Heimdallr
"Heimdall is a purely Norse divinity and must according to his name and peculiarities be, like Frey, a manifestation of the god of heaven and light, perhaps more definitely the…
From: Unknown To: 1913 C.E.
Location: Scandinavia
Note: This article has been excerpted from a larger work in the public domain and shared here due to its historical value. It may contain outdated ideas and language that do not reflect TOTA’s opinions and beliefs.
“Heimdall,” from A Handbook of Norse Mythology by Karl Mortensen, 1913.
Heimdall is a purely Norse divinity and must according to his name and peculiarities be, like Frey, a manifestation of the god of heaven and light, perhaps more definitely the god of the morning red, the day's gleam which shows itself at the horizon immediately before the rising of the sun. The name means "he who lights the world." His steed is called Gulltopp. An account has been given above of his dwelling and employment. The Volva's Prophecy begins with the following words :
Hear me all ye holy kindred, Greater and smaller, Heimdall's sons!
That men are here called Heimdall's sons is not necessarily an outcome of an ancient conception of Heimdall as supreme god. This expression comes rather from an Eddic song which is somewhat older than the Volva's Prophecy, in which the god, under the name of Rig, is represented as the ancestor of the different classes of society.
Rig is a Celtic word which means prince or king. Long ago the wise god, strong and active though advanced in years, wandered along green paths until he came to the hut in which great grandfather and grandmother, Ae and Edda, dwelt. He took a situation with them, gave them good advice, and partook of their heavy coarse bread and soup. He remained there three nights and sought rest between them. But nine months afterwards Edda bore a child, which was baptized with water and received the name Thraell. He had a furrowed skin, long hands, an ugly face, thick fingers, long heels, and a stooping back; but he became great and strong and capable for work. Later he married Thir, "a thrall," and from the two descended all the Thralls.
Rig wandered farther along the road and came to a hall which grandfather and grandmother, Afe and Amma, owned:
The couple sat there, were busy with their work; the man was hewing there wood for a weaver's beam; his beard was trimmed, a forelock on his brow, shirt was close fitting, a chest was in the floor.
The woman sat there, turning her distaff, stretched out her arms, made ready the cloth; a coif was on her head, kerchief on her breast, a scarf was at her neck, clasps upon her shoulders.
Filled dishes and cooked veal were set upon the table. Rig ate and remained there three nights, and nine months later Amma bore a son, who was baptized and called Karl. He tamed oxen, forged tools, built houses, and tilled the ground. His wife was called Snor, and their progeny was the race of free peasants.
Rig continued his wandering until he reached the hall of father and mother, with the door towards the south, a ring in the door-post, and the floor covered.
The householder sat twisting his bow-string, bending the elm-bow, fitting the arrows.
But the housewife was observing her arms, stroking her dress, drawing tight her sleeves, her cap set high, medallion on her breast, had long trained-dress and bluish sark.
The mother laid a white-figured cloth upon the table and set on fine wheat bread. She set dishes silver-plated on the table, well browned bacon, roasted fowl; wine was in the tankard, the cups were of fine metal, they drank and talked, the day was nearly done.
But afterwards mother bore a son who was swaddled in silk, baptized, and named Jarl. "Light were his curls, bright his cheeks, sharp as a serpent's his shining eyes."
Jarl from childhood had practice in arms. Rig came, to him, taught him runes, called him son, and gave him great riches. Erna became his wife, and they had many valiant sons, of whom the youngest was Kon ungi ('Kon the Young,' hence Konungr, the word for "king"). He was a glorious hero and vied with or surpassed Jarl both in arms and in shrewdness. Finally he set out for adventure in order to gain celebrity and a fair bride in Denmark. The poem consists here of incomplete fragments only, yet we hear that
The shaft he shook, he swung his shield, his steed he urged, he drew his sword; strife he did awake, the field he reddened, warriors he felled, gained land in war.
The Lay of Rig contains undoubtedly a glorification of kingly power and is supposed to have been composed in Norway in praise of an absolute king (Harald Harfagri?).
Mortensen, Karl. A Handbook of Norse Mythology. Thomas Y. Crowell, 1913.
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