), whose help is needed by the gods in their final contest against the inhabitants of Muspellieirn, on the destruction of the world. Vingolf is a palace of gold reaching to the clouds. Before the gates of Valhalla lies the forest of Muir, in which the trees bear leaves of red gold. But Vingolf is the sanctuary of the goddesses, where the half of the slain whom Freyja has chosen are immediately conveyed, while the other half are received by the Valkyrieu in Valhalla. Lastly, in IdavrtIle is the scat of judgment, under the ash the actions of gods and men. Strata were here provided for the twelve gods already men tioned. In like manner, upon earth, courts of judgment were to be held under a sacnsi tree and near • sacred well. After having die reused justice, the Assn ride on splendid horses. 6. Thrymheim 14-reaning or thunder-home), where dwelt the giant Thiassi, and after Ms death his daughter Skatli. 7. Breida-blik (world-glancing) the most magnificent of the heavenly dwellings, where is not the least soil, and which is Bahlues residence. S. Himumbiorg (heavenly palace) on the border of the celestial region, where resides the wise god Ifeimdall, who is entrusted with the care of the bridge WindhjaInt, front being poesesetal of the Giallarhorn, which Is heard throughout the world, from his sleeplessness, end front hie wonderfully acute muses; in order that the Ater may not be unexpectedly surprised, one cud of this bridge, called Bifriiet (rainbow), is close to liehndall's abode. At the time of the destruction of the world, the invaders from Muspelhdm will attempt the postage, the bridge will break or dissolve. 9. Fillkn vangr (field of the combatants), the abode of Freyja ; a splendid palace, aurrounded by a beautiful garden, in which is the hall Seasrumer, wherein the fortunate, who have been selected by the benevolent oddees, enjoy every bliss the world can bestow. 10. Glitnir (splendour), the palace of Forseti, resting on golden pillars, the windows of diamond*, and the roof covered with silver. 11. Niia-tun (Newcourt), the palace of Niord; and 12. Landvidi (Broadland), overgrown with long grass, that of Vidur.