Ivalde's sons were still their friends, and that Slagfin particularly
was on the side of his foster-father in the conflict with Ivalde. With
this corresponds also the conduct of the Gjukungs toward Valtarius, when
he takes flight with Hildigun. In the Anglo-Saxon heroic poetry, the
name Hengest is borne by the person who there takes Slagfin's place as
Hnæf-Gevar's nearest man. The introduction to the Younger Edda has from
its English authorities the statement that _Heingestr_ (Hengest) was a
son of Vitta and a near kinsman of Svipdag. If, as previous investigators
have assumed, Vitta is Vade, then Hengest is a son of Ivalde, and this
harmonises with the statement anent his kinship with Svipdag, who is a
grandson of Ivalde. The meaning of the word Hengest refers of itself to
Slagfin-_Geldr_. The name _Geldr_ is a participle of _gelda_, and means
_castratus_. The original meaning of Hengest is "a gelding," _equus
castratus_ (in the modern German the word got for the first time its
present meaning). That the adjective idea _castratus_ was transferred to
the substantive _equus castratus_ is explained by the fact that _Gils_,
_Gisl_, a mythic name for a horse (Younger Edda, i. 70, 482), was also
a Gjukung name. One of Hengest's ancestors in his genealogy in Beda and
in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is called Vict-gils; one of Slagfin-Gjuke's
sons is named _Gilser_. A neither mythic nor historic brother of
Hengest added in later times is named Horsa. The Ravenna geography
says that when the Saxons left their old abodes on the continent, they
marched _cum principe suo Anschis_, and with their chief _Ans-gisl_,
who therefore here appears in the place of Hengest. Synonymous with
Hengest is the Norse _Jálkr_, _equus castratus_, and that some member
of the mythological group of skee-runners, that is, some one of the
male members of the Ivalde race, in the Norse version of the Teutonic
mythology, bore this epithet is proved by the paraphrase _öndr-Jálkr_,
"the _equus castratus_ of the skee-runners." The cause of the designation
is found in the event described above, which has been handed down by the
poem "Valtarius Manufortis." The chief one of the Gjukungs, originally
Gjuke himself, there fights with Valtarius, who in the mythology was his
father, and receives in the conflict a wound "clean to the thigh-bone."
This wound may have symbolic significance from the fact that the fight
is between father and son. According to the English chronicler Nennius,
Hengest had two brothers, Ochta and Ebissa. In spite of their corruption
these names remind us of Slagfin's brothers, Aggo-Ajo (Volund) and
Ibor-Ebbo (Egil).
According to the historified saga, Hengest was the leader of the first
Saxon army which landed in Britain. All scholars have long since agreed
that this Hengest is a mythical character. The migration saga of the
Teutonic mythology was transferred by the heathen Saxons to England,
and survived there until Christian times. After the names of the real
leaders of the Saxon immigration were forgotten, Hengest was permitted
to take their place, because in the mythology he had been a leader of
the Saxon emigrants from their original country, the Scandian peninsula
(see No. 16), and because this immigration was blended in Christian times
with the memory of the emigration from Germany to Britain. Thus, while
the Longobardians made Volund and Egil (Ajo and Ibor) the leaders of
their emigration, the Saxons made Volund's and Egil's brother Slagfin
(Hengest-Gjuke) their leader. The Burgundians also regarded Slagfin
(Gjuke) as their emigration hero and royal progenitor. Of this there is
evidence partly in _Lex Burgundionum_, the preface of which enumerates
Burgundian kings who have Gjukung names; partly in a Middle High German
poem, which makes the Gjukungs Burgundian kings. The Saxon migration saga
and the Burgundian are therefore, like those of the other Teutonic races,
connected with the Ivalde race and with the fimbul-winter.
THE END.
DICTIONARY OF PRINCIPAL PROPER NAMES IN TEUTONIC MYTHOLOGY,
_with Explanations of the Character, Attributes and Significance of the
Gods, Goddesses, Giants, Dwarfs and associated creatures and places._
DICTIONARY OF GODS AND GODDESSES.
A
ÆGIR. [Anglo-Sax., _eagor_, the sea]. The god who presides over the
stormy sea. He entertains the gods every harvest, and brews ale for them.
_Æger._
AGNAR. A son of King Hraudung and foster-son of Frigg. _Agnar._
AGNAR. A son of King Geirrod. He serves drink to Grimner (Odin). _Agnar._
ALFR. An elf, fairy; a class of beings like the dwarfs, between gods and
men. They were of two kinds: elves of light (_Ljosalfar_) and elves of
darkness (_Dokkalfar_). The abode of the elves is _Alfheimr_, fairy-land,
and their king is the god Frey. _Elf._
ALFODR or ALFADIR [Father of all]. The name of Odin as the supreme god.
_Allfather._
ALFHEIMR. Elf-land, fairy-land. Frey's dwelling. _Alfheim._
ALSVIDR. The all-wise. One of the horses of the sun. _Alsvid._
ALVISS. The dwarf who answers Thor's questions in the lay of Alvis.
_Alvis._
AMSVARTNIR. The name of the sea, in which the island was situated where
the wolf Fenrer was chained. _Amsvartner._
ANNARR or ONARR. Husband of night and father of Jord (_the earth_).
_Annar._
ANDHRIMNIR. The cook in Valhal. _Andhrimner._
ANDVARI. The name of a pike-shaped dwarf; the owner of the fatal ring
called _Andvaranautr_. _Andvare._
ANDVARAFORS. The force or waterfall in which the dwarf Andvare kept
himself in the form of a pike fish. _Andvare-Force._
ANDVARANAUTR. The fatal ring given Andvare (the wary spirit).
_Andvarenaut._
ANGANTYR. He has a legal dispute with Ottar Heimske, who is favored by
Freyja. _Angantyr._
ANGEYJA. One of Heimdal's nine mothers. The Elder Edda says in the Lay of
Hyndla: Nine giant maids gave birth to the gracious god, at the world's
margin. These are: Gjalp, Greip, Eistla, Angeyja, Ulfrun, Eyrgjafa, Imd,
Atla, and Jarnsaxa. _Angeyja._
ANGRBODA [Anguish-creating]. A giantess; mother of the Fenris-wolf by
Loke. _Angerboda._
ARVAKR [Early awake]. The name of one of the horses of the sun. _Aarvak._
ASS or AS; plural Æsir. The _asas_, gods. The word appears in such
English names as _Os_born, _Os_wald, etc. With an _n_ it is found in
the Germ. _Ans_gar (Anglo-Sax. _Os_car). The term _æsir_ is used to
distinguish Odin, Thor, etc., from the _vanir_ (vans). _Asa._
ASA-LOKI. Loke, so called to distinguish him from Utgard-Loke, who is a
giant. _Asa-Loke._
ASA-THORR. A common name for Thor. _Asa-Thor._
ASGARDR. The residence of the gods (_asas_). _Asgard._
ASKR. The name of the first man created by Odin, Hœner and Loder. _Ask._
ASYNJA; plural ASYNJUR. A goddess; feminine of _Ass_. _Asynje._
ATLA. One of Heimdal's nine mothers. _Atla._
AUDHUMLA; also written AUDHUMBLA. The cow formed from the frozen vapors
resolved into drops. She nourished the giant Ymer. _Audhumbla._
AURBODA. Gymer's wife and Gerd's mother. _Aurboda._
AURGELMIR. A giant; grandfather of Bergelmer; called also Ymer.
_Aurgelmer._
AUSTRI. A dwarf presiding over the east region. _Austre. East._
B
BALDR. God of the summer-sunlight. He was son of Odin and Frigg; slain
by Hoder, at the instigation of Loke. He returns after Ragnarok. His
dwelling is Breidablik. _Balder._
BARREY. A pleasant grove in which Gerd agreed with Skirner to meet Frey.
_Barey._
BAUGI. A brother of Suttung, for whom (Baugi) Odin worked one summer in
order to get his help in obtaining Suttung's mead of poetry. _Bauge._
BELI. A giant, brother of Gerd, who was slain by Frey. _Bele._
BERGELMIR. A giant; son of Thrudgelmer and grandson of Aurgelmer.
_Bergelmer._
BESTLA. Wife of Bur and mother of Odin. _Bestla._
BEYLA. Frey's attendant; wife of Bygver. _Beyla._
BIFROST. [To tremble; the trembling way]. The rainbow. _Bifrost._
BILSKIRNIR. The heavenly abode of Thor, from the flashing of light in the
lightning. _Bilskirner._
BOLTHORN. A giant; father of Bestla, Odin's mother. _Bolthorn._
BOLVERKR [Working terrible things]. An assumed name of Odin, when he went
to get Suttung's mead. _Bolverk._
BODN. One of the three vessels in which the poetical mead was kept. Hence
poetry is called the wave of the _bodn_. _Bodn._
BORR [_burr_, a son; Scotch _bairn_]. A son of Bure and father of Odin,
Vile and Ve. _Bor._
BRAGI. The god of poetry. A son of Odin. He is the best of skalds.
_Brage._
BREIDABLIK. [Literally to gleam, twinkle]. Balder's dwelling.
_Breidablik._
BRISINGAMEN. Freyja's necklace or ornament. _Brisingamen._
BURI. The father of Bor. He was produced by the cow's licking the stones
covered with rime, frost. _Bure._
BYGGVIR. Frey's attendant; Beyla's husband. _Bygver._
BYLEIPTR [Flame of the dwelling]. The brother of Loke. _Byleipt._
D
DAGR [Day]. Son of Delling. _Dag._
DAINN. A hart that gnaws the branches of Ygdrasil. _Daain._
DELLINGR [Dayspring]. The father of Day. _Delling._
DIS; plural DISIR. Attendant spirit or guardian angel. Any female mythic
being may be called Dis. _Dis._
DRAUPNIR. Odin's ring. It was put on Balder's funeral-pile. Skirner
offered it to Gerd. _Draupner._
DROMI. One of the fetters by which the Fenris-wolf was chained. _Drome._
DUNEYRR, DURAPROP. Harts that gnaw the branches of Ygdrasil. _Durathror._
DURINN. A dwarf, second in degree. _Durin._
DVALINN. A dwarf. _Dvalin._
DVERGR. A dwarf. In modern Icelandic lore dwarfs disappear, but remain
in local names, as Dverga-steinn, and in several words and phrases. From
the belief that dwarfs lived in rocks an echo is called _dwerg-mal_
(dwarf talk), and _dwerg-mala_ means to echo. The dwarfs were skilled in
metal-working.
E
EDDA. The literal meaning of the word is great-grandmother, but the term
is usually applied to the mythological collection of poems discovered by
Brynjolf Sveinsson in the year 1643. He, led by a fanciful and erroneous
suggestion, gave to the book which he found the name Sæmundar Edda,
Edda of Sæmund. This is the so-called _Elder Edda_. The _Younger Edda_,
is a name applied to a work written by Snorre Sturleson, and contains
old mythological lore and the old artificial rules for verse-making.
The ancients applied the name _Edda_ only to this work of Snorre. The
_Elder Edda_ was never so called. And it is also uncertain whether Snorre
himself knew his work by the name of Edda. In the Rigsmal (Lay of Rig)
Edda is the progenitrix of the race of thralls.
EGDIR. An eagle that appears at Ragnarok. _Egder._
EGILL. The father of Thjalfe; a giant dwelling near the sea. Thor left
his goats with him when on his way to the giant Hymer to get a vessel in
which to brew ale.
EIKTHYRNIR. A hart that stands over Odin's hall (Valhal). From his
antlers drops water from which rivers flow. _Eikthyrner._
EINHERI; plural EINHERJAR. The only (_ein_) or great champions; the
heroes who have fallen in battle and been admitted into Valhal.
_Einherje._
EIR. [The word signifies _peace_, _clemency_]. An attendant of Menglod,
and the most skillful of all in the healing art. _Eir._
EISTLA. One of Heimdal's nine mothers. _Eistla._
ELDHRIMNIR. The kettle in which the boar Sæhrimner is cooked in Valhal.
_Eldhrimner._
ELDIR. The fire-producer; a servant of Æger. _Elder._
ELIVAGAR. The ice-waves; poisonous cold streams that flow out of
Niflheim. _Elivagar._
EMBLA. The first woman. The gods found two lifeless trees, the _ask_
(ash) and the _embla_; of the ash they made _man_, of the embla, _woman_.
EYRGJAFA. One of Heimdal's nine mothers. _Eyrgjafa._
F
FAFNIR. Son of Hreidmar. He kills his father to get possession of the
Andvarenaut. He afterwards changes himself into a dragon and guards the
treasure on Gnitaheath. He is slain by Sigurd, and his heart is roasted
and eaten. _Fafner._
FALHOFNIR [Hollow-hoof]. One of the horses of the gods. _Falhofner._
FARBAUTI [Ship-destroyer]. The father of Loke. _Farbaute._
FENRIR or FENRISULFR. The monster-wolf. He is the son of Loke, who bites
the hand of Tyr. The gods put him in chains, where he remains until
Ragnarok. In Ragnarok he gets loose, swallows the sun and conquers Odin,
but is killed by Vidar. _Fenrer_ or _Fenris-wolf_.
FENSALIR. The abode of Frigg. _Fensal._
FJALAR. A misnomer for Skrymer, in whose glove Thor took shelter.
_Fjalar._
FJALAR. A dwarf, who slew Kvaser, and composed from his blood the poetic
mead. _Fjalar._
FJALAR. A cock that crows at Ragnarok. _Fjalar._
FIMAFENGR. The nimble servant of Æger. He was slain by the jealous Loke.
_Fimafeng._
FIMBUL. It means _mighty great_. In the mythology it appears as:
FIMBULFAMBI. A mighty fool. _Fimbulfambe._
FIMBULTYR. The mighty god, great helper (Odin). _Fimbultyr._
FIMBULVETR [_vetr_, winter]. The great and awful winter of three years'
duration preceding the end of the world. _Fimbul-winter._
FIMBULTHUL. A heavenly river. _Fimbulthul._
FIMBULTHULR. The great wise man. _Fimbulthuler._
FJOLNIR. One of Odin's many names. _Fjolner._
FJORGYN. A personification of the earth; mother of Thor. _Fjorgyn._
FOLKVANGR. [Paradise, a field]. The folk-field. Freyja's dwelling.
_Folkvang._
FORNJOTR. The most ancient giant. He was father of Æger, or Hler, the
god of the ocean; of Loge, flame or fire, and of Kaare, wind. His wife
was Ran. These divinities are generally regarded as belonging to an
earlier mythology, probably to that of the Fins or Celts. _Fornjot._
FORSETI [The fore-sitter, president, chairman]. Son of Balder and
Nanna. His dwelling is Glitner, and his office is that of a peacemaker.
_Forsete._
FRANANGRS-FORS. The force or waterfall into which Loke, in the likeness
of a salmon, cast himself, and where the gods caught him and bound him.
_Fraananger-Force._
FREKI. One of Odin's wolves. _Freke._
FREYJA [Feminine of Freyr]. The daughter of Njord and sister of Frey. She
dwells in Folkvang. Half the fallen in battle belong to her, the other
half to Odin. She lends her feather disguise to Loke. She is the goddess
of love. Her husband is Oder. Her necklace is Brisingamen. She has a boar
with golden bristles. _Freyja._
FREYR. He is son of Njord, husband of Skade, slayer of Bele, and falls in
conflict with Surt in Ragnarok. Alfheim was given him as a tooth-gift.
The ship Skidbladner was built for him. He falls in love with Gerd,
Gymer's fair daughter. He gives his trusty sword to Skirner. _Frey._
FRIGG. [Love]. She is the wife of Odin, and mother of Balder and queen of
the gods, and reigns with Odin in Hlidskjalf. She exacts an oath from all
things that they shall not harm Balder. _Frigg._
FULLA [Fullness]. Frigg's attendant. She takes care of Frigg's toilette,
clothes and slippers. Nanna sent her a finger-ring from Helheim. She is
represented as wearing her hair flowing over her shoulders. _Fulla._
G
GALAR. One of two dwarfs who killed Kvaser. Fjalar was the other.
_Galar._
GAGNRADE. A name assumed by Odin when he went to visit Vafthrudner.
_Gagnraad._
GANGLERI. One of Odin's names in Grimner's Lay. _Ganglere._
GANGLERI. A name assumed by King Gylfe when he came to Asgard. _Ganglere._
GARDROFA. The goddess Gnaa has a horse by name Hofvarpner. The sire of
this horse is Hamskerper, and its mother is Gardrofa. _Gardrofa._
GARMR. A dog that barks at Ragnarok. He is called the largest and best
among dogs. _Garm._
GEFJUN or GEFJON. A goddess. She is a maid, and all those who die maids
become her maid-servants. She is present at Æger's feast. Odin says she
knows men's destinies as well as he does himself. _Gefjun._
GEIRRODR. A son of King Hraudung and foster-son of Odin; he becomes king
and is visited by Odin, who calls himself Grimner. He is killed by his
own sword. There is also a giant by name Geirrod, who was once visited by
Thor. _Geirrod._
GEIRSKOGUL. A valkyrie. _Geirskogul._
GEIRVIMUL. A heavenly river. _Geirvimul._
GERDR. Daughter of Gymer, a beautiful young giantess; beloved by Frey.
_Gerd._
GERI. [_gerr_, greedy]. One of Odin's wolves. _Gere._
GERSEMI. One of Freyja's daughters. _Gerseme._
GJALLARBRU [_gjalla_, to yell, to resound]. The bridge across the river
Gjol, near Helheim. The bridge between the land of the living and the
dead. _Gjallarrbridge._
GJALLARHORN. Heimdal's horn, which he will blow at Ragnarok. _Gjallar
horn._
GILLING. Father of Suttung, who possessed the poetic mead. He was slain
by Fjalar and Galar. _Gilling._
GIMLI [Heaven]. The abode of the righteous after Ragnarok. _Gimle._
GJALP. One of Heimdal's nine mothers. _Gjalp._
GINNUNGA-GAP. The great yawning gap, the premundane abyss, the chaos or
formless void, in which dwelt the supreme powers before the creation. In
the eleventh century the sea between Greenland and Vinland (America) was
called Ginnunga-gap. _Ginungagap._
GJOLL. One of the rivers Elivagar that flowed nearest the gate of Hel's
abode. _Gjol._
GISL [Sunbeam]. One of the horses of the gods. _Gisl._
GLADR [Clear, bright]. One of the horses of the gods. _Glad._
GLADSHEIMR [Home of brightness or gladness]. Odin's dwelling. _Gladsheim._
GLASIR. A grove in Asgard. _Glaser._
GLEIPNIR. The last fetter with which the wolf Fenrer was bound.
_Gleipner._
GLER [The glassy]. One of the horses of the gods. _Gler._
GLITNIR [The glittering]. Forsete's golden hall. _Glitner._
GNA. She is the messenger that Frigg sends into the various worlds on her
errands. She has a horse called Hofvarpenr, that can run through air and
water. _Gnaa._
GNIPAHELLIR. The cave before which the dog Garm barks. _The Gnipa-cave._
GNITAHEIDR. Fafner's abode, where he kept the treasure called
Andvarenaut. _Gnita-heath._
GOINN. A serpent under Ygdrasil. _Goin._
GOLL. A valkyrie. _Gol._
GOMUL. A heavenly river. _Gomul._
GONDUL. A valkyrie. _Gondul._
GOPUL. A heavenly river. _Gopul._
GRABAKR. One of the serpents under Ygdrasil. _Graabak._
GRAD. A heavenly river. _Graad._
GRAFVITNIR, GRAFVOLLUDR. Serpents under Ygdrasil. _Grafvitner_;
_Grafvollud._
GREIP. [Eng. _grip_]. One of Heimdal's nine giant mothers. _Greip._
GRIMNIR. A kind of hood or cowl covering the upper part of the face.
Grimner is a name of Odin from his traveling in disguise. _Grimner._
GROA. The giantess mother of Orvandel. Thor went to her to have her charm
the flint-stone out of his forehead. _Groa._
GUILLFAXI [Gold-mane]. The giant Hrungner's horse. _Goldfax._
GULLINKAMBI [Gold-comb]. A cock that crows at Ragnarok. _Gullinkambe_ or
_Goldcomb._
GULLTOPPR [Gold-top]. Heimdal's horse. _Goldtop._
GULLVEIG [Gold-thirst]. A personification of gold. Though pierced and
thrice burnt, she yet lives. _Gulveig._
GULLINBURSTI [Golden bristles]. The name of Frey's hog. _Gullinburste._
GUNGNIR [To tremble violently]. Odin's spear. _Gungner._
GUNNLOD [To invite]. One who invites war. She was daughter of the giant
Suttung, and had charge of the poetic mead. Odin got it from her.
_Gunlad._
GYLFI. A king of Svithod, who visited Asgard under the name of Ganglere.
The first part of the Younger Edda is called Gylfaginning, which means
the Delusion of Gylfe. _Gylfe._
GYLLIR [Golden]. One of the horses of the gods. _Gyller._
GYMIR. A giant; the father of Gerd, the beloved of Frey. _Gymer._
GYMIR. Another name of the ocean divinity Æger. _Gymer._
H
HALLINSKIDI. Another name of the god Heimdal. The possessor of the
leaning (_halla_) way. _Hallinskid._
HAMSKERPIR [Hide-hardener]. A horse; the sire of Hofvarpner, which was
Gnaa's horse. _Hamskerper._
HAR. The High One, applied to Odin. _Haar._
HARBARDR. The name assumed by Odin in the Lay of Harbard. _Harbard._
HEIDRUNR [Bright-running]. A goat that stands over Valhal. _Heidrun._
HEIMDALR. He was the heavenly watchman in the old mythology, answering
to St. Peter in the medieval. According to the Lay of Rig (Heimdal),
he was the father and founder of the different classes of men, nobles,
churls and thralls. He has a horn called Gjallar-horn, which he blows at
Ragnarok. His dwelling is Himinbjorg. He is the keeper of Bifrost (the
rainbow). Nine giantesses are his mothers. _Heimdal._
HEL. [Anglo-Sax. and Eng. _hell_; to kill]. The goddess of death, born
of Loke and Angerboda. She corresponds to Proserpina. Her habitation is
Helheim, under one of the roots of Ygdrasil. _Hel._
HELBLINDI. A name of Odin. _Helblinde._
HELGRINDR. The gates of Hel. _Helgrind_ or _Helgate._
HELHEIM. The abode of Hel. _Helheim._
HERFODR, HERJAFODR. [The father of hosts]. A name of Odin. _Herfather._
HERMODR [Courage of hosts]. Son of Odin, who gives him a helmet and a
corselet. He rode on Sleipner to Hel to bring Balder back. _Hermod._
HILDISVINI [Means war]. Freyja's hog. _Hilde-svine._
HIMINBJORG [Heaven, help, defense; hence heaven defender]. Heimdal's
dwelling. _Himinbjorg._
HIMINBRJOTR [Heaven-breaker]. One of the giant Hymer's oxen.
_Himinbrjoter._
HLESEY. The abode of Æger. _Hlesey._
HLIDSKJALF. The seat of Odin, whence he looked out over all the worlds.
_Hlidskjalf._
HLIN. One of the attendants of Frigg; but Frigg herself is sometimes
called by this name. _Hlin._
HLODYN. A goddess; a name of the earth; Thor's mother. _Hlodyn._
HLORIDI [Eng. _low_, to bellow, roar, and _reid_, thunder]. One of the
names of Thor; the bellowing thunderer. _Hloride._
HNIKARR, HNIKUDR. Names of Odin, _Hnikar_ and _Hnikuder_.
HNOSS [Anglo-Sax. to hammer]. A costly thing; the name of one of Freyja's
daughters. _Hnos._
HODDMIMISHOLT. Hodmimer's holt or grove, where the two human beings Lif
and Lifthraser were preserved during Ragnarok. _Hodmimer's forest._
HODR. The slayer of Balder. He is blind, returns to life in the
regenerated world. The Cain of the Norse mythology. _Hoder._
HOENIR. One of the three creating gods. With Odin and Loder Hœner creates
Ask and Embla, the first human pair. _Hoener._
HOFVARPNIR [Hoof-thrower]. Gnaa's horse. His father is Hamskerper and
mother Gardrofa. _Hofvarpner._
HRAESVELGR [Corpse-swallower]. A giant in an eagle's plumage, who
produces the wind. _Hraesvelger._
HRAUDUNGR. Geirrod's father. _Hraudung._
HREIDMARR. Father of Regin and Fafner. He exacts the blood-fine from the
gods for slaying Otter. He is slain by Fafner. _Hreidmar_.
HRIMFAXI [Rime-mane]. The horse of night. _Rimefax._
HRIMTHURSAR [Eng. _rime_, hoar-frost]. Rime-giants or frost-giants, who
dwell under one of Ygdrasil's roots. _Giants._
HRODVITNIR. A wolf; father of the wolf Hate. _Hrodvitner._
HROPTR. One of Odin's names. _Hropt._
HRUNGNIR. A giant; friend of Hymer. Thor fought with him and slew him.
_Hrungner._
HRINGHORNI. The ship upon which Balder's body was burned. _Hringhorn._
HROSSTHJOFR [Horse-thief]. A giant. _Hrosthjof._
HUGINN [Mind]. One of Odin's ravens. _Hugin._
HVERGELMIR [The old kettle]. The spring in the middle of Niflheim, whence
flowed the rivers Elivagar. The Northern Tartaros. _Hvergelmer._
HYMIR. A giant with whom Thor went fishing when he caught the
Midgard-serpent. His wife was the mother of Tyr. Tyr and Thor went to him
to procure a kettle for Æger in which to brew ale for the gods. _Hymer._
HYNDLA. A vala visited by Freyja, who comes to her to learn the genealogy
of her favorite, Ottar. _Hyndla._
I
IDAVOLLR. A plain where the gods first assemble, where they establish
their heavenly abodes, and where they assemble again after Ragnarok. The
plains of Ida. _Idavold._
IDUNN. Daughter of the dwarf Ivald; she was wife of Brage, and the
goddess of early spring. She possesses rejuvenating apples of which the
gods partake. _Idun._
IFING. A river which divides the giants from the gods. _Ifing._
IMD. One of Heimdal's nine giant mothers. _Imd._
IMR. A son of the giant Vafthrudner. _Im._
INGUNAR-FREYR. One of the names of Frey. _Ingun's Frey._
INNSTEINN. The father of Ottar Heimske; the favorite of Freyja. _Instein._
IVALDI. A dwarf. His sons construct the ship Skidbladner. _Ivald._
J
JAFNHAR [Equally high]. A name of Odin.
JALKR. A name of Odin (Jack the Giant-killer?). _Jalk._
JARNSAXA [Iron-chopper]. One of Heimdal's nine giant mothers. _Jarnsaxa._
JARNVIDR [Iron-wood]. A wood east of Midgard, peopled by giantesses
called Jarnvids. This wood had iron leaves. _Jarnvid._
JARNVIDIUR. The giantesses in the Iron-wood. _Jarnvids._
JORD. Wife of Odin and mother of Thor. _Earth._
JOTUNN. A giant. The giants were the earliest created beings. The gods
question them in regard to Balder. Thor frequently contends with them.
Famous giants are: Ymer, Hymer, Hrungner, Orvandel, Gymer, Skrymer,
Vafthrudner and Thjasse. _Giant._
JOTUNHEIMAR (plural). The Utgaard; the home of the giants in the
outermost parts of the earth. _Jotunheim._
K
KERLAUGAR (plural). Two rivers which Thor every day must cross. _Kerlaug._
KORMT. Another river which Thor every day must pass. _Kormt._
KVASIR. The hostage given by the vans to the asas. His blood, when slain,
was the poetical mead kept by Suttung. _Kvaser._
L
LAEDINGR. One of the fetters with which the Fenris-wolf was bound.
_Laeding._
LAERADR. A tree near Valhal. _Laerad._
LANDVIDI [A mountain range overgrown with trees]. Vidar's abode. The
primeval forests. _Landvide._
LAUFEY [Leafy island]. Loke's mother. _Laufey._
LEIFTHRASIR, LIF. The two persons preserved in Hodmimer's grove during
Surt's conflagration in Ragnarok; the last beings in the old and the
first in the new world. _Lif_ and _Lifthraser_.
LETTFETI [Light-foot]. One of the horses of the gods. _Lightfoot._
LITR. A dwarf that Thor kicked into Balder's funeral pile. _Liter._
LODDFAFNIR. A protege of Odin. _Lodfafner._
LODURR [To flame]. One of the three gods (Odin, Hœnir and Loder) who
create Ask and Embla, the first man and woman. He is identical with Loke.
_Loder._
LOKI [To end, finish; Loke is the end and consummation of divinity]. The
evil giant-god of the Norse mythology. He steers the ship Naglfar in
Ragnarok. He borrows Freyja's feather-garb and accompanies Thor to the
giant Thrym, who has stolen Thor's hammer. He is the father of Sleipner;
also of the Midgard serpent, of the Fenris-wolf and of Hel. He causes
Balder's death, abuses the gods in Æger's feast, but is captured in
Fraanangerforce and is bound by the gods. _Loke._
LOPTR [The aerial]. Another name of Loke. _Lopter._
M
MAGNI [_megin_, strength]. A son of Thor. _Magne._