asgard.pdf

Asgard and the Gods

The Tales and Traditions of our Northern Ancestors.

Adapted from the work of

Dr. W. Wägner

M. W. MacDowall,

And edited by

W. S. W. Anson

Editor of Dr. Wägner’s Epics and Romances of the Middle Ages

Third Edition.

With numerous illustrations.

London:

W. Swan Sonnenschein & Co.

1884

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ― p. 1

Myths and stories of the gods ― 3, The gods, their worlds and deeds ― 4 , Odin,

Wudan, Wuotan ― 5, Frigg, or Freya, and her handmaids ― 6, Thor or Thunar

― 6, Tyr, Tius or Zio ― 9, Heru, Cheru or Saxnot ― 9, Heimdal or Riger ― 10,

Bragi and Iduna ― 10, The Wanes, Niörder, Freyer, Freya ― 10, Fate, Norns,

Hel, Walkyries ― 10, Ögir and his companions ― 11, Loki ― 11, The other gods

― 12, The Golden Age ― 12, Sin ― 13, Iduna’s departure ― 13, Baldur’s death

― 14, Ögir’s banquet ― 15, Loki in chains ― 15, Ragnarok ― 16, Lay of the

Norse gods and heroes ― 18

PART FIRST

LEGENDS AND MYTHS ― p. 22

Creation of the world ― 22, Day and Night ― 24, Two first human beings ― 25,

Allfather ― 25, Yggdrasil, the World-Ash ― 26, The divine kingdom ― 31,

Influence of Christianity ― 32, The Runic language ― 33

PART SECOND

THE GODS, THEIR WORLDS AND DEEDS ― p. 36

The Norns ― 36, Dwarfs and Elves ― 38, Giants ― 42, Worlds and heavenly

palaces ― 47

PART THIRD

OPPONENTS OF THE GODS ― p. 51

Loki and his kindred ― 53, The giants ― 55, Muspel and his sons ― 56, Surtur

― 57

PART FOURTH

KING GYLPHI AND THE ASES ― p.58

Gefion ― 53, Gylphi in Asgard ― 62

PART FIFTH

ODIN, FATHER OF THE GODS AND OF THE ASES ― p. 66

i. Wodan, according to the oldest conceptions ― 71, The myths of the

Wild Hunt and of the Raging Host ― 72, The sleeping heroes ― 78, The higher

conception of Wodan ― 81, Odin at Geirod’s Palace ― 83, Odin, the discoverer

of the Runes, and god of poetry and of wisdom ― 86, The draught of inspiration;

Odin’s visit to Gunlod; Journey to Wafthrudnir ― 88, Odin’s descendants ― 94

ii. Frigg and her maidens ― 96, Other goddesses related to Frigg ― 102

iii. Holda, Ostara ― 107, Berchta ― 115, The White Lady ― 116

iv. Thor, Thunar (Thunder) ― 121, Thor’s deeds and journeys; Making of

Miölnir ― 125, Journey to Utgard ― 129, Duel with Hrungnir ― 137, Journey to

Hymir ― 141, Journey to Thrymheim to get back Miölnir ― 142, Journey to

Geiröd’s-gard ― 147, The Harbard Lay ― 151

vi. Tyr or Zio ― 155

vii. Heru or Cheru, Saxnot ― 161

viii. Heimdal, Riger ― 166

ix. Bragi and Iduna ― 172, Giant Thiassi steals Iduna ― 174.

x. Uller ― 177

PART SIXTH

THE WANES ― p. 181

xi. Niörder and Skadi ― 183

xii. Freyer and Fro ― 189, The wonderful Quern Stones ― 191, Skirnir’s

Journey to Gerda ― 199, Young Swendal ― 204, Freya, Frea or Frouwa ― 206,

Freya and the young huntsman ― 206, Rerir and his love Helga ― 209,

Swipdager returns to Menglada’s Castle ― 212

PART SEVENTH ― p. 217

Fate ― 217, Legend of Starkad ― 219, King Fridleif ― 222, The Norns ― 222,

Hel ― 225, The Walkyries ― 227, Legend of King Kraki ― 227, Dises ― 233,

Mandrake root ― 234

PART EIGHTH

ÖGIR AND HIS FOLLOWERS ― p. 252

Legend of the Lake Maiden ― 236, Legend of the Loreley ― 241, The Water-

neck ― 245

v. Irmin ― 151

PART NINTH

LOKI AND HIS RACE ― p. 247

The giant Skrymsli and the peasant ― 247, Loki’s progeny ― 250, Loki’s race,

251

PART TENTH

THE OTHER ASES ― p. 252

Widar ― 252, Hermodur the Swift ― 254, Wali or Ali, Skeaf ― 256, Legend of

King Skeaf ― 257, Baldur and Hödur ― 259, Forseti ― 264

PART ELEVENTH

SIGNS OF THE APPROACHING DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD ― p. 265

The Golden Age ― 265, Sin ― 266, Iduna’s departure ― 270

PART TWELFTH

BALDUR’S DEATH ― p. 273

How Wala was conjured up ― 273, Loki visits Frigg in the dress of an old woman

― 276, Death of Baldur ― 278, Hermodur sent to the realm of the shades ―

282, Wall appears at Walhalla, and avenges Baldur ― 285

PART THIRTEENTH

LOKI’S CONDEMNATION ― p. 287

Ögir’s banquet ― 287, Loki reviles the gods ― 289, Loki flees, is captured and

put in chains ― 290, The faithful Sigyn ― 294

PART FOURTEENTH

RAGNAROK, THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS ― p. 296

The Fimbul-Winter ― 296, The Last Battle ― 298, Surtur flings his fire-brands

over the nine worlds ― 301, Renewal of the World ― 301, Lif and Lifthrasir ―

302,

vii

PREFACE

A complete and popular English account of the religious beliefs

and superstitious customs of the old Norsemen, suited to our younger

readers, has hitherto been left unwritten. The editor feels sure that

our elder children can easily be brought to take a beneficial interest in

a subject of such great intrinsic worth to all of us, and has therefore

brought out the accompanying book.

Our old ancestors were a hardy, conservative race, and

tenaciously held by the treasured relics of their former beliefs and

customs long after they had been shattered by the onset of

Christianity. They retained their primitive Odinic belief as late as A.D.

800, and we therefore possess it in a very complete state, far more

so than any other European system of mythology. We English have

to this day inherited this conservative trait of their character, and are

still continually in every-day life coming across new and

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