GREEK AND NORTHERN MYTHOLOGIES--A COMPARISON.
[Sidenote: Comparative mythology.]
During the past fifty years the learned men of many nations have
investigated philology and comparative mythology so thoroughly that
they have ascertained beyond the possibility of doubt “that English,
together with all the Teutonic dialects of the Continent, belongs to
that large family of speech which comprises, besides the Teutonic,
Latin, Greek, Slavonic, and Celtic, the Oriental languages of India and
Persia.” “It has also been proved that the various tribes who started
from the central home to discover Europe in the north, and India in
the south, carried away with them, not only a common language, but
a common faith and a common mythology. These are facts which may be
ignored but cannot be disputed, and the two sciences of comparative
grammar and comparative mythology, though but of recent origin, rest
on a foundation as sound and safe as that of any of the inductive
sciences.” “For more than a thousand years the Scandinavian inhabitants
of Norway have been separated in language from their Teutonic brethren
on the Continent, and yet both have not only preserved the same stock
of popular stories, but they tell them, in several instances, in almost
the same words.”
This resemblance, so strong in the early literature of nations
inhabiting countries which present much the same physical aspect and
have nearly the same climate, is not so marked when we compare the
Northern myths with those of the genial South. Still, notwithstanding
the contrast between the boreal and south temperate zones, where
these myths gradually ripened and attained their full growth, there is
sufficient analogy between the two mythologies to show that the seeds
from whence both sprang were originally the same.
In the foregoing chapters the Northern system of mythology has been
outlined as clearly as possible, and the physical significance of
the myths has been explained. Now we shall endeavor to set forth the
resemblance of Northern mythology to that of the other Aryan nations,
by comparing it with the Greek, which, however, it does not resemble as
closely as it does the Oriental.
It is, of course, impossible in a brief work of this character to do
more than mention the main points of resemblance in the stories forming
the basis of these religions; but that will serve to demonstrate, even
to the most skeptical, that they must have been identical at a period
too remote to indicate now with any certainty.
[Sidenote: The beginning of things.]
The Northern nations, like the Greeks, imagined that the world rose out
of chaos; and while the latter described it as a vapory, formless mass,
the former, influenced by their immediate surroundings, depicted it as
a chaos of fire and ice--a combination which is only too comprehensible
to any one who has visited Iceland and seen the wild, peculiar contrast
between its volcanic soil, spouting geysers, and the great icebergs
which hedge it all around during the long, dark winter season.
From these opposing elements, fire and ice, were born the first
divinities, who, like the first gods of the Greeks, were gigantic in
stature and uncouth in appearance. Ymir, the huge ice giant, and his
descendants, are comparable to the Titans, who were also elemental
forces of Nature, personifications of subterranean fire; and both,
having held full sway for a time, were obliged to yield to greater
perfection. After a fierce struggle for supremacy, they all found
themselves defeated and banished to the respective remote regions of
Tartarus and Jötun-heim.
The triad, Odin, Vili, and Ve, of the Northern myth is the exact
counterpart of Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto, who, superior to the Titan
forces, rule supreme over the world in their turn. In the Greek
mythology, the gods, who are also all related to one another, betake
themselves to Olympus, where they build golden palaces for their use;
and in the Northern mythology the divine conquerors repair to Asgard,
and there construct similar dwellings.
[Sidenote: Cosmogony.]
Northern cosmogony was not unlike the Greek, for the people imagined
that the earth, Mana-heim, was entirely surrounded by the sea, at the
bottom of which lay the huge Midgard snake, biting its own tail; and
it was perfectly natural that, viewing the storm-lashed waves which
beat against their shores, they should declare they were the result of
his convulsive writhing. The Greeks, who also fancied the earth was
round and compassed by a mighty river called Oceanus, described it as
flowing with “a steady, equable current,” for they generally gazed out
upon calm and sunlit seas. Nifl-heim, the Northern region of perpetual
cold and mist, had its exact counterpart in the land north of the
Hyperboreans, where feathers (snow) continually hovered in the air, and
where Hercules drove the Cerynean stag into a snowdrift ere he could
seize and bind it fast.
[Sidenote: The phenomena of the sky.]
Like the Greeks, the Northern races believed that the earth was created
first, and that the vaulted heavens were made afterwards to overshadow
it entirely. They also imagined that the sun and moon were daily driven
across the sky in chariots drawn by fiery steeds. Sol, the sun maiden,
therefore corresponded to Helios, Hyperion, Phœbus, or Apollo, while
Mani, the moon (owing to a peculiarity of Northern grammar, which makes
the sun feminine and the moon masculine), was the exact counterpart of
Phœbe, Diana, or Cynthia.
The Northern scalds, who thought that they descried the prancing forms
of white-maned steeds in the flying clouds, and the glitter of spears
in the flashing light of the aurora borealis, said that the Valkyrs,
or battle maidens, were galloping across the sky, while the Greeks saw
in the same natural phenomena the white flocks of Apollo guarded by
Phaethusa and Lampetia.
As the dew fell from the clouds, the Northern poets declared that it
dropped from the manes of the Valkyrs’ steeds, while the Greeks, who
generally observed that it sparkled longest in the thickets, identified
it with Daphne and Procris, whose names are derived from the Sanskrit
word “to sprinkle,” and who are slain by their lovers, Apollo and
Cephalus, personifications of the sun.
The earth was considered in the North as well as in the South as
a female divinity, the fostering mother of all things; and it was
owing to climatic difference only that the mythology of the North,
where people were daily obliged to conquer the right to live by a
hand-to-hand struggle with Nature, should represent her as hard and
frozen like Rinda, while the Greeks embodied her in the genial goddess
Ceres. The Greeks also believed that the cold winter winds swept down
from the North, and the Northern races added that they were produced by
the winnowing of the wings of the great eagle Hræ-svelgr.
The dwarfs, or dark elves, bred in Ymir’s flesh, were like Pluto’s
servants in that they never left their underground realm, where they,
too, sought the precious metals, which they molded into delicate
ornaments such as Vulcan bestowed upon the gods, and into weapons
which no one could either dint or mar. As for the light elves, who
lived aboveground and cared for plants, trees, and streams, they were
evidently the Northern substitutes for the nymphs, dryads, oreades, and
hamadryads, which peopled the woods, valleys, and fountains of ancient
Greece.
[Sidenote: Jupiter and Odin.]
Jupiter, like Odin, was the father of the gods, the god of victory,
and a personification of the universe. Hlidskialf, Allfather’s lofty
throne, was no less exalted than Olympus or Ida, whence the Thunderer
could observe all that was taking place; and Odin’s invincible spear
Gungnir was as terror-inspiring as the thunderbolts brandished by his
Greek prototype. The Northern deities feasted continually upon mead and
boar’s flesh, the drink and meat most suitable to the inhabitants of a
Northern climate, while the gods of Olympus preferred the nectar and
ambrosia which were their only sustenance.
Twelve Æsir sat in Odin’s council hall to deliberate over the wisest
measures for the government of the world and men, and an equal number
of gods assembled on the cloudy peak of Mount Olympus for a similar
purpose. The Golden Age in Greece was a period of idyllic happiness,
amid ever-flowering groves and under balmy skies, while the Northern
age of bliss was also a time when peace and innocence flourished on
earth, and when evil was as yet entirely unknown.
[Sidenote: Creation of man.]
Using the materials near at hand, the Greeks modeled their first images
out of clay; hence they naturally imagined that Prometheus had made man
out of that substance when called upon to fashion a creature inferior
to the gods only. As the Northern statues were all hewed out of wood,
the Northern races inferred, as a matter of course, that Odin, Vili,
and Ve (who here correspond to Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Minerva,
the three Greek creators of man) made the first human couple, Ask and
Embla, out of blocks of wood.
The goat Heidrun, which supplied the heavenly mead, is like Amalthea,
Jupiter’s first nurse, and the busy, telltale Ratatosk is equivalent to
the snow-white crow in the story of Coronis, which was turned black in
punishment for its tattling. Jupiter’s eagle has its counterpart in the
ravens Hugin and Munin, or in the wolves Geri and Freki, which are ever
crouching at Odin’s feet.
[Sidenote: Norns and Fates.]
The close resemblance between the Northern Orlog and the Greek Destiny,
goddesses whose decrees the gods themselves and were obliged to
respect, and the equally powerful Norns and Mœræ, is too obvious to
need pointing out, while the Vanas are counterparts of Neptune and
the other ocean divinities. The great quarrel between the Vanas and
the Æsir is merely another version of the dispute between Jupiter and
Neptune for the supremacy of the world. Just as Jupiter forces his
brother to yield to his authority, so the Æsir remain masters of all,
but do not refuse to continue to share their power with their conquered
foes, who thus become their allies and friends.
Like Jupiter, Odin is always described as majestic and middle-aged,
and both gods are regarded as the divine progenitors of royal races,
for while the Heraclidæ claimed Jupiter as their father, the Inglings,
Skioldings, etc., said Odin was the founder of their families. The
most solemn oaths were sworn by Odin’s spear as well as by Jupiter’s
footstool, and both gods rejoice in a multitude of names, all
descriptive of the various phases of their nature and worship.
Odin, like Jupiter, frequently visited the earth in disguise, to judge
of the hospitable intentions of mankind, as in the story of Geirrod
and Agnar, which resembles that of Philemon and Baucis. The aim was to
encourage hospitality, therefore, in both stories, those who showed
themselves humanely inclined are richly rewarded, and in the Northern
myth the lesson is enforced by the punishment inflicted upon Geirrod,
as the scalds believed in poetic justice and saw that it was carefully
meted out.
The contest of wit between Odin and Vafthrudnir has its parallel in the
musical rivalry of Apollo and Marsyas, or in the test of skill between
Minerva and Arachne. Odin further resembled Apollo in that he, too, was
god of eloquence and poetry, and could win all hearts to him by means
of his divine voice; he was like Mercury in that he taught mortals the
use of runes, while the Greek god introduced the alphabet.
[Sidenote: Myths of the seasons.]
The disappearance of Odin, the sun or summer, and the consequent
desolation of Frigga, the earth, is merely a different version of the
myths of Proserpine and Adonis.
When Proserpine and Adonis have gone, the earth (Ceres or Venus)
bitterly mourns their absence, and refuses all consolation. It is only
when they return from their exile that she casts off her mourning
garments and gloom, and again decks herself in all her jewels. So
Frigga and Freya bewail the absence of their husbands Odin and Odur,
and remain hard and cold until their return. Odin’s wife Saga, the
goddess of history, who lingered by Sokvabek, “the stream of time and
events,” taking note of all she saw, is like Clio, the muse of history,
whom Apollo sought by the inspiring fount of Helicon.
Just as, according to Euhemerus, there was an historical Zeus, buried
in Crete, where his grave can still be seen, so there was an historical
Odin, whose mound rises near Upsala, where the greatest Northern temple
once stood, and where there was a mighty oak which rivaled the famous
tree of Dodona.
[Sidenote: Frigga and Juno.]
Frigga, like Juno, was a personification of the atmosphere, the
patroness of marriage, of connubial and motherly love, and the goddess
of childbirth. She, too, is represented as a beautiful, stately woman,
rejoicing in her adornments; and her special attendant, Gna, rivals
Iris in the rapidity with which she executes her mistress’s behests.
Juno has full control over the clouds, which she can brush away with
a motion of her hand, and Frigga is supposed to weave them out of the
thread she has spun on her jeweled spinning wheel.
In Greek mythology we find many examples of the way in which Juno seeks
to outwit Jupiter. Similar tales are not lacking in the Northern myths.
Juno obtains possession of Io, in spite of her husband’s reluctance to
part with her, and Frigga artfully secures the victory for the Winilers
in the Langobardian Saga. Odin’s wrath at Frigga’s theft of the gold
from his statue is equivalent to Jupiter’s marital displeasure at
Juno’s jealousy and interference during the war of Troy. In the story
of Gefjon, and the clever way in which she procured land from Gylfi to
form her kingdom of Seeland, we have a reproduction of the story of
Dido, who obtained by stratagem the land upon which she founded her
city of Carthage. In both accounts oxen come into play, for while in
the Northern myth these sturdy beasts draw the piece of land far out to
sea, in the other an ox hide, cut into strips, serves to inclose the
queen’s grant.
[Sidenote: Musical myths.]
The Pied Piper of Hamelin, who could attract all living creatures
by his music, is like Orpheus or Amphion, whose lyres had the same
power; and Odin, as leader of the dead, is the counterpart of Mercury
Psychopompus, both being personifications of the wind, on whose wings
disembodied souls were thought to be wafted away from this mortal
sphere.
The trusty Eckhardt, who would fain save Tannhäuser and prevent his
returning to expose himself to the enchantments of the sorceress in
the Hörselberg, is like the Greek Mentor, who not only accompanied
Telemachus, but who gave him good advice and wise instructions, and
would like to have rescued Ulysses from the hands of Calypso.
[Sidenote: Thor and the Greek gods.]
Thor, the Northern thunder-god, also has many points of resemblance
with Jupiter. He bears the hammer Miölnir, the Northern emblem of the
deadly thunderbolt, and, like Jupiter, uses it freely when warring
against the giants. In his rapid growth Thor resembles Mercury, for
while the former playfully tosses several loads of ox hides about a
few hours after his birth, the latter steals Apollo’s oxen before he
is one day old. In physical strength Thor resembles Hercules, who also
gave early proofs of uncommon vigor by strangling the serpents sent
to slay him in his cradle, and who delighted, later on, in attacking
and conquering giants and monsters. Hercules became a woman and took
to spinning to please Omphale, the Lydian queen, and Thor assumed a
woman’s apparel to visit Thrym and recover his hammer, which had been
buried nine rasts underground. The hammer, his principal attribute,
was used for many sacred purposes. It consecrated the funeral pyre
and the marriage rite, and boundary stakes driven in by a hammer were
considered as sacred among Northern nations as the Hermæ or statues of
Mercury, whose removal was punished by death.
Thor’s wife, Sif, with her luxuriant golden hair, is, as we have
already stated, an emblem of the earth, and her hair of its rich
vegetation. Loki’s theft of these tresses is equivalent to Pluto’s rape
of Proserpine. To recover the golden locks, Loki must visit the dwarfs
(Pluto’s servants), crouching in the low passages of the underground
world; so Mercury must seek Proserpine in Hades.
The gadfly which hinders Jupiter from recovering possession of Io,
after Mercury has slain Argus, reappears in the Northern myth to sting
Brock and prevent the manufacture of the magic ring Draupnir, which is
merely a counterpart of Sif’s tresses, as it also represents the fruits
of the earth. It continues to torment the dwarf during the manufacture
of Frey’s golden-bristled boar, a prototype of Apollo’s golden sun
chariot, and it prevents the perfect formation of the handle of Thor’s
hammer.
The magic ship Skidbladnir, also made by the dwarfs, is like the
swift-sailing Argo, which was a personification of the clouds sailing
overhead; and just as the former was said to be large enough to
accommodate all the gods, so the latter bore all the Greek heroes off
to the distant land of Colchis.
The Germans, wishing to name the days of the week after their gods, as
the Romans had done, gave the name of Thor to Jove’s day, and thus made
it the present Thursday.
Thor’s struggle against Hrungnir is like the fight between Hercules and
Cacus or Antæus; while Groa is evidently Ceres, for she, too, mourns
for her absent child Orvandil (Proserpine), and breaks out into a song
of joy when she hears it will return.
Magni, Thor’s son, who when only three hours old exhibits his marvelous
strength by lifting Hrungnir’s leg off his recumbent father, also
reminds us of the infant Hercules; and Thor’s voracious appetite at
Thrym’s wedding feast has its parallel in Mercury’s first meal, which
consisted of two whole oxen.
Thor’s crossing the swollen tide of Veimer reminds us of Jason’s wading
across the torrent when on his way to visit the tyrant Pelias and
recover possession of his father’s throne.
The marvelous necklace worn by Frigga and Freya to enhance their
charms is like the cestus or girdle of Venus, which Juno borrowed to
subjugate her lord, and is, like Sif’s tresses and the ring Draupnir,
an emblem of luxuriant vegetation or a type of the stars which jewel
the firmament.
The Northern sword-god Tyr is, of course, the Roman war-god Mars, whom
he so closely resembles that his name was given to the day of the week
held sacred to Mars, which is even now known as Tuesday or Tiu’s day.
Like Mars, Tyr was noisy and courageous; he delighted in the din of
battle and warfare, and was quite fearless at all times. He alone
dared to brave the Fenris wolf; and the Southern proverb concerning
Scylla and Charybdis has its counterpart in the Northern adage, “to get
loose out of Læding and to dash out of Droma.” The Fenris wolf, also a
personification of subterranean fire, is bound, like his prototypes the
Titans, in Tartarus.
The similarity between the gentle, music-loving Bragi, with his harp
in hand, and Apollo or Orpheus is very great; so is the resemblance
between the magic draft Od-hroerir and the waters of Helicon, which
were also supposed to serve as inspiration to mortal as well as to
immortal poets. Odin dons eagle plumes to bear away this precious mead,
and Jupiter assumes a similar guise to secure his cupbearer Ganymede.
Idun, like Adonis and Proserpine, or still more like Eurydice, is also
a fair personification of spring. She is borne away by the cruel ice
giant Thiassi, who represents the boar which slew Adonis, the kidnapper
of Proserpine, or the poisonous serpent which bit Eurydice. Idun is
detained for a long, long time in Jötun-heim (Hades), where she forgets
all her merry, playful ways, and becomes mournful and pale. She cannot
return alone to Asgard, and it is only when Loki (now an emblem of the
south wind) comes to bear her away in the shape of a nut or a swallow
that she can effect her escape. She reminds us of Proserpine and Adonis
escorted back to earth by Mercury (god of the wind), or of Eurydice
lured out of Hades by the sweet sounds of Orpheus’s harp, which were
also symbolical of the soughing of the winds.
[Sidenote: Idun and Eurydice.]
The myth of Idun’s fall from Yggdrasil into the darkest depths of
Nifl-heim, while subject to the same explanation and comparison as
the above story, is still more closely related to the tale of Orpheus
and Eurydice, for the former, like Bragi, cannot exist without the
latter, whom he follows even into the dark realm of death; without
her his songs are entirely silenced. The wolfskin in which Idun is
enveloped is typical of the heavy snows in Northern regions, which are
considered a great blessing, as they preserve the tender roots from the
blighting influence of the extreme winter cold.
[Sidenote: Skadi and Diana.]
The Van Niörd, who is god of the sunny summer seas, has his counterpart
in Neptune and more especially in Nereus, the personification of the
calm and pleasant aspect of the mighty deep. Niörd’s wife, Skadi,
is the Northern huntress; she therefore resembles Diana. Like her,
she bears a quiver full of arrows, and a bow which she handles with
consummate skill. Her short gown permits the utmost freedom of motion,
also, and she, too, is generally accompanied by a hunting hound.
The myths of the transference of Thiassi’s eyes to the firmament, where
they glow like brilliant stars, remind us of many Greek star myths, and
especially of Argus’s eyes ever on the watch, of Orion and his jeweled
girdle, and of his dog Sirius, all changed into stars by the gods to
appease angry goddesses. Loki’s antics to win a smile from the irate
Skadi are considered akin to the quivering flashes of sheet lightning
which he personified in the North, while Steropes, the Cyclops,
typified it for the Greeks.
The Northern god of sunshine and summer showers, the genial Frey, has
many traits in common with Apollo, for, like him, he is beautiful and
young, rides the golden-bristled boar which was the Northern conception
of the sunbeams, or drives across the sky in a golden car, which
reminds us of Apollo’s glittering chariot.
Frey has some of the gentle Zephyrus’s characteristics besides, for
he, too, scatters flowers along his way. His horse Blodug-hofi is not
unlike Pegasus, Apollo’s favorite steed, for it can pass through fire
and water with equal ease and velocity.
Fro, like Odin and Jupiter, is also identified with a human king, and
his mound lies beside Odin’s near Upsala. His reign was so happy that
it was called the Golden Age, and he therefore reminds us of Saturn,
who, exiled to earth, ruled over the people of Italy, and granted them
similar prosperity.
Gerda, the beautiful maiden, is like Venus, and also like Atalanta;
she is hard to woo and hard to win, like the fleet-footed maiden, but,
like her, she yields at last and becomes a happy wife. The golden
apples with which Skirnir tries to bribe her remind us of the golden
fruit which Hippomenes cast in Atalanta’s way, and which made her lose
the race.
Freya, the goddess of youth, love, and beauty, like Venus, sprang
from the sea, for she is a daughter of the sea-god Niörd. Venus shows
that she is not entirely devoid of martial tastes by bestowing her
best affections upon Mars and Anchises, while Freya often assumes the
garb of a Valkyr, and rides rapidly down to earth to take her part in
mortal strife and bear away one half of the heroes slain to feast in
her halls. Like Venus, she delights in offerings of fruits and flowers,
lends a gracious ear to the petitions of lovers, and favors them as
much as she can. Freya also resembles Minerva, for, like her, she wears
a helmet and breastplate, and, like her, also, she is noted for her
beautiful blue eyes.
[Sidenote: Odur and Adonis.]
Odur, Freya’s husband, is like Adonis, and when he leaves her, she,
too, sheds countless tears, which, in her case, are turned to gold,
while Venus’s tears are changed into anemones, and those of the
Heliades, mourning for Phaeton, harden to amber, which resembles
gold in color and in consistency. Just as Venus rejoices at Adonis’s
return, and all Nature blooms in sympathy with her joy, so Freya
becomes lighthearted once more when she has found her husband lover
beneath the flowering myrtles of the South. Venus’s car is drawn by
fluttering doves, while Freya’s is swiftly carried along by cats, which
are emblems of sensual love, just as the doves were considered types
of tenderest love. Freya is so sensitive to beauty that she angrily
refuses to marry Thrym, and Venus scorns and finally deserts Vulcan,
whom she has been forced to marry much against her will.
The Greeks represented Justice as a blindfolded goddess, with scales
in one hand and a sword in the other, to indicate the impartiality and
the fixity of her decrees. The corresponding deity of the North was
Forseti, who patiently listened to both sides of a question ere he,
too, promulgated his impartial and irrevocable sentence.
Uller, the winter-god, resembles Apollo and Orion only in his love for
the chase, which he pursues with ardor under all circumstances. He is
the Northern bowman, and his skill is quite as unerring as theirs.
Heimdall, like Argus, was gifted with marvelous keenness of sight,
which enabled him to perceive even the growth of the grass. His
Giallar-horn, which could be heard throughout all the world,
proclaiming the gods’ passage to and fro over the quivering bridge
Bifröst, was like the trumpet of the goddess Renown. As he was related
to the water deities on his mother’s side, he could, like Proteus,
assume any form at will, and made good use of this power on one
occasion to frustrate Loki’s attempt to steal the necklace Brisinga-men.
Hermod, the quick or nimble, resembles Mercury not only in his
marvelous celerity of motion, but he, too, was the messenger of the
gods, and, like the Greek divinity, he flashed hither and thither,
aided not by winged cap and sandals, but by Odin’s steed Sleipnir,
whom he alone was allowed to bestride. Instead of the Caduceus, he
bore the wand Gambantein. He questioned the Norns and the magician
Rossthiof, through whom he learned that Vali would come to avenge his
brother Balder and to supplant his father Odin. Instances of similar
consultations are found in Greek mythology, where Jupiter would fain
have married Thetis, yet desisted when the Fates foretold that she
would be the mother of a son destined to surpass his father in glory
and renown.
The Northern god of silence, Vidar, has some resemblance to Hercules,
for while the latter has nothing but a club with which to defend
himself against the Nemean lion, whom he tears asunder, the former,
protected by one large shoe, rends the Fenris wolf at Ragnarok.
[Sidenote: Rinda and Danae.]
Odin’s courtship of Rinda reminds us of Jupiter’s wooing of Danae,
who is also a symbol of the earth; and while the shower of gold in
the Greek tale is intended to represent the fertilizing sunbeams, the
footbath in the Northern story typifies the spring thaw which sets in
when the sun has overcome the resistance of the frozen earth. Perseus,
the child of this union, has many points of resemblance with Vali, for
he, too, is an avenger, and slays his mother’s enemies just as surely
as Vali destroys Hodur, the murderer of Balder.
The Fates were supposed to preside over birth in Greece, and to
foretell a child’s future just as well as the Norns; and the story of
Meleager has its unmistakable parallel in that of Nornagesta. Althæa
preserves the half-consumed brand in a chest, Nornagesta conceals the
candle end in his harp; and while the Greek mother brings about her
son’s death by casting the brand into the fire, Nornagesta, compelled
to light his candle end at Olaf’s command, dies as it sputters and goes
out.
Hebe and the Valkyrs were the cupbearers of Olympus and Asgard. They
were all personifications of youth; and while Hebe married the great
hero and demigod Hercules when she retired from office, the Valkyrs
were relieved from further attendance when united to heroes like Helgi,
Hakon, Völund, or Sigurd.
The Cretan labyrinth has its counterpart in the Icelandic Völundarhaus,
and Völund and Dædalus both effect their escape from a maze by a
cleverly devised pair of wings, which enables them to fly in safety
over land and sea and escape from the tyranny of their respective
masters, Nidud and Minos. Völund resembles Vulcan, also, in that he is
a clever smith and makes use of his talents to work out his revenge.
Vulcan, lamed by a fall from Olympus, and neglected by Juno, whom he
had tried to befriend, sends her a golden throne, which is provided
with cunning springs to seize and hold her fast. Völund, hamstrung by
the suggestion of Nidud’s queen, secretly murders her sons, and out of
their eyes fashions marvelous jewels, which she unsuspectingly wears
upon her breast until he reveals their origin.
[Sidenote: Myths of the sea.]
Just as the Greeks fancied that the tempests were the effect of
Neptune’s wrath, so the Northern races attributed them either to the
writhings of Iörmungandr, the Midgard snake, or to the anger of Ægir,
who, crowned with seaweed like Neptune, often sent his children,
the wave maidens (the counterpart of the Nereides and Oceanides),
out to play in the tossing billows. Neptune had his dwelling in the
coral caves near the Island of Eubœa, while Ægir lived in a similar
palace near Cattegat. Here he was surrounded by the nixies, undines,
and mermaids, the counterpart of the Greek water nymphs, and by the
river-gods of the Rhine, Elbe, and Neckar, who remind us of Alpheus and
Peneus, the river-gods of the Greeks.
The frequency of shipwrecks on the Northern coasts made the people
describe Ran (the equivalent of the Greek sea-goddess Amphitrite) as
greedy and avaricious, and armed with a strong net, with which she drew
all things down into the deep. The Greek Sirens had their parallel in
the Northern Lorelei, who possessed the same gift of song, and also
lured mariners to their death; while Princess Ilse, who was turned into
a fountain, reminds us of the nymph Arethusa, who underwent a similar
transformation.
In the Northern conception of Nifl-heim we have an almost exact
counterpart of the Greek Hades. Mödgud, the guardian of the Giallar-bru
(the bridge of death), over which all the spirits of the dead must
pass, exacts a tribute of blood as rigorously as Charon demands an
obolus from every soul he ferries over Acheron, the river of death. The
fierce dog Garm, cowering in the Gnipa hole, and keeping guard at Hel’s
gate, is like the three-headed monster Cerberus; and the nine worlds
of Nifl-heim are not unlike the divisions of Hades, Nastrond being an
adequate substitute for Tartarus, where the wicked were punished with
equal severity.
The custom of burning dead heroes with their arms, and of slaying
victims, such as horses and dogs, upon their pyre, was much the same in
the North as in the South; and while Mors or Thanatos, the Greek Death,
was represented with a sharp scythe, Hel was depicted with a broom
or rake, which she used as ruthlessly, and with which she did as much
execution.
[Sidenote: Balder and Apollo.]
Balder, the radiant god of sunshine, reminds us not only of Apollo and
Orpheus, but of all the other heroes of sun myths. His wife Nanna is
like Flora, and still more like Proserpine, for she, too, goes down
into the underworld, where she tarries for a while. Balder’s golden
hall of Breidablik is like Apollo’s palace in the east; he, too,
delights in flowers; all things smile at his approach, and willingly
take an oath of allegiance to him. Just as Achilles is vulnerable only
in the heel, Balder can be slain only by the harmless mistletoe, and
his death is occasioned by Loki’s jealousy just as truly as Hercules
was slain by Dejanira’s. Balder’s funeral pyre on Ringhorn reminds
us of Hercules’s death on Mount Œta, the flames and reddish glow of
both fires serving to typify the setting sun. The Northern god of sun
and summer could only be released from Nifl-heim if all animate and
inanimate objects shed tears; so Proserpine could issue from Hades only
upon condition that she had partaken of no food. The trifling refusal
of Thok to shed a single tear is like the pomegranate seeds which
Proserpine ate, and the result is equally disastrous in both cases, as
it detains Balder and Proserpine underground, and the earth (Frigga or
Ceres) must continue to mourn their absence.
Through Loki evil entered into the Northern world; Prometheus’s gift
of fire brought the same curse down upon the Greeks. The punishment
inflicted by the gods upon both culprits is not unlike, for while
Loki is bound with adamantine chains underground, and tortured by
the continuous dropping of venom from the fangs of a snake fastened
above his head, Prometheus is bound to Caucasus by adamantine fetters
also, and a ravenous vulture continually preys upon his liver. Loki’s
punishment has another counterpart in that of Tityus, bound in Hades,
and in that of Enceladus, chained beneath Mount Ætna, where his
writhing produced earthquakes, and his imprecations were the sudden
eruptions of the volcano. Loki further resembles Neptune in that he,
too, assumed an equine form and was the parent of a wonderful steed,
for Sleipnir rivals Arion both in speed and endurance.
The Fimbulwinter has been compared to the long preliminary fight under
the walls of Troy, and Ragnarok, the grand closing drama of Northern
mythology, to the burning of that famous city. “Thor is Hector; the
Fenris wolf, Pyrrhus, son of Achilles, who slew Priam (Odin); and
Vidar, who survives in Ragnarok, is Æneas.” The destruction of Priam’s
palace is the type of the ruin of the gods’ golden halls; and the
devouring wolves Hati, Sköll, and Managarm, the fiends of darkness, are
prototypes of Paris and all the other demons of darkness, who bear away
or devour the sun maiden Helen.
[Sidenote: Ragnarok and the Deluge.]
According to another interpretation, however, Ragnarok and the
consequent submersion of the world is only a Northern version of the
Deluge. The survivors, Lif and Lifthrasir, are like Deucalion and
Pyrrha, who were destined to repeople the world; and just as the shrine
of Delphi alone resisted the destructive power of the great cataclysm,
so Gimli stood radiant to receive the surviving gods.
We have already seen how closely the Northern giants resembled the
Titans; now it only remains to mention that while the Greeks imagined
that Atlas was changed into a mountain, so the giants in Germany formed
the Riesengebirge, and that the avalanches were the burdens of snow
which they impatiently shook off in changing their cramped positions.
The apparition of one of the water giants, in the shape of a bull, in
order to court the queen of the Francs, has its parallel in the story
of Jupiter’s wooing of Europa, and Meroveus is evidently the exact
counterpart of Sarpedon. A faint resemblance can be traced between the
giant ship Mannigfual and the Argo, for while the one is supposed to
have cruised all round the Ægean and Euxine Seas, and to have made many
places memorable by the dangers it encountered there, so the Northern
vessel sailed about the North and Baltic Seas, and is mentioned in
connection with the Island of Bornholm and the cliffs of Dover.
While the Greeks imagined that the Nightmares were the evil dreams
which escaped from the cave of Somnus, the Northern race fancied they
were female dwarfs or trolls, who crept out of the dark recesses of the
earth to torment them. All magic weapons in the North were the work
of the dwarfs, the underground smiths, while those of the Greeks were
manufactured by Vulcan and the Cyclops, under Mount Ætna, or on the
Island of Lemnos.
In the Sigurd myth we find Odin one-eyed like the Cyclops, who are also
personifications of the sun. Sigurd is instructed by Gripir, the horse
trainer, who, like Chiron, the centaur, is not only able to teach a
young hero all he need know, and to give him good advice concerning his
future conduct, but is also possessor of the gift of prophecy.
The marvelous sword which becomes the property of Sigmund and of
Sigurd as soon as they prove themselves worthy to wield it reminds
us of the weapon which Ægeus concealed beneath the rock, and which
Theseus secured as soon as he had become a man. Sigurd, like Theseus,
Perseus, and Jason, seeks to avenge his father’s wrongs ere he sets
out in search of the golden hoard, the exact counterpart of the golden
fleece, which is also guarded by a dragon, and is very hard to secure.
Like all the Greek sun-gods and heroes, Sigurd has golden hair and
bright blue eyes. His struggle with Fafnir reminds us of Apollo’s fight
with Python, while the ring Andvaranaut can be likened to Venus’s
cestus, and the curse attached to its possessor is like the doom which
accompanied Helen and caused endless bloodshed wherever she went.
Sigurd could never have conquered Fafnir without the magic sword,
just as the Greeks could never have taken Troy without the arrows of
Philoctetes, which are also emblems of the all-conquering rays of the
sun. The recovery of the stolen treasure is like Menelaus’s recovery of
Helen, and it apparently brings as little happiness to Sigurd as his
recreant wife did to the Spartan king.
Brunhild resembles Minerva in martial tastes, in physical appearance,
and in knowledge; but when Sigurd deserts her in favor of Gudrun, she
becomes angry and resentful like Œnone, when Paris left her to woo
Helen. Brunhild’s anger continues to accompany Sigurd through life, and
she even seeks to compass his death, while Œnone, feeling she can cure
her wounded lover, refuses to do so and permits him to die. Œnone and
Brunhild are both overcome by the same remorseful feelings when their
lovers have breathed their last, and both insist upon sharing their
funeral pyres, and end their lives lying by the side of those whom they
had loved.
Containing, as it does, a whole series of sun myths, the Volsunga
Saga repeats itself in every phase; and just as Ariadne, forsaken
by the sun hero Theseus, finally marries Bacchus, so Gudrun, when
Sigurd has departed, marries Atli, the King of the Huns. He, too, ends
his life amid the flickering flames of his burning palace or ship.
Gunnar, like Orpheus or Amphion, plays such marvelous strains upon his
harp that even the serpents are lulled to sleep. According to some
interpretations, Atli is like Fafnir, and covets the possession of
the gold. Both are therefore probably personifications “of the winter
cloud which broods over and keeps from mortals the gold of the sun’s
light and heat, till in the spring the bright orb overcomes the powers
of darkness and tempests, and scatters his gold over the face of the
earth.”
Swanhild, Sigurd’s daughter, is another personification of the sun,
as is shown by her blue eyes and golden hair; and her death under the
hoofs of black steeds represents the blotting out of the sun by the
clouds of storm or of darkness.
Just as Castor and Pollux hasten off to rescue their sister Helen
when she has been borne away by Theseus, so Swanhild’s brothers, Erp,
Hamdir, and Sörli, hasten off to avenge her death.
Such are the main points of resemblance between the mythologies of
the North and South, and the analogy serves to prove that they were
originally formed from the same materials, and that the difference
consists principally in the local coloring unconsciously given by each
nation.
INDEX TO POETICAL QUOTATIONS.
Aager and Else, Ballad of, 170.
Anderson, Rasmus B. (translations from the Elder Edda in Norse
Mythology, S. C. Griggs & Co., Chicago), 13, 24, 27, 43, 53,
78, 80, 81, 88, 110, 111, 118, 124, 139, 147, 149, 264, 266,
270.
Anster (translation from Goethe), 130.
Arnold, Matthew, 12, 14, 15, 21, 23, 28, 29, 46, 47, 64, 68, 84, 107,
126, 144, 160, 167, 183, 188, 189, 192, 193, 194, 196, 267, 271.
Baldwin, James, Story of Siegfried (Charles Scribner’s Sons, New
York), 172.
Brace (translation of ballad), 212.
Brand, 120.
Browning, Robert, 33, 34.
Coneybeare (translation from the Anglo-Saxon), 165.
Du Chaillu, Paul, Viking Age (Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York),
142, 143.
Edda (Sæmund’s, or the Elder), 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 24,
25, 27, 29, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 62, 65, 71, 75, 80, 81,
85, 88, 91, 96, 97, 98, 102, 104, 105, 107, 108, 110, 111, 112,
113, 114, 115, 116, 118, 122, 123, 124, 129, 131, 134, 137,
138, 139, 141, 142, 143, 144, 146, 147, 149, 151, 154, 157,
162, 163, 164, 168, 174, 175, 177, 183, 184, 185, 195, 198,
200, 204, 205, 206, 207, 236, 242, 244, 246, 254, 262, 266,
267, 269, 270, 271, 272.
Edda, The Younger, 53, 77, 78, 79.
Forman (translations), 37, 40, 57, 100.
Goethe, 130.
Gray, 184, 185, 186.
Grotta-Savngr, 122, 123.
Heine, 180, 216.
Hemans, 30, 161.
Henderson (translations), 11, 154, 162.
Herbert (translations), 77, 79, 114, 115, 116, 138.
Herrick, 121.
Hewitt (translation), 162.
Homer, 36.
Howitt, 36, 65, 195, 222, 272, 273.
Jones, Julia Clinton, Valhalla (Bosqui & Co., San Francisco), 11, 16,
53, 62, 86, 89, 90, 91, 101, 102, 103, 152, 156, 166, 167, 168,
171, 178, 182, 195, 203, 205, 208, 264, 266, 267.
Keightley (translation), 179.
Kingsley, Charles, 50, 127.
L. E. R., 178.
La Motte-Fouqué, 218.
Longfellow, Saga of King Olaf, in Tales of a Wayside Inn (Houghton,
Mifflin & Co., Boston), 45, 63, 82.
Macdowall, Asgard and the Gods, 51.
Martin (translation from Heine), 216.
Mathisson, 179.
Meredith, Owen, 56, 57, 145.
Morris, William, 19, 24, 61, 113, 128, 156, 178, 226, 227, 228, 229,
230, 231, 232, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245,
246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 252, 255, 256, 258, 259, 260, 261.
Naogeorgus, 119.
Oehlenschläger, 36, 66, 67, 68, 138, 176.
Oxford Carol, 119.
Percy (translation from the Edda), 62.
Pfeiffer (translation), 265.
Pigott (translations from Oehlenschläger), 66, 67, 68, 138, 176.
Scott, 32, 221.
Selcher (translation), 180.
Shakespeare, 85, 158, 223.
Southey, 35.
Spenser, 219.
Stagnelius, 179.
Stephens (translations from Fridthiof’s Saga in Viking Tales of the
North, Rasmus B. Anderson, S. C. Griggs & Co., Chicago), 20,
28, 44, 52, 72, 73, 98, 106, 113, 128, 135, 173, 195, 197, 265,
270.
Taylor (translations from the Sagas), 15, 17, 18, 27, 37, 38, 92,
269, 271.
Tegnér, Fridthiof’s Saga, 20, 28, 44, 52, 72, 73, 98, 106, 113, 128,
135, 173, 195, 197, 265, 270.
Thomson, 27, 168.
Thorpe (translations from Sæmund’s Edda), 12, 16, 21, 25, 29, 31, 39,
41, 42, 45, 71, 75, 85, 91, 96, 97, 98, 102, 104, 105, 107,
108, 112, 113, 116, 129, 131, 134, 137, 138, 139, 141, 144,
146, 151, 157, 163, 164, 168, 169, 174, 175, 177, 183, 184,
185, 198, 200, 204, 205, 206, 207, 236, 242, 244, 246, 254,
269, 270.
Vail, 29.
Wagner, 37, 40, 57, 100.
Wägner, Asgard and the Gods, 51.
Wordsworth, 30.
GLOSSARY AND INDEX.
AAGER (ä´ger) and Else. Ballad of, 170.
ABEL. Cain in Wild Hunt because of the murder of, 32.
ABUNDANTIA (a-bun-dan´shyȧ). Same as Fulla, 51.
ABUNDIA. Same as Fulla, 51.
ACHERON (ak´e-ron). Giöll, the Northern, 288.
ACHILLES (a-kil´ēz). Balder, the Northern, 289;
father of Pyrrhus, 290.
ADONIS (a-dō´nis). Odin, the Northern, 279;
Idun lost like, 283;
Odur, the Northern, 285.
ÆGEAN (ē-jē´an). Argo’s cruise round the, 290.
ÆGEUS (ē-jē´us). Sigmund’s sword compared to that of, 291.
ÆGIR (ā´jir). Tempests caused by, 107;
god of the sea, 171–181;
banquet in halls of, 204;
Neptune, the Greek, 288.
ÆGIS (ē´jis). Fafnir’s Helmet of Dread so called, 240.
ÆNEAS (ē-nē´as). Vidar, the Northern, 290.
ÆSIR (ā´sir). Northern gods called, 13;
twelve in number, 18;
Asgard, home of, 21;
dispute between Vanas and, 21;
to be supplanted, 38;
inhabitants of Asia Minor, 43, 93, 107;
Gylfi visits the, 44;
Hrungnir feasts with the, 73;
Freya visited by the, 77;
recovery of hammer pleases the, 79;
Fenris bound by the, 91;
Suttung slain by the, 97;
Idun welcomed by the, 104;
Niörd among the, 108;
Ægir not ranked with the, 171;
Ægir visits the, 174;
reward promised to the, 189;
heralds sent out by the, 194;
Loki slanders the, 198, 205;
battle between the giants and the, 210;
beginning and end of the, 263;
Giallar-horn summons the, 265;
giants come to fight the, 266;
courage and death of the, 267;
golden disks of the, 271;
Greek gods compared to the, 277;
Greek equivalent of dispute between the Vanas and the, 278.
ÆTNA (et´nȧ), MOUNT. Northern equivalent for earthquakes in, 289;
dwarfs’ forge equivalent to Vulcan’s in, 291.
AFI (ä´fē). Riger visits, 142.
AFTERNOON. Division of day, 17.
AGNAR. Son of Hrauding, fostered by Frigga, 39, 40;
gives Odin a drink, 41;
becomes king, 42;
Greek equivalent, 279.
AI (ä´ē). Riger visits, 141.
AKU-THOR (ak´u-thor). The charioteer, 64.
ALBERICH (al´bĕr-ikh). King of the dwarfs, 218.
ALBION (al´bi-on). Conjectured origin of name, 221.
ALF-BLOT. Sacrifices offered to elves, 223.
ALF-HEIM (alf´hīm). Home of elves in, 18, 221;
Frey, ruler of, 112;
Frey’s return to, 114;
Skirnir’s return to, 116;
Völund goes to dwell in, 165.
ALI. Same as Vali, 152.
ALLFATHER. The uncreated is, 10;
Yggdrasil created by, 19;
Odin called, 23;
questions Vafthrudnir, 38;
wrath of, 48;
Longbeards named by, 50;
disposes of Hel, Midgard snake, and Fenris, 89;
sends Hermod to Finland, 145;
goes with Vidar, to consult Norns, 148;
dooms Brunhild to marry, 248;
is slain, 269.
ALPHEUS (al-fē´us). Greek equivalent of Northern river-god, 288.
ALPINE ROSE. Attendants of Holda crowned with the, 55.
ALPS. Uller’s home on the, 132;
supposed meaning of the name, 221.
ALSVIDER (äl´svid-er). Steed of moon chariot, 14.
ALSVIN (äl´svin). Steed of sun chariot, 14.
ALTHEA (al-thē´ȧ). Like mother of Nornagesta, 287.
ALVA. Cheru’s sword borne by Duke of, 88.
ALVIS. A dwarf, changed to stone, 64, 65.
ALVIT. A Valkyr, marries mortal, 163.
AMALTHEA (am-al-thē´ȧ). Compared to Heidrun, 278.
AMBROSIA. Northern gods eat boar’s flesh instead of, 277.
AMERICA. Norsemen real discoverers of, 224.
AMMA. Riger visits, 142.
AMPHION (am-fī´on). Pied Piper like, 280; Gunnar like, 292.
AMPHITRITE (am-fi-trī´tē). Greek equivalent for Ran, 288.
AMSVARTNIR (am-svärt´nir). Lake where Fenris is bound, 91.
ANCHISES (an-kī´sēz). Northern equivalent of, 285.
ANDHRIMNIR (än-dhrim´nir). Cook in Valhalla, 27.
ANDVARANAUT (änd-vä´ra-nout). Ring of Andvari, 243;
Sigurd appropriates, 246;
Brunhild betrothed with, 248;
Sigurd deprives Brunhild of, 252;
Gudrun shows, 253; Gudrun sends Gunnar, 257;
Greek equivalent, 291.
ANDVARI (änd´vä-rē). King of dwarfs, 218;
Loki visits, 242;
ring of, 243, 246, 248, 252, 257, 291.
ANGANTYR (än-gän´tēr). Ottar and, 128, 129;
Tyrfing, sword of, 219.
ANGLO-SAXON. Heptarchy, 44;
Uller called Vulder in, 132;
Ægir called Eagor in, 173.
ANGUR-BODA (än-gur-bō´dȧ). Mother of Hel, Fenris, and Iörmungandr,
89, 166;
mother of Gerda, 114;
wife of Loki, 200;
feeds wolves in Ironwood, 265.
ANNAR. Husband of Nott, 15.
ANTÆUS (an-tē´us). Greek equivalent for Hrungnir, 282.
APOLLO (a-pol´ō). Greek equivalent for Sol, 276;
personification of the sun, 277;
his contest with Marsyas compared to Odin’s with Vafthrudnir, 279;
marriage with Clio compared to Odin’s with Saga, 279;
flocks stolen by Mercury, 281;
chariot compared to Frey’s boar, 282;
god of music, like Bragi, 283;
Frey compared to, 284;
Uller, a hunter like, 286;
sun-god, like Balder, 289;
sun myth, like that of Sigurd, 291.
APPLES. Gna’s, 51, 226;
Idun’s, 100, 102, 104;
Skirnir gives Gerda golden, 115;
emblem of fruitfulness, 117;
Norns watch over the magic, 154;
Idun only can pick magic, 155;
Rerir receives a magic, 226;
comparison between Atalanta’s and Gerda’s, 285.
ARACHNE (a-rak´nē). Vafthrudnir, Northern equivalent, 279.
ARCHANGEL ST. MICHAEL. Wields Cheru’s sword, 88.
ARCTIC CIRCLE. Scenery in the, 9.
ARETHUSA (ar-ē-thū´sȧ). Princess Ilse equivalent to, 288.
ARGO. Like Skidbladnir, 282;
like Mannigfual, 290.
ARGUS. Story compared to that of Brock, 281;
eyes compared to Thiassi’s, 284;
eyes compared to Heimdall’s, 286.
ARIADNE (ar-i-ad´nē). Compared to Gudrun, 292.
ARION (a-rī´on). Compared to Sleipnir, 290.
ARTHUR. In Wild Hunt, 31, 32.
ARWAKR (ar´wak-r). Steed of sun chariot, 14.
ARYANS (är´yanz). Origin of, 9;
myths of, 275.
ASA (ā´sȧ). Hoenir an, 22;
Odin, the almighty, 118;
Balder an, 182.
ASA-BRIDGE. Heimdall, guardian of the, 143.
ASABRU (ā´sȧ-brū). Bridge of gods, 20.
ASEGEIR (ā´se-gīr). Frisian elders, 135.
ASGARD (as´gärd). Home of gods, 18;
one root of Yggdrasil in, 19;
gods’ palaces in, 21;
Niörd welcomed in, 22;
Odin’s seat in, 23;
heroes brought to, 26;
Ifing separates Jötun-heim from, 38;
Odin leaves, 42, 48;
Odin returns to, 44;
Gylfi visits, 44;
Thor admitted into, 61;
Bilskirnir in, 61;
Brock visits, 68;
Hrungnir boasts in, 73;
unprotected state of, 76;
Thor’s return to, 79;
Loki’s return to, 80;
Tyr, a god of, 84;
Fenris brought to, 89;
Odin brings inspiration to, 96;
Idun and Bragi arrive in, 99;
Idun to be lured out of, 101;
Idun mourns for, 102, 103, 283;
gods return without Idun to, 106;
Frey, Freya, and Niörd in, 107;
Niörd summoned to, 108;
Thiassi slain in, 104, 108;
Skadi’s honeymoon in, 109;
Frey welcomed to, 112;
Freya welcomed to, 124, 131;
Uller rules in, 131;
Balder leaves, 133;
Forseti arrives in, 134;
Heimdall arrives in, 137;
Heimdall leaves, 141;
Hermod returns to, 146;
Vali comes to, 152;
sin enters, 154;
Ægir’s visit to, 174;
Odin’s return to, 186;
gods’ sad return to, 192;
messengers’ return to, 195;
Loki banished from, 200, 204;
gods wish to fortify, 202;
a Hrim-thurs threatens, 203;
Loki forfeits, 206;
fire giants storm, 267;
Olympus, the Greek, 276;
Valkyrs, cupbearers in, 287.
ASGARDREIA (as-gard-rī´a). Wild Hunt called, 30.
ASIA. Plateau of Iran in, 9;
Æsir come from, 43.
ASK (äsk). Ash tree from which gods made man, 19;
compared to creation of Prometheus, 278.
ASLAUG (a-sloug´). The fostering of, 249.
ASYNJUR (a-sin´jo͞or). Northern goddesses called, 18.
ATALANTA (at-ȧ-lan´tȧ). Her apples compared to Gerda’s, 285.
ATLA (at´lȧ). One of the wave maidens, 137.
ATLANTIC. Cruise of the Mannigfual in the, 214.
ATLAS. Greek equivalent for Riesengebirge, 290.
ATLI (at´lē). Gudrun wooed by, 257;
treachery of, 258;
Högni and Gunnar slain by, 259;
Gudrun slays, 260;
same as Attila, 262;
Gudrun’s union with, 292.
ATTILA (at´i-lȧ). King of the Huns, has Cheru’s sword, 87;
same as Atli, 262.
AUD (oud). Son of Nott, 15.
AUDHUMLA (ou-dho͝om´lȧ). Cow nourishes Ymir, 11.
AUGEIA (ou-gī´yȧ). Wave maiden, 137.
AUGSBURG (awgz´berg). Tyr’s city, 84.
AURGIAFA (our-gyä´fȧ). Wave maiden, 137.
AUSTRI (ou´strē). Dwarf, supporter of heavenly vault at East, 14.
AUSTRIA. Curious custom in, 121.
BACCHUS (bak´kus). Atli compared to, 292.
BALDER (bäl´der). Allfather questions Vafthrudnir about, 38;
son of Frigga, 43;
Skadi wishes to marry, 109;
Uller akin to, 133;
Forseti, son of, 134;
Forseti’s connection with, 136;
Vali, the avenger of, 152;
god of sun and summer, 182–198;
Loki, real murderer of, 204;
absent at Ægir’s banquet, 205;
compared to Sigurd, 261;
Loki deprives Æsir of, 263;
the return of, 271;
his death avenged, 286;
Hodur murders, 287;
compared to Greek sun-gods, 289.
BALMUNG (bäl´moong). Völund forges, 165;
Odin drives into Branstock, 227;
Sigmund secures, 228;
Siggeir obtains, 229;
Sinfiotli makes use of, 233, 234;
Odin breaks, 237;
Hiordis treasures shards of, 238;
forged again, 243;
Fafnir slain by, 245;
Sigurd cuts off Brunhild’s armor with, 247;
laid it between Sigurd and Brunhild, 252;
Guttorm slain by, 255;
it is put on funeral pyre, 256;
emblem of sunbeam, 261;
compared to sword of Ægeus, 291.
BALTIC SEA. Cruise of Mannigfual in, 215, 290.
BARBAROSSA (bär-bȧ-ros´sȧ), FREDERICK. Leader of Wild Hunt, 31.
BAUCIS (baw´sis). Story of, compared with Geirrod and Agnar, 279.
BAUGI (bou´gē). Odin serves, 95.
BEAV. Same as Vali, 152.
BELDEGG (bel´deg). King of West Saxony, 44.
BELI (bel´ē). Death of, 117;
son of Kari, 212.
BEHMER (bā´mer). Forest in Bohemia, 31.
BERGELMIR (ber-gel´mir). Escapes deluge, 12, 210;
same as Farbauti, 199.
BERSERKER (bēr´serk-er). Rage of, 29;
wolf held by, 190.
BERTHA (bēr´thȧ). Same as Frigga, 58;
mother of Charlemagne, 58;
patroness of spinning, 59.
BESTLA (best´lȧ). Giantess, 12;
Æsir’s mortal element from, 16.
BETHLEHEM (beth´lë-ėm). Peace of Frodi when Christ was born in, 122.
BEYGGVIR (bīg´vir). Servant of Frey, 117.
BEYLA (bī´lȧ). Servant of Frey, 117.
BIFRÖST (bī´frēst). Rainbow bridge, 20;
Valkyrs ride over, 26, 160;
description of, 137;
Heimdall, warder of, 138;
Odin rides over, 184;
insufficiency of, 202;
Helgi rides over, 236;
downfall of, 267;
Giallar-horn proclaims passage of gods over, 285.
BIL. The waning moon, 16.
BILLING. King of Ruthenes, 150;
anxious to save Rinda, 152.
BILSKIRNIR (bil´skēr-nir). Thor’s palace called, 61;
thralls entertained in, 62.
BINGEN (bing´en). Rat Tower near, 35.
BISHOP HATTO. Story of, 35.
BLACK DEATH. Pestilence, 170.
BLACK FOREST. Giants in the, 215.
BLOCKSBERG (bloks´berg). Norns on the, 159.
BLODUG-HOFI (blō´dug-hō´fē). Frey’s steed called, 113;
Gymir’s fire crossed by, 115;
compared to Pegasus, 284.
BLOODY EAGLE. Description of, 85;
Sigurd cuts the, 244.
BODEN (bō´den). The bowl of offering, 93.
BODVILD (bod´vēld). Betrayed by Völund, 165.
BOHEMIAN FOREST. Same as Behmer, 31.
BOLTHORN (bol´thorn). Giant called, 12.
BOLWERK (bol´wērk). Odin serves, 95.
BÖR (bēr). Marries Bestla, 12;
earth created by sons of, 13;
divine element of gods in, 16.
BORGHILD (bôrg´hild). Sigmund marries, 234;
Sinfiotli poisoned by, 236;
Sigmund repudiates, 237.
BORNHOLM (bôrn´holm). The formation of, 215;
Mannigfual cruise connected with, 290.
BOUS (bō´us). Same as Vali, 152.
BRAGA-FUL (brä´gȧ-ful). Toast in honor of Bragi, 99.
BRAGA-MEN. Northern scalds, 99.
BRAGA-WOMEN. Northern priestesses, 99.
BRAGI (brä´gē). Heroes welcomed to Asgard by, 26;
Gunlod, mother of, 43;
god of music and eloquence, 93–99;
birth of, 97;
the absence of, 102;
Idun mourns for, 103;
Idun sought by, 105;
remains with Idun in Nifl-heim, 106;
heroes welcomed by Heimdall and, 141;
Ægir delights in tales of, 174;
compared to Greek divinities, 283.
BRANSTOCK (bran´stok). Oak in Volsungs’ hall, 226;
sword thrust in the, 227;
Sigmund under the, 234.
BRECHTA (brek´tȧ). Frigga, 58.
BREIDABLIK (brī´dȧ-blik). Balder’s palace, 182;
Balder’s corpse carried to, 189;
compared to Apollo’s palace, 289.
BRIMER (bri´mer). Hall of giants, 273.
BRISINGA-MEN (bri-sing´ȧ-men). Necklace of Freya, 127;
Loki attempts to steal, 140, 286;
emblem of fruitfulness, 141;
made by dwarfs, 218.
BROCK. Jealousy of, 66;
Loki’s wager with, 67;
three treasures of, 68;
wager won by, 69;
story compared with that of Io, 282.
BROCKEN (brŏk´en). Witches’ dance on the, 130;
Norns on the, 159.
BROWNIES. Same as dwarfs, 217;
same as elves, 223.
BRUNHILD (bro͞on´hild). A Valkyr, 165;
Sigurd finds, 247;
Sigurd wooes, 248;
Sigurd marries, 249;
Sigurd forgets, 250;
Gunnar loves, 251;
Gunnar wooes by proxy, 252;
wrath and jealousy of, 253;
Högni swears to avenge, 254;
rejoices at death of Sigurd, 255;
death of, 256;
Atli, brother of, 257;
compared to Greek divinities, 261, 291, 292.
BRUNNAKER (bro͞on´na-ker). Idun’s grove in, 102.
BURGUNDIAN (bēr-gun´di-an). Ildico, a princess, 87;
Gunnar, a monarch, 262.
BURI (bū´rē). Creation of, 11;
giants’ war against, 12.
BURI. Grove where Frey and Gerda meet, 116.
BYZANTINE (bi-zan´tin). Teutonic race influenced by that faith, 224.
CACUS (kā´kus). Hrungnir compared to, 282.
CADUCEUS (ka-dū´she-us). Gambantein compared to, 286.
CAIN’S HUNT. The Wild Hunt, 32.
CALAIS (kal´is). Mannigfual passes, 214.
CALYPSO (ka-lip´so). Compared to Holda, 281.
CAMOMILE. Called “Balder’s brow,” 182.
CAPITOLINE HILL. Vitellius slain on, 87.
CARTHAGE. Compared to Seeland, 280.
CASTOR. Compared to Erp, Sörli, and Hamdir, 292.
CATTEGAT (kat´e-gat). Ægir dwells in, 171, 288.
CAUCASUS (kaw´ka-sus). Loki’s punishment compared to Prometheus’s on
the, 289.
CELTIC (sel´tik). Origin of the language, 274.
CEPHALUS (sef´a-lus). A personification of the sun, 277.
CERBERUS (sēr´be-rus). Analogy of Garm and, 288.
CERES (sē´rēz). Compared to Rinda, 277;
compared to Frigga, 279;
compared to Groa, 282;
personification of earth, 289.
CERYNEAN STAG (ser-i-nē´an). Story of, 276.
CHANGELINGS. Recipe for riddance of, 31, 219.
CHAOS. World rose from, 10;
analogy between Greek and Northern conception of, 275.
CHARIOT. Sun and moon, 14;
night and day, 15;
Irmin’s, 36;
Holda’s, 57;
Nerthus’s, 59;
Thor’s, 64, 69, 78;
Frey’s, 113;
Freya’s, 128;
comparison between chariots of Greek and Northern gods, 276.
CHARLEMAGNE (shär´le-mān). Leader of Wild Hunt, 31, 32;
Bertha, mother of, 58;
Freya’s temple destroyed by, 128;
sword of, 165.
CHARLES V. Alva, general of, 88.
CHARLES’S WAIN. Same as Great Bear, 36.
CHARON (kā´ron). Compared to Mödgud, 288.
CHARYBDIS (ka-rib´dis). Northern parallel to, 283.
CHERU (kēr´ū). Same as Tyr, 86;
sword of, 87, 88;
Heimdall same as, 141.
CHERUSKI (ke-ro͝os´kē). The worship of the, 86.
CHIRON (kī´ron). Compared to Gripir, 291.
CHRIST. Peace of Frodi at birth of, 122.
CHRISTIANITY. Attempts to introduce, 58, 88, 130, 212.
CHRISTIANS. Easter feast, 58;
Norsemen in contact with, 272.
CHRISTIANSOË. Formation of, 215.
CHRISTMAS. Wild Hunt at, 31;
Bertha’s visit at, 59;
Yule now called, 121;
trolls celebrate, 213.
CLIO (klī´ō). Same as Saga, 279.
COLCHIS (kol´kis). Argo sails to, 282.
COLOGNE (ko-lōn´). Odin visits, 86.
COLUMBUS. Norsemen discovered America before, 224.
CORONIS (ko-rō´nís). Ratatosk compared to crow in story of, 278.
CRETAN LABYRINTH. Compared to Völund’s house, 287.
CRETE (krēt). Odin’s tomb at Upsala compared to Jupiter’s in, 280.
CYCLOPS (sī´klops). Compared to Loki, 284;
to Northern dwarfs, 291.
CYNTHIA (sin´thi-ȧ). Mani compared to, 276.
DÆDALUS (dē´dȧ-lus). Compared to Völund, 287.
DAG. Son of Nott, 15;
a treacherous Hunding, 235.
DAIN (dā´in). Stag on Yggdrasil, 20.
DANAE (dan´ā-ē). Compared to Rinda, 286.
DANES. Sacrificing place of, 53;
Frey, ruler of, 122;
Mysinger slays, 123;
Ragnar Lodbrog, king of the, 249.
DANISH BALLAD. Aager and Else a, 170.
DANUBE. Cheru´s sword buried on banks of, 87.
DAPHNE (daf´ne). Northern equivalent, 277.
DAY. Divisions of, 17;
Vafthrudnir’s questions about, 37.
DECEMBER. Uller’s month, 133.
DEIANEIRA (dē-i-a-nī´rȧ). Loki’s jealousy compared to that of, 289.
DELLINGER (del´ling-er). Third husband of Nott, 15.
DELPHI (del´fī). Compared to Gimli, 290.
DELUGE. Ymir´s blood causes, 12;
Ragnarok, a version of, 290.
DENMARK. Odin conquers, 43, 44;
Frey in, 122;
Freya in, 124;
Konur, king of, 143;
Norns visit, 157;
horn in collection of, 214;
Gudrun leaves, 257.
DESTINY. Compared to Orlog, 278.
DEUCALION (dū-kā´li-on) and Pyrrha compared to Lif and Lifthrasir,
290.
DIANA (di-a´nȧ). Mani corresponds to, 276;
Skadi compared to, 284.
DIDO (dī´dō). Compared to Gefjon, 280.
DISES (dis´ez). Norns same as, 159.
DODONA (dō-dō´nȧ). Compared to Upsala, 280.
DOLMENS. Stone altars called, 85.
DONAR (dō´när). Same as Thor, 61.
DOVER. Mannigfual passes, 214, 290.
DRAUPNIR (droup´nir). Odin’s ring called, 24;
Sindri and Brock make, 67;
Odin receives, 68;
Skirnir offers Gerda, 115;
laid on Balder’s pyre, 190;
Balder sends Odin, 194;
emblem of fertility, 196;
dwarfs fashion, 218;
Greek equivalent, 282.
DROMA (drō´mȧ). Chain for Fenris, 90;
proverb about, 283.
DRUIDS (dro͞o´idz). Human sacrifices of, 85.
DRUSUS (dro͞o´sus). Warned by a Vala, 158.
DRYADS (drī´adz). Northern equivalent for, 277.
DUKE OF ALVA. Cheru’s sword found by, 88.
DUNEYR (dū´nīr). Stag on Yggdrasil, 20.
DUNMOW (dun´mou). Flitch of bacon, 121.
DURATHOR (dū´ra-thôr). Stag on Yggdrasil, 20.
“DUSK OF THE GODS.” Wagner´s opera, 225.
DVALIN (dvä´lin). Stag on Yggdrasil, 20;
dwarf visited by Loki, 66.
DWARFS. Black elves called, 18;
Ægir does not rank with, 171;
one burned with Balder, 191;
occupations of, 217–221;
home of the, 273;
nightmares are, 291.
EAGOR. Same as Ægir, 173.
EAST SAXONY. Conquered by Odin, 44.
EASTER. Same as Ostara, 57;
stones, altars to Ostara, 58.
EÁSTRE. Same as Ostara, 57.
ECHO. Dwarf’s talk, 218.
ECKHARDT (ek´hart). Tries to stop Tannhäuser, 56;
compared to Mentor, 281.
ECLIPSES. Northern belief concerning cause of, 16.
EDDA. Collection of Northern myths, 10, 45, 225, 272;
sword-runes in, 85;
Frey’s wooing related in, 114;
Heimdall’s visit to earth described in, 141;
Sæmund, compiler of Elder, 224;
heroic lays in, 225;
Younger, 44.
EGIA (ē´gyȧ). Wave maiden, 137.
EGIL (ē´gil). Marries a Valkyr, 163;
arrow of, 165;
Thialfi’s father, 174.
EGLIMI (eg´li-mē). Father of Hiordis, 237.
EINHERIAR (īn-hā´ri-ar). Odin’s guests, 25;
meat of, 27;
daily battles of, 27;
Valkyrs wait on, 162;
Helgi, leader of, 236;
Giallar-horn calls, 266;
muster of, 268;
all slain on Vigrid, 269.
EINMYRIA (īn-mē´ri-ȧ). Daughter of Loki, 199.
EIRA (ī´rȧ). Goddess of medicine, 53.
EISA (ī´sȧ). Daughter of Loki, 199.
EITEL (ī´tel). Son of Atli and Gudrun, 257.
ELB. Water sprite, 179;
god of the Elbe, 288.
ELBE (el´be). Drusus stopped at, 159;
river named after Elb, 179.
ELBEGAST (el´be-gast). King of the dwarfs, 218.
ELDE (el´de). Ægir’s servant, 174.
ELDHRIMNIR (el-dhrim´nir). Kettle in Valhalla, 27.
ELF. Water sprite, 179;
elf lights, 222;
elf locks, 223.
ELF. Sigmund buried by, 238;
Hiordis marries, 239;
second marriage of, 256.
ELIVAGAR (el-i-vag´ar). Streams of ice from Hvergelmir, 10, 12;
Thor crosses, 76;
rolling ice in, 168;
Thor’s journey east of, 171.
ELLI (el´lē). Thor wrestles with, 72, 73.
ELSE (el´sa). Ballad of Aager and, 170.
ELVES. Light elves, 18;
occupation of the, 221–225;
Ægir does not rank with the, 171.
ELVIDNER (el-vid´ner). Hel’s hall, 168.
EMBLA (em´blȧ). The elm or first woman, 19;
wooden, 278.
ENCELADUS (en-sel´a-dus). Compared to Loki, 289.
ENGLAND. Wild Hunt in, 32;
May-day in, 42;
Yule in, 119;
flitch of bacon in, 120, 121;
miners in, 220;
Albion same as, 221;
fairies in, 221, 222;
Oberon, fairy king in, 223.
ENGLISH CHANNEL. Mannigfual in, 214.
EPIMETHEUS (ep-i-mē´thūs). Compared to Northern creators, 278.
ER. Same as Tyr, 86;
Heimdall same as, 141.
ERDA. Same as Jörd, 61.
ERMENRICH (ēr´men-rēkh). Swanhild marries, 260;
Gudrun’s sons attack, 261.
ERNA. Jarl marries, 143.
ERP. Son of Atli and Gudrun, 257;
son of Jonakur and Gudrun, 260;
slain by brothers, 261;
to avenge Swanhild, 292.
ESKIMO. Skadi’s dog, 111.
EUBŒA (ū-bē´ȧ). Ægir’s palace resembles Neptune’s home in, 288.
EUHEMERUS (ū-hem´er-us). Historical theory of, 280.
EUROPA (ū-rō´pȧ). Northern equivalent for story of, 290.
EUROPE. Æsir migrate into, 43;
discovery of, 274.
EURYDICE (ū-rid´i-sē). Compared to Idun, 283.
EUXINE SEA (ūk´sin). Mannigfual’s cruise compared to Argo’s in, 290.
EVENING. Part of day, 17.
EXORCISM. Of spectral hound, 31;
of changelings, 219, 220.
FADIR (fä´dir). Heimdall visits, 143.
“FAERIE QUEENE.” Girdle in, 218.
FAFNIR (faf´nir). Son of Hreidmar, 240;
gold seized by, 243;
Sigurd goes to slay, 244, 245, 246;
Gudrun eats heart of, 251;
personification of cold and darkness, 262, 292;
compared to Python, 291.
FAIRY RINGS. Magic spell of, 221.
FAIRYLAND. Alf-heim is, 112.
FARBAUTI (far-bou´tē). Same as Bergelmir, 199.
FAROE ISLANDS. Thor’s name in, 81.
FATES. Yggdrasil sprinkled by Northern, 20;
compared to Norns, 286, 287.
FEBRUARY. Vali’s month is, 153.
FENG. Same as Odin, 244.
FENIA. Giantess slave of Frodi, 122.
FENRIS (fen´ris). Birth and capture of, 89;
story of, 89–92;
shoe to defend Vidar against, 148;
prediction concerning, 149;
Hel related to, 166;
birth of, 200;
Loki, father of, 212;
released from bonds, 265;
Loki leads, 268;
death of, 269;
Tyr alone dare face, 283;
compared to Nemean lion, 286;
compared to Pyrrhus, 290.
FENSALIR (fen´säl-ir). Frigga’s palace, 47;
Frigga spinning in, 187.
FIALAR (fyäl´ar).
1. Kvasir slain by, 93.
2. Red cock of Valhalla, 265.
FIMBULWINTER (fim´bul-win-ter). Prediction of coming, 192;
terror of people at approach of, 264;
Greek equivalent, 290.
FINITE NATURE. Of gods, 16.
FINNS. Hermod visits the, 145.
FIOLNIR (fyol´nir).
1. Birth of, 117.
2. Same as Odin, 244.
FIORGYN (fyôr´gēn). Genealogy of, 43;
Frigga, daughter of, 46.
FLAX. Discovery of, 54–56.
FLINT. Origin of, 75, 76.
FLITCH. Of bacon, 120, 121.
FLORA. Nanna compared to, 289.
FOLKVANG (fōk´vang). Freya´s home, 77, 124;
warriors and wives in, 125;
Loki enters, 140.
FORENOON. Part of day, 17.
FORNJOTNR (fôrn-yōt´nr). Same as Ymir, 199;
giants descended from, 212.
FORSETI (fôr-set´e). God of justice, 134–137;
Greek equivalent for, 286;
the land of, 136.
FRAANANGER (frā-nan´ger). Loki takes refuge in, 206.
FRANCE. Golden age in, 58;
Oberon, fairy king in, 223.
FRANCONIA. Conquered by Odin, 44.
FRANKISH. Kings’ descent, 212;
queen marries giant, 290.
FRANKLAND. Hindarfiall in, 246.
FRANKS. Worship of Tyr among the, 85;
martial games of the, 88.
FRAU GODE (frou gō´dā). Same as Frigga, 59.
FRAU HOLLE. Same as Frigga, 54.
FRAU VENUS. Same as Holda, 56.
FREDERICK BARBAROSSA. Wild Hunt led by, 31.
FREKI (frek´ē). Odin´s wolf, 24, 278.
FRENCH REVOLUTION. Wild Hunt announces, 32.
FREY (frī). Comes to Asgard, 22, 107;
present for, 66;
Gullin-bursti and Skidbladnir for, 68;
toast to, 111;
god of summer, 112–124;
Freya, sister of, 124;
rides with Freya, 128;
Freya marries, 129;
sword of, 219;
elves governed by, 221;
deprived of power, 223;
weapon, a stag’s horn, 267;
fights Surtr, 268;
death of, 269;
boar of, 282;
Greek equivalent, 284.
FREYA (frī´ȧ). Comes to Asgard, 22, 107;
Hrungnir wants, 74;
Loki borrows falcon plumes of, 77, 103;
anger of, 77;
Thor borrows garments of, 78;
Thor personates, 79;
Freya, goddess of beauty, 124–130;
Friday sacred to, 128;
Loki steals necklace of, 140, 199;
the earth is, 141;
Valkyrs led by, 162;
promised to giant, 202;
gods fear to lose, 203;
dwarfs make necklace for, 218;
Greek equivalents, 279, 282, 285.
FREYGERDA (frī-gēr´ȧ). Wife of Fridleef, 122.
FRIDAY. Sacred to Freya, 128.
FRIDLEEF (frid´leef). Same as Frey, 122.
FRIGGA (frig´ȧ). Sits on Hlidskialf, 23;
Odin disguises himself by advice of, 37;
Agnar fostered by, 40;
Odin outwitted by, 41, 49;
wife of Vili and Ve, 42;
Odin’s wife, 43;
seven sons of, 44;
goddess of earth, 44–60;
goddess of atmosphere, 46;
secrecy of, 46;
worshiped with Odin, 54;
Thor, son of, 61;
Nerthus same as, 108;
Freya same as, 124;
Uller marries, 131;
Balder and Hodur, sons of, 182;
Balder’s depression noticed by, 183;
all things swear to, 184;
Loki wrests secret from, 187, 188;
Hermod departs at request of, 189;
the hope of, 192;
emblem of earth, 196;
grants Rerir’s wish, 226;
Greek equivalents, 279, 280, 282, 289.
FRISIANS (friz´ianz). Want new laws, 135;
tradition of, 214.
FRO. Same as Frey, 112, 120, 284.
FRODI (frō´dē). Mill of, 122;
death of, 123.
FULLA (ful´ȧ). Attendant of Frigga, 48, 50, 57;
Nanna sends ring to, 194.
FUNFENG (fun´feng). Ægir’s servant, 174;
Loki jealous of, 205.
FYLGIE (fēl´gye). Guardian spirit, 159.
GABRIEL’S HOUNDS. Wild Hunt in England, 30.
GALAR (gäl´ar). Kvasir slain by, 93.
GAMBANTEIN (gam´ban-tīn). Wand of Hermod, 145;
like Caduceus, 286.
GAMLA UPSALA (gam´lȧ up-sä´lȧ). Odin’s, Frey’s, and Thor’s mounds
near, 118.
GANGLER (gang´ler). Deludes Gylfi, 44.
GANGRAD (gang´räd). Odin as, 37.
GANYMEDE (gan´i-mēd). Northern equivalent for story of, 283.
GARM. Dog of Hel, 167;
Odin passes, 184;
Hel followed by, 267;
Loki leads, 268;
death of, 269;
compared to Cerberus, 288.
GEFJON (gef´yon). Gylfi visited by, 52;
compared to Dido, 280.
GEFN. Same as Freya, 125.
GEIR ODDS (gīr odz). Carving of, 44, 169.
GEIRROD (gīr´rod).
1. Story of, 39–41.
2. Loki visits, 79;
Thor visits, 80, 81, 148;
Loki accompanies Thor to, 199;
Greek equivalent, 279.
GELGIA (gel´gyạ). End of Fenris’s fetter, 92.
GERDA (gẽr´dȧ). Wooed by Frey, 114, 115, 116;
Greek counterparts of, 285.
GERI (gẽr´ē). Odin’s wolf, 24, 278.
GERMAN. Cheru’s sword belongs to a, 86;
Langobart, a long beard in, 50;
Eckhardt the mentor, 56;
belief in Lorelei, 180;
topographical belief, 211;
belief in fairies, 222;
epic, Nibelungenlied, 225.
GERMANY. Wild Hunt in, 32;
Odin conquers, 43;
Abundantia worshiped in, 51;
worship of Frigga in, 54;
Easter-stones in, 58;
golden age in, 58;
belief in White Lady in, 59;
Thor, kettle vender in, 64;
storms in, 69;
Nerthus in, 108;
Frey is Fro in, 112;
Yule in, 119;
Freya´s worship in, 124, 125;
temple in Magdeburg in, 128;
Freya now a witch in, 130;
Uller in, 132;
the Elbe in, 179;
sandhills in, 214;
sacrifices to elves in, 223.
GERSEMI (gēr´se-mē). Freya’s daughter, 125.
GERTRUDE (gēr´tro͞od). Replaces Freya in Germany, 130.
GIALLAR (gyäl´lar). Bridge in Nifl-heim, 167;
Odin rides over, 184;
trembling of, 192;
Greek equivalent, 288.
GIALLAR-HORN. Heimdall’s trumpet, 21, 138;
last blast of the, 265;
Greek equivalent, 286.
GIALP (gyälp). Incantation of, 80;
Thor breaks the back of, 81;
wave maiden called, 137.
GIANTS. Birth of ice, 11;
gods slay the, 12;
Ægir does not belong to the, 171;
Hyrrokin summoned by the, 190;
general account of the, 210–217;
Brimer, hall of, 273.
GILLING (gil´ling). Giant slain by dwarfs, 93;
death of wife of, 94.
GIMLI (gim´lē). Not consumed in Ragnarok, 272;
compared to Delphi, 290.
GINNUNGA-GAP (ge-no͞on´gȧ-gap). Primeval abyss, 10;
giants come to life in, 210.
GIOLL (gyol). Rock to which Fenris is bound, 92.
GIÖLL (gyēl). River boundary of Nifl-heim, 167;
Hermod crosses, 192;
like Acheron, 288.
GIUKI (gi-´o͞oki). Niblung king, 250;
Sigurd, blood brother of sons of, 251.
GIUKINGS. Sons of Giuki, 251;
Sigurd slain by, 256.
GLADS-HEIM (glädz-hīm). Twelve seats in, 25;
Tyr welcomed in, 84;
Vali dwells in, 153;
Odin returns to, 187.
GLASIR (glä´sir). The golden grove of, 25.
GLAUMVOR (gloum´vor). Second wife of Gunnar, 257.
GLAUR (glour). Husband of Sol, 14.
GLEIPNIR (glīp´nir). Manufacture of, 90, 91.
GLITNIR (glit´nir). Forseti’s hall, 134.
GLITTERING HEATH. Fafnir on the, 243.
GLUT (glo͞ot). Loki’s first wife, 199.
GNA (gnä). Messenger of Frigga, 51;
carries apple to Rerir, 226;
compared to Iris, 280.
GNIPA (gnē´pȧ). Cave in Nifl-heim, 167;
Garm in, 288.
GNÎTAHEID (gnē´tȧ-hīd). Fafnir on, 243.
GNOMES (nōmz). Same as dwarfs, 18.
GOBLINS. Same as dwarfs, 217.
GODE (gō´de). Same as Frigga, 59.
GODEY. Thor’s temple at, 82.
GODI. Human sacrifices by, 85.
GOLD. Freya’s tears are, 126;
the flame of the sea, 172.
GOLDEN AGE, 19;
Norns arrive after, 154;
Greek equivalent for Northern, 278;
Frey’s reign the, 284.
GONDEMAR (gon´de-mar). King of the dwarfs, 218.
GOTHLAND. Thor’s temple in, 82;
Sigmund leaves, 234;
Ermenrich, king of, 260.
GOTHS. Siggeir, king of the, 226;
Sigmund and Sinfiotli, prisoners of the, 233.
GRANE (grä´nē). Sigurd chooses, 240.
GREAT BEAR. Odin’s Wain, 36.
GREENLAND. First settlement, 224.
GREIP (grīp). Thor breaks the back of, 81;
a wave maiden called, 137.
GRENDEL. Son of Hler, 213.
GREYFELL (grā´fel). Same as Grane, 240;
Sigurd loads hoard on, 246;
Gunnar borrows, 251;
Sigurd rides through flames on, 252;
burned with Sigurd, 256.
GRID. Wife of Odin, 43, 80, 147;
gives Vidar shoe, 148;
with Vidar and Odin, 149.
GRIMHILD (grim´hild). Queen of the Niblungs, 250;
wishes Gunnar to marry, 251, 252, 253;
gives magic potion to Guttorm, 254;
to Gudrun, 257.
GRIMNIR. Odin as, 41.
GRIOTTUNAGARD (gryot-tū´na-gärd). The dual in, 74.
GRIPIR (grē´pir). Stud-keeper of Elf, 240;
prophecies of, 244;
compared to Chiron, 291.
GROA (grō´ȧ). Incantations of, 76;
compared to Ceres, 282.
GROTTI. Magic mill, 122, 123.
GRYPTO. Nun on, 212.
GUDRUN (go͞o-dro͞on´).
1. A Valkyr marries Helgi, 235;
self-sacrifice of, 236.
2. Gives magic potion to Sigurd, 250;
marries Sigurd, 251;
Sigurd gives ring to, 253;
Sigurd offers to repudiate, 254;
mourning of, 255;
goes to Denmark, 256;
wooed by Atli, 257;
Niblungs helped by, 258;
slays her children, 259;
revenge of, 260;
sends sons to avenge Swanhild, 261;
same as Ildico, 262;
Greek equivalent, 292.
GULL-TOP (go͞ol-top). Heimdall’s steed, 139.
GULLFAXI (go͞ol-fax´ē). Hrungnir’s steed, 73;
Magni receives, 75.
GULLIN-BURSTI (go͞ol´in-bērs-tē). Making of, 67;
Frey receives, 68, 113;
dwarfs manufacture, 218.
GULLIN-KAMBI (go͞ol´in-käm-bē). Midgard rooster, 265.
GULLIN-TANI (go͞ol´in-tä-nē). Same as Heimdall, 139.
GUNDICARIUS (go͞on-di-cär´i-us). Same as Gunnar, 262.
GUNGNIR (go͞ong´nir). Odin’s spear, 24;
made of Yggdrasil wood, 37;
runes on, 39;
Dvalin makes point of, 66, 218;
Odin receives, 68;
Hermod throws, 144;
Dag borrows, 235;
Greek equivalent, 277.
GUNLOD (go͞on´lod). Mother of Bragi, 43;
guardian of inspiration, 94;
Odin visits, 95, 96.
GUNNAR (gun´när). Son of Giuki, 250;
wooing of Brunhild by, 251;
Brunhild marries, 253;
repentance of, 255;
Brunhild burned by order of, 256;
Atli asks compensation for death of the sister of, 257;
courage and oath of, 258;
death of, 259;
same as Gundicarius, 262;
Greek equivalents, 292.
GUTTORM (go͞ot´torm). Son of Giuki, 250;
Sigurd slain by, 254;
death of, 255.
GYLFI (gēl´fē). Odin welcomed by, 43;
delusion of, 44;
Gefjon visits, 52;
Greek equivalent, 280.
GYMIR (gē´mir). Gerda, daughter of, 114;
dwelling of, 115;
Ægir same as, 173;
son of Hler, 212.
HADES (hā´dēz). Compared to Nifl-heim, 281, 289;
Jötun-heim compared to, 283.
HAGAL. Fosters Helgi, 235.
HAGEDISES (hag´e-dis-ez). Norns called, 159.
HAKON (hä´kon). Thora, daughter of, 256;
marries a Valkyr, 287.
HALLINSKIDE (häl´lin-skē-de). Heimdall, same as, 141.
HAMADRYADS. Northern equivalents, 277.
HAMDIR (ham´dir). Son of Gudrun, 260;
death of, 261;
Greek equivalent, 292.
HAMELIN (ham´e-lin). Story of Pied Piper of, 33, 34;
Greek equivalent, 280.
HAMMER. To dedicate boundaries, homes, marriages, 64;
effect of, 70;
the theft of the, 76;
sign of the, 99.
HAMOND. Son of Sigmund, 234.
HANS VON HACKELBERG. Leader of Wild Hunt, 31, 32.
HAR. One of the triad seen by Gylfi, 44.
HARALD HARFAGER (här´fag-er). Norseman driven away by, 224.
HATI (hä´tē). Wolf pursuing orbs, 16;
fed in Ironwood, 265;
demon of darkness, 290.
HATTO. Bishop of Mayence, 35.
HÁVAMÁL (hav´a-mal). Code of laws and ethics, 45.
HEBE (hē´bē). Compared to Valkyrs, 287.
HECTOR. Northern equivalent, 290.
HEIDRUN (hī´dro͞on). Goat supplying mead, 20;
compared to Amalthea, 278.
HEIM-DELLINGER. Same as Heimdall, 139.
HEIMCHEN. Unborn children, 58.
HEIMDALL (hīm´däl). Bifröst guarded by, 21;
nine mothers of, 43;
Thor advised by, 78;
Idun sought by, 105;
Brisinga-men saved by, 127;
watch-warder of Asgard, 137–143;
connected with Æsir, 147;
watchfulness of, 202;
Loki to be slain by, 208;
horn blown by, 265;
Loki fights, 268;
death of, 269;
Greek equivalents, 286.
HEIME. Miming, the sword of, 165.
“HEIMSKRINGLA” (hīmz´kring-lȧ). Northern chronicle, 117.
HEL. Goddess of death, 32;
birth and banishment of, 89, 200;
realm of, 98;
Idun’s sojourn with, 105, 106;
Uller with, 133;
Skuld as, 159;
the home of, 166–170;
Odin visits, 184;
daughter of Loki, 212;
Hermod goes to, 184;
couches spread by, 185;
Hermod visits, 189;
challenged, 192;
urged to release Balder, 193;
Hermod leaves, 194;
the bird of, 265;
arrives on Vigrid, 267;
army of, 268;
realm burned, 269;
Garm guards gate of, 288;
rake of, 289.
HEL-CAKE. Provided for Garm, 167.
HEL-GATE. Hermod passes, 167, 193.
HEL-SHOES. For feet of dead, 167.
HEL-WAY. Hermod journeys along the, 192.
HELA. Same as Hel, 166.
HELEN. Northern equivalents, 290, 291, 292.
HELFERICH (hel´fer-ēkh). Same as Elf, 238.
HELFRAT (hel´frat). Same as Elf, 238.
HELGI. Glorious career of, 234, 235;
marriage of, 287.
HELIADES (he-lī´a-dēz). Northern equivalent, 285.
HELICON. Compared to Sokvabek, 279;
to Od-hroerir, 283.
HELIGOLAND (hel´i-go-länd). Naming of, 131.
HELIOS (hē´li-os). Northern equivalent, 276.
HELMET OF DREAD, 242, 243;
Sigurd uses the, 246, 251, 256.
HENGI-KIAPTR (heng´gē-kyäp’tr). Frodi’s mill called, 122.
HENGIST (heng´gist). Descendant of Odin, 44.
HENRY. Murder of, 32;
Ilse seen by, 215.
HERACLIDÆ (her-a-klī´dē). Northern equivalents, 279.
HERCULES (hēr´cu-lēz). Northern equivalents, 276, 281, 282, 286, 287,
289.
HERLA. Mythical king of England, 32.
HERLATHING. Wild Hunt called, 32.
HERMÆ (hēr´mē). Comparison between Northern boundaries and, 281.
HERMOD (hēr´mod). Heroes welcomed by, 26;
Frigga mother of, 43;
messenger of gods, 144, 146;
journeys to Nifl-heim, 167, 189, 190–194;
Greek equivalent, 286.
HEROD. Leader of Wild Hunt, 32.
HERU. Same as Tyr, 86;
same as Heimdall, 141.
HERVOR (hēr´vor). Daughter of Angantyr, 219.
HIALLI (hyäl´lē). The trembling heart of, 259.
HIGH SONG. Same as Hávamál, 45.
HIMINBIORG (him´in-byērg). Heimdall’s palace, 138, 143.
HIMINBRIOTER (him´in-bryō-ter). Thor slays, 175.
HINDARFIALL (hin´dar-fyäl). Sigurd comes to, 246;
Brunhild asleep on, 248;
Brunhild’s story not ended on, 250.
HINDFELL (hind´fel). Same as Hindarfiall, 248.
HIORDIS (hyôr´dis). Sigmund marries, 237;
and leaves sword to, 238;
Elf marries, 239;
Sigurd obtains sword from, 244;
death of, 256.
HIPPOMENES (hip-pom´e-nēz). Northern equivalent, 285.
HIUKI (hū´kē). Companion of Mani, 16.
HLADER (hlä´der). Thor’s temple at, 82.
HLEIDRA (hlī´drȧ). Capital of Denmark, 53.
HLER. Same as Ægir, 171, 173;
brother of Loki, 199;
son of Fornjotnr, 212.
HLESEY. Ægir’s palace in, 171, 174.
HLIDSKIALF (hlidz´kyȧlf). Odin’s seat, 23, 25, 79;
Odin sees sons of Hrauding from, 40;
Frigga sits on, 46;
Odin sees Vandals from, 49;
Frey mounts, 114.
HLIN. Frigga’s attendant, 51.
HLODYN (hlo´dēn). Same as Nerthus, 60.
HLORA. Thor fostered by, 61.
HLORRIDI (hlôr-rē´dē). Same as Thor, 61.
HNIKAR (hnē´kar). Same as Odin, 244.
HNOSS. Freya’s daughter, 125.
HODMIMIR (hod-mē´mir). The forest of, 270.
HODUR (hō´der). Personification of darkness, 133, 197;
Vali to slay, 152, 186;
twin brother of Balder, 182;
Balder to be slain by, 185;
Balder slain by, 188, 189;
Vali slays, 195, 287;
explanation of myth of, 196;
Loki guides hand of, 204;
return of, 271.
HOENIR (hē´nir). Gives motion to man, 19;
earth visited by, 101, 240;
Loki joins, 102;
hostage in Vana-heim, 107;
peasant asks aid of, 201;
survival of, 271.
HOFVARPNIR (hof-värp´nir). Gna’s fleet steed, 51.
HÖGNI (hēg´nē). Son of Giuki, 250;
Sigurd’s death planned by, 254;
warning given by, 257;
captive, 258;
the heart of, 259.
HOLDA. Same as Frigga, 54;
Uller, husband of, 132.
HOLLAND. Frigga worshiped in, 59.
HOLLE, FRAU. Same as Frigga, 54.
HOLLER. Same as Uller, 132.
HOLMGANG. Thor’s and Hrungnir’s, 74, 75.
HOLY INNOCENTS. In Wild Hunt, 32.
HONEY. Drips from Yggdrasil, 20.
HORN. Same as Freya, 125.
HORSA. Descendant of Odin, 44.
HÖRSELBERG (hēr´sel-berg). Holda’s abode in the, 56, 281.
HOSTAGES. Exchanged by Æsir and Vanas, 22.
HRÆ-SVELGR (hrā-svelgr´). Giant eagle, 17;
winds personified by, 277.
HRAUDING (hroud´ing). Agnar and Geirrod, sons of, 39.
HREIDMAR (hrīd´mar). Story of, 240–243.
HRIM-FAXI. Steed of Night, 15.
HRIM-THURS (hrēm-to͞ors). Ice giants at creation, 11;
Skadi, a, 109;
architect of Valhalla, a, 203.
HROTHI (hrō´tē). Sword of Fafnir, 243.
HRUNGNIR (hro͞ong´nir). Odin races with, 73;
Thor’s duel with, 74, 75;
Greek equivalents, 282.
HRYM (hrēm). Vessel steered by, 266.
HUBERT, SAINT. Uller merged into, 132.
HUGI (hū´gi). Thialfi races with, 72.
HUGIN (hū´gin). Odin’s raven, 24, 278;
Od-hroerir discovered by, 94.
HULDA (hul´dȧ). Same as Holda, 54.
HULDRA (hul´drȧ). Same as Holda, 60.
HULDRA FOLK. Same as dwarfs and elves, 60, 217, 223.
HUNALAND. Gna flies over, 51, 234;
Brunhild’s home in, 248.
HUNDING. Helgi’s feud with, 235;
descendants of, 237, 257, 260, 262.
HUNGARY. Attila settles in, 87.
HUNS. Invasion by the, 87;
Sigi, king of the, 226;
Land of the, 257, 258, 260, 262, 292.
HUNTSMAN OF FONTAINEBLEAU. Leader of Wild Hunt, 32.
HVERGELMIR (hwer-gel´mir). The seething caldron, 10;
Yggdrasil root near, 19;
Nidhug in, 20;
ice streams from, 168;
wicked in, 169.
HYMIR (hē´mir). Story of Thor’s visit and fishing with, 174–177.
HYNDLA (hēnd´lȧ). Freya and Ottar visit, 129.
HYPERBOREANS. Northern equivalent, 276.
HYPERION. Northern equivalent, 276.
HYRROKIN (hēr´ro-kin). Ringhorn launched by, 190, 191.
IAFN-HAR (yȧfn´här). Gylfi sees, 44.
IARN-GREIPER (yärn´grī-per). Thor’s glove, 63.
IARNSAXA (yärn´sax-ȧ).
1. Thor’s wife called, 64;
feeds wolves, 265.
2. A wave maiden, 137.
ICELAND. Thvera in, 118;
Freya in, 124;
maze in, 164;
earthquakes and geysers in, 208;
Norsemen settle in, 272;
scenery of, 275.
ICELANDERS. Records of, 9, 139;
call mountains Jokul, 211.
ICELANDIC. Shores, 224.
IDA. Same as Idavold, 187;
gods return to, 271;
same as Asgard, 277.
IDAVOLD. Plain where gods dwell, 18;
gods play on, 187;
Balder slain on, 188;
last meeting on, 271.
IDISES (ē-dis´ez). Norns, 159.
IDUN (ē´doon). Daughter of Ivald, 98;
story of, 100–106;
returns to Asgard, 108;
apples of, 155;
Loki betrays, 199;
Greek equivalents, 283, 284.
IFING (ē´fing). River surrounding Idavold, 18;
Vafthrudnir asks about, 38;
Loki flies across, 77.
ILDICO (il´di-co). Wife of Attila, 87, 88;
same as Gudrun, 262.
ILSE (il´se). Story of Princess, 215;
compared to Arethusa, 288.
ILSENSTEIN (il´sen-stīn). Home of Princess Ilse, 215.
INDIA. Languages of, 274.
INGLINGS. Frey’s descendants called, 122, 279.
INGVI-FREY. Story of, 117–122.
INSPIRATION. The story of the draft of, 93–97.
IO. Northern equivalents for story of, 280, 281.
IÖRMUNGANDR (yēr´mun-gandr). Birth and banishment of, 89;
Hel related to, 166;
Thor angles for, 176;
origin of, 200;
rises from sea, 266;
Loki leads, 268;
tempests caused by, 288.
IRAN (ē-rän´). The plateau of, 9.
IRIS (ī´ris). Compared to Gna, 280.
IRMIN (ēr´min). Same as Odin, Heimdall, or Hermod, 36, 141, 146.
IRMIN’S WAY. The Milky Way, 36.
IRMINSUL (ēr´min-so͝ol). Destroyed by Charlemagne, 36.
IRONWOOD. Iron leaves of, 167;
wolves fed in, 265.
ISLANDS. Eglimi, king of the, 237.
ITALY. Golden Age in, 284.
IVALD (ē´väld). Dwarf blacksmith, 66, 86;
Idun, daughter of, 98.
JACK AND JILL. Origin of story, 17.
JACK IN THE GREEN, 42.
JACK-O’-LANTERNS. Elf lights, 222.
JANUARY. Yule in, 121;
Vali’s month, 153.
JARL (yärl). The birth of, 143.
JASON. Northern equivalents, 282, 291.
JILL. The origin of Jack and, 143.
JOHN THE BAPTIST, 32.
JOKUL (yō´ko͝ol). Same as Jötun, 211.
JONAKUR. Gudrun, wife of, 260.
JÖRD (yērd). Daughter of Nott, 15;
wife of Odin, 43, 46, 61.
JÖTUN-HEIM (yē´to͞on-hīm). Home of giants, 12;
Vafthrudnir inquires about, 38;
frost comes from, 69;
Loki’s journey to, 78;
Odin gazes at, 79;
Thor visits Geirrod in, 80;
Loki’s progeny in, 88, 89;
Odin goes to, 94;
Skirnir visits, 115;
Thor personates Freya in, 127;
Hel born in, 166;
Hyrrokin dwells in, 190;
Loki goes to, 198, 199;
Loki’s home in, 200;
giants dwell in, 210;
Tartarus compared to, 275;
Idun in, 283.
JÖTUNS. Earth in the power of the, 48;
the origin of, 210, 211;
Thor feared by the, 211.
JOVE. Day of, in the North, 282.
JOYEUSE (zhwä´yēz). Charlemagne’s sword, 165.
JUDEA (ju-dē´ȧ). Bethlehem in, 122.
JUNO. Compared to Frigga, 280, 282;
to Freya, 287.
JUPITER. Odin compared to, 275, 277, 278, 279, 280;
Amalthea, nurse of, 278;
quarrels with Neptune, 278;
outwitted by Juno, 280;
Thor compared to, 281;
secures Ganymede, 283;
compared to Frey, 284;
wishes to marry Thetis, 286;
wooing of Europa, 290.
JUSTICE. Compared to Forseti, 286.
JUTERNAJESTA (yo͞o-ter-na-jest´ȧ). Senjemand loves, 212.
KARI (kär´ē). Brother of Ægir, 171;
brother of Loki, 199;
son of Fornjotnr, 212.
KARL. The birth of, 142.
KERLAUG (kēr´loug). Thor wades across, 62.
KNEFRUD (knef´ro͞od). Invites Niblungs to Hungary, 257;
death of, 258.
KOBOLD. Same as dwarfs, 18, 217;
same as elves, 223.
KONUR. The birth of, 143.
KOPPELBERG. Children in the, 34.
KORMT. Thor crosses, 62.
KVASIR (kvä´sir).
1. Murder of, 93;
Odin covets mead of, 94.
2. Loki surprised by, 206.
LÆDING (lā´ding). Chain for Fenris, 90;
proverb concerning, 283.
LAGA (lä´gȧ). Same as Saga, 43.
LAMPETIA (lam-pe-tī´ȧ). Northern equivalent for flocks of, 276.
LANDVIDI (länd-vē´di). Home of Vidar, 147, 149.
LANGOBARDEN. Story of, 50;
Greek equivalent for, 280.
LAUFEIA (lou-fī´ȧ). Mother of Loki, 199.
LAUGARDAG (lou´gar-dag). Saturday called, 209.
LAURIN (lou´rin). King of the dwarfs, 218.
LEIPTER (līp´ter). Sacred stream in Nifl-heim, 168.
LEMNOS. Northern equivalent for forge of, 291.
LERAD (lā´räd). Topmost bough of Yggdrasil, 20, 26;
the animals upon, 20.
LESSOE. Island home of Ægir, 171.
LETHRA (leth´rȧ). Sacrifices offered at, 53.
LIF. One of the survivors of Ragnarok, 270;
Greek counterpart of, 290.
LIFTHRASIR (lif´thrä-sir). One of the survivors of Ragnarok, 270;
Greek counterpart, 290.
LIGHT ELVES. Alf-heim, dwelling of, 112.
LIOD (lyōd). Same as Gna, 226.
LIOS-ALFAR (lyōs´-alf-ar). Same as light elves, 221.
LIOS-BERI (lyōs´-bā-rē). Month of Vali, 153.
LIT, dwarf slain by Thor, 191.
LODUR (lō´do͞or). Gives blood to man, 19;
same as Loki, 199.
LOFN (lōfn). Attendant of Frigga, 52.
LOGI (lō´gē). Cook of Utgard-loki, 71;
wild fire, 72.
LOGRUM (lō´grum). Lake of, 53.
LOKI (lō´kē). God of fire, 19;
Sif’s hair stolen by, 65;
Thor attacks, 66;
different forms of, 66;
wager with Brock, 67;
flight of, 68;
Brock sews lips of, 69;
eating-wager of, 71;
hammer recovered by, 76;
marries giantess, 88;
adventure with eagle, 101;
called to account, 103;
south wind is, 104;
Skadi laughs at antics of, 109;
the lightning is, 111;
Brisinga-men coveted by, 127;
falcon plumes borrowed by, 127;
Freya urged by, 129;
Freya accused by, 130;
Hel, daughter of, 166;
Ægir, brother of, 171;
Frigga questioned by, 187;
Hodur’s hand guided by, 188;
Thok, same as, 194;
the jealousy of, 196;
tempter personified by, 197;
god of fire, 198–209;
son of Fornjotnr, 212;
visits the earth, 240;
slays Otter, 241;
secures hoard, 242;
Æsir tolerate, 263;
released from bonds, 265;
boards Nagilfar, 266;
foes led by, 267, 268;
death of, 269;
Greek equivalent for Loki’s theft, 281;
comparisons, 283, 286, 289, 290.
LOMBARDS. Story of the, 50.
LOMBARDY. The possession of, 50.
LONGBEARDS. The saga of the, 50.
LORELEI (lō´re-lī). Story of, 179, 180;
Greek equivalent, 288.
LORRIDE (lor´ri-de). Thor’s daughter, 64.
LUCIFER. Loki the mediæval, 198.
LYDIAN QUEEN. Northern equivalent, 281.
LYGNI (lēg´ni). Wars against Sigmund, 237, 238;
Sigurd slays, 244.
LYMDALE (lēm´dāl). Brunhild’s home at, 248.
LYNGVI (lēng´vi). Island where Fenris is bound, 91.
“MACBETH.” The Norns in, 158.
MAELSTROM (māl´strom). Millstones form the, 123.
MAGDEBURG. Freya’s temple at, 128.
MAGNI. Thor’s son, 64, 75;
survival of, 271;
Greek equivalent, 282.
MAID MARIAN. On May day, 42.
MÄLAR LAKE (mā´lar). Legend of its formation, 53.
MANA-HEIM (man´ȧ-hīm). Same as Midgard, 19;
Greek equivalent, 276.
MANAGARM. The feeding of, 265;
Greek equivalent, 290.
MANI (man´e). The moon, 14;
his companions, 16;
death of, 264, 265;
equivalent, 276.
MANNIGFUAL (man´ig-fū-al). Ship, 214, 215;
Greek equivalent, 290.
MARAS (mär´az). Female trolls, 220.
MARDEL (mär´del). Freya, 125.
MARS. Northern equivalents, 282, 285.
MARSYAS (mär´shy̆-as). Compared to Vafthrudnir, 279.
MAY FESTIVALS, etc., 42.
MEAD. Heidrun supplies mead, 20.
MECKLENBURG. Worship of Frigga in, 59.
MEGIN-GIÖRD (mā´gin-gyērd).
Thor’s belt, 63;
Thor tightens, 72.
MELEAGER (mel-e-ā´jer). Nornagesta compared to, 287.
MEMOR. Same as Mimir, 36.
MENELAUS (men-e-lā´us). Northern equivalent, 291.
MENIA (men´i-a). Frodi’s giantess slave, 122.
MENTOR. Eckhardt compared to, 281.
MERCURY. Northern equivalents, 279, 281, 282, 283.
MERMAIDS. In Ægir’s palace, 288.
MEROVEUS (mer-ō´ve-us). Birth of, 212;
Greek equivalent, 290.
MEROVINGIAN (mer-ō-vin´ji-an). Mythical descent of kings, 212.
MESNÉE D’HELLEQUIN (mā-nā del-ē-cang). Wild Hunt in France, 32.
MIDGARD (mid´gärd). Earth called, 13;
man dwells in, 19;
root of Yggdrasil in, 19;
Bifröst spans, 20;
fields of, 113;
Uller rules, 131;
rooster of, 265.
MIDGARD SNAKE. Thor attempts to lift, 73;
Hymir fears, 175;
Thor hooks, 176, 177;
birth of, 199;
rises from sea, 266;
Thor slays, 268, 269;
equivalent, 276;
tempests caused by, 288.
MIDNIGHT. Part of day, 17.
MIDSUMMER. Balder disappears at, 133;
night, fairy revels, 223;
eve, festival, 197.
MILKY WAY in Germany and Holland, 36, 59.
MIMING (mē´ming). A sword, 165.
MIMIR (mē´mir). Well of, 19, 92, 94, 137, 138;
god of ocean, 171;
son of Hler, 212;
Odin’s last talk with, 268.
MINERVA. Northern equivalents, 278, 279, 285.
MINOS (mī´nos). Northern equivalent, 287.
MIÖLNIR (myēl´nir). Thor’s hammer, 63;
Thor receives, 68;
Thor gives life with, 70;
Thor slays with, 177;
giant slain by, 204, 211;
dwarfs make, 68, 218;
Midgard snake slain with, 269;
Greek equivalent for, 281.
MISTLETOE. Oath not sworn by, 184.
MÖDGUD (mud´go͞od). Warder of Giöll, 167, 192, 193;
Greek equivalent, 288.
MODI (mō´dē). Thor’s son, 64;
survival of, 271.
MODIR. Heimdall visits, 143.
MŒRÆ (mē´rē). Compared to Norns, 278.
MOERI (mē´rē). Thor’s temple at, 82.
MOKERKIALFI (mō´ker-kyȧlf-ē). A clay image which Thialfi fights, 74.
MORNING. Part of day, 17.
MORS. Northern equivalent, 288.
MOSELLE (mō-zel´). Celebrations along the, 119.
MOSS MAIDENS. Wild Hunt for, 31;
Greek equivalents, 223.
MOTHER NIGHT. Longest night in year, 119.
MÜHLBERG (mül´berg). Battle of, 88.
MUNDILFARI (mo͞on´dil-fär-ē). Father of sun and moon drivers, 14.
MUNIN (mū´nin). Odin’s raven, 24;
Od-hroerir found by, 94;
Greek equivalent, 278.
MUSPELL (mo͝os´pel). Sons of, 266.
MUSPELLS-HEIM (mo͞os´pels-hīm). Home of fire, 10;
sparks from, 14;
host from, 266.
MYSINGER (mē´sing-er). Viking, slays Frodi, 123.
NAGILFAR (nag´il-fär). Launching of, 266.
NAGILFARI (nag´il-fär-i). Nott’s first husband, 15.
NAIN. Dwarf of death, 98.
NAL. Mother of Loki, 199.
NANNA (nän´nȧ). Forseti’s mother, 134;
Balder’s wife, 182;
death of, 190;
accompanies Balder, 193;
sends carpet to Frigga, 194;
emblem of vegetation, 196;
compared to Greek divinities, 289.
NARVE (när´va). Son of Loki, 200;
death of, 207.
NASTROND (nä´strond). The wicked in, 169, 272;
compared to Tartarus, 288.
NECKAR (nek´kar). God and river, 178, 179, 288.
NECKS. Water sprites, 178, 179.
NECTAR. Compared to Northern drink, 277.
NEMEAN LION (nē´mē-an lī’on). Northern equivalent, 286.
NEPTUNE. Northern equivalents, 275, 278, 284, 288, 289.
NEREIDES (ne-rē´i-dēz). Northern equivalents, 288.
NEREUS (nē´re-us). Niörd like, 284.
NERTHUS (nēr´thus). Same as Frigga, 59, 60;
Niörd’s wife, 108, 112, 124.
NIBELUNGENLIED (nē´be-lo͝ong-en-lēd). German epic, 225.
NIBLUNGS (nē´blo͝ongz). Sigurd visits the, 250;
Brunhild, queen, 251, 252;
lament of, 256;
visit Atli, 257, 258.
NICK, OLD. Origin of the name of, 178.
NICORS (nik´orz). Sea monsters, 178.
NIDA (nē´dȧ). Home of dwarfs, 273.
NIDHUG (nē´dho͞og). Gnaws Yggdrasil, 20, 149, 169, 265;
flies over Vigrid, 267.
NIDUD (nē´do͞od). King of Sweden, 163, 164, 165;
comparison, 287.
NIFL-HEIM (nīfl´hīm). Land of mist, 10;
root of Yggdrasil, in, 19;
Bifröst connects, 20;
Odin gazes into, 39;
Hel in, 89, 166;
Hel’s bird in, 265;
Idun in, 105;
Uller, 133;
horn heard in, 138;
Odin visits, 184;
Hermod visits, 189, 190;
Balder in, 193;
equivalents, 276, 283, 288, 289.
NIGHT. Birth of, 15;
horses of, 37.
NIÖRD (nyērd). A hostage, 22;
god of sea, 107–111, 171;
Skadi marries, 109, 134;
glove of, 111;
Frey, son of, 112–114;
semi-historical, 117;
oath sworn by, 118;
Freya, daughter of, 124;
Greek equivalents, 171, 285.
NIP. Father of Nanna, 182.
NIXIES. Dwell with Ægir, water spirits, 178, 179, 288.
NÔATÛN (no͞o´ȧ-to͞on). Niörd’s home, 107, 108, 109, 110.
NOON. Part of day, 17.
NORDRI (nôr´drē). Dwarf, supports heaven, 14.
NORNAGESTA (nôrn-a-ges´tȧ). Story of, 157, 158;
compared to Meleager, 287.
NORNS. Yggdrasil sprinkled by, 20;
office of, 38, 154–159;
decree of, 86;
Odin questions, 145, 148;
Valkyrs same as, 162;
mortals visited by, 234;
torn web of, 267;
Greek equivalents, 278, 286.
NORSEMEN. Elves guide, 224;
various beliefs of the, 272.
NORTH SEA. Mannigfual in, 214, 290.
NORVI (nôr´vē). Father of Night, 15, 154;
ancestor of Norns, 154.
NORWAY. Landscape in, 9;
Odin conquers, 43, 44;
Thor, god in, 62–64;
kings of, 111, 117;
Maelstrom near, 123;
Freya in, 124, 130.
NOTT. Goddess of night, 15.
NOVEMBER. Sacred to Uller, 132, 133.
NYMPHS. Compared to elves, 277.
OATHS. Sworn on Gungnir, 24, 279;
on swords, 85;
by Frey, 118;
on boar, 120;
by Uller, 133;
by Leipter, 168;
in favor of Balder, 184.
OBERON (ō´be-ron). Fairy king, 218, 223.
OBERWESEL (ō-ber-vā´zel). Fisherman of, 180.
OCEAN. Ymir’s blood, 13.
OCEANIDES (ō-sē-an´i-dēz). Compared to wave maidens, 288.
OCEANUS (ō-se´ȧ-nus). Northern equivalent, 276.
OD-HROERIR (od-hrē´rir). Kettle of inspiration, 93;
Odin in quest of, 103;
compared to Helicon, 283.
ODIN (ō´din). Birth of, 12;
creates man, 19;
hall of, 20;
goat of, 20;
brother of, 22;
general account of, 23–45;
attributes of, 24;
mantle and spear of, 24;
footstool of, 25;
god of victory, 26;
battle loved by, 28;
the Wild Huntsman, 32;
leader of souls, 34;
constellation of, 36;
one eye of, 36, 88, 92, 227, 267;
Geirrod fostered by, 40;
historical Odin, 40, 117, 280;
serpents of, 45;
statues of, 45;
Frigga, wife of, 46;
toast to, 46;
return of, 48;
Thor, son of, 61;
present for, 66–68;
Hrungnir races with, 73;
downfall of, 268;
Thrym-heim viewed by, 79;
Grid, wife of, 80, 147;
compared to Tyr, 84;
spear of, 68, 86, 218, 235;
disposes of Loki’s progeny, 89, 166;
discovers Od-hroerir, 94;
Gunlod won by, 96;
runes of, 99;
visits earth, 101;
Loki joins, 102;
Loki called to account by, 103;
gives Idum wolfskin, 105;
sky is, 106;
Hoenir related to, 107;
throne of, 114;
Freya marries, 129;
Uller replaces, 131;
drives Uller away, 132, 133;
wave maidens, wives of, 137;
Heimdall as, 141;
Hermod, messenger of, 144;
runic staff of, 145;
to lose son, 146;
prediction concerning, 149;
Rinda courted by, 150–152, 195;
visits Norns, 156, 267;
Valkyrs attend, 160;
decree concerning Völund’s sword, 165;
Balder, son of, 182, 183;
Vala consulted by, 184–186;
cheered by Frigga, 187;
lends Sleipnir, 189;
whispers to Balder, 190;
Draupnir returned to, 194;
emblem of sky, 196;
Loki, brother of, 198;
trilogy, 199;
helps peasants, 201;
Sleipnir, horse of, 204;
Loki surprised by, 206;
visits giants, 211;
Sigi, son of, 225;
gives sword to Sigmund, 227, 233;
Helgi approved by, 236;
receives Sinfiotli, 237;
Sigurd advised by, 240, 244, 245;
visits Hreidmar, 241;
Brunhild punished by, 248;
comparisons between Greek divinities and, 277, 278, 279, 280, 283,
284, 286, 291.
ODENSÖ (ō´den-sē). Founded by Odin, 43.
ODUR (ō´do͝or). Freya’s husband, 125;
Freya finds, 126;
Freya’s search for, 127;
sunshine is, 129;
equivalents, 279, 285.
ŒNONE (ē-nō´ne). Compared to Brunhild, 292.
ŒTA (ē´tȧ). Northern equivalent for pyre on, 289.
OKOLNUR (o-kol´no͝or). Giants dwell in, 273.
OLAF (ō´läf). Destroys statues, 45, 82, 83, 118;
Yule changed by, 121;
Nornagesta visits, 158, 287;
giants in days of, 212.
OLAF, SIR. Captured by fairies, 222.
OLD NICK. Origin of name, 178.
OLDENBURG. Drinking horn, 214.
OLLER. Same as Uller, 131.
OLRUN (ol´ro͞on). Marries mortal, 163.
OLYMPUS (o-lim´pus). Northern equivalents, 276, 277, 278, 287.
OMENS. Wolves are good, 24.
OMPHALE (om´fa-lē). Northern equivalent for, 281.
OREADES (o-rē´a-dez). Compared to Northern divinities, 277.
ORGELMIR (ôr-gel´mir). Ice and fire giant, 11.
ORION (o-rī´on). Northern equivalents for, 47, 284, 286.
ORLOG (ôr´log). Irrevocable decrees of, 155, 186;
equivalent, 278.
ORMT. Thor wades across, 62.
ORPHEUS (ôr´fūs). Northern equivalents, 280, 283, 289, 292.
ORVANDIL (ôr-van´dil). Thor brings home, 76;
equivalent, 282.
OSTARA (os´tä-rȧ). Eástre, 57.
OTTAR. Freya helps, 128, 129.
OTTER. Slain by Loki, 241.
OXFORD. Yule at, 119.
PADERBORN (pä´der-born). Irminsul near, 36.
PARIS. Northern equivalent, 290, 292.
PEACE FRODI. Story of, 122.
PEACE STEADS. Of the gods, 18, 189.
PEGASUS (peg´ȧ-sus). Blodug-hofi compared to, 284.
PELIAS (pē´li-as). Northern equivalent, 282.
PENEUS (pe-nē´us). Northern equivalent, 288.
PENTECOST. Princess Ilse appeared at, 215.
PENTLAND FIRTH. Whirlpool in, 123.
PERSEUS (per´sūs). Northern equivalent, 287, 291.
PHAETHUSA (fā-e-thū´sa). Northern equivalent, 276.
PHAETON (fā´e-ton). Northern equivalent, 285.
PHILEMON (fi-lē´mon). Northern equivalent, 279.
PHILOCTETES (fil-ok-tē´tez). Northern equivalent for arrows of, 291.
PHŒBE (fē´be). Equivalent, 276.
PHŒBUS (fē´bus). Equivalent, 276.
PHŒNICIAN (fē-nish´an). Dwarfs compared to miners, 220.
PIED PIPER. Story of, 33, 34;
Greek equivalent, 280.
PLUTO. Northern equivalents, 275, 277, 281.
POLLUX (pol´uks). Northern equivalent, 292.
PRIAM (prī´am). Compared to Odin, 290.
PROCRIS (prō´kris). Northern equivalent, 277.
PROMETHEUS (prō-mē´thūs). Northern equivalent, 278, 289.
PROSERPINE (pros´er-pin). Northern equivalents for, 279, 281, 282,
283, 289.
PROTEUS (prō´tūs). Northern equivalent, 286.
PSYCHOPOMPUS (sī-ko-pŏm´pus). Compared to Odin, 280.
PUCKS. Same as dwarfs, 217.
PYRRHA (pir´ȧ). Northern equivalent, 290.
PYRRHUS (pir´us). Northern equivalent, 290.
PYTHON (pī´thon). Compared to Fafnir, 291.
QUICKBORN. Magic fountain of, 57.
RAGING HOST. Same as Wild Hunt, 30, 32.
RAGNAR LODBROG (rȧg´nar lŏd’brog). Aslaug marries, 249.
RAGNAROK (rȧg´nȧ-rŭk). Heimdall to announce, 21;
murder, precursor of, 204;
recruits for battle at, 236;
the tragedy of, 270;
comparisons, 273, 290;
Fenris dies at, 286.
RAN. Wife of Ægir, 172, 178;
sister of Loki, 199;
Loki makes a net like, 206;
Loki borrows net of, 242;
compared to Amphitrite, 288.
RANDWER. The death of, 260.
RAT TOWER. In the Rhine, 35.
RATATOSK (rä´tȧ-tusk). Squirrel, telltale, 20;
equivalent, 278.
RATI (rä´tē). Odin’s auger, 95.
REGIN (rā´gin). Sigurd educated by, 239;
the story of, 240–243;
Sigurd to slay Fafnir for, 243;
sword forged by, 244;
demands satisfaction, 245;
death of, 246.
REINE PÉDAUQUE (rān pe-dōk´). Frigga same as, 59.
RENOWN. Compared to Heimdall, 286.
RERIR (rā´rir). Son of Odin, receives apple, 51, 52, 226;
Greek equivalent for story of, 261.
RESURRECTION. Word whispered by Odin, 38, 190.
RHINE. Tower in the, 35;
gold of the, 164, 225;
divinity of the, 179, 288;
Lorelei in the, 179–81;
Brunhild and Gudrun bathe in the, 253;
hoard sunk in the, 257.
RIESENGEBIRGE (rē´zen-ge-bēr-ge). Giant mountains, 211, 290.
RIGER (rē´ger). Heimdall visits earth as, 141.
RINDA (rin´dȧ). Wife of Odin, 43, 195;
prophecy concerning, 146, 185;
Odin courts, 150, 195;
Greek equivalents, 277, 286.
RINGHORN. Balder’s pyre on, 190, 191;
Greek equivalent, 289.
RODENSTEIN (rō´den-stīn). Wild Hunt led by, 31, 32.
ROMANS. Æsir driven from Asia Minor by, 43;
Vitellius, prefect, 86;
Christianity, 224.
ROME. Tannhäuser visits, 56;
Vitellius, emperor of, 86.
ROSKVA (ros´kvȧ). Thor’s servant, 70.
ROSSTHIOF (ros´thēf). The prophecy of, 145, 150, 152, 185;
compared, 286.
ROSTERUS (ros´ter-us). Odin as smith, 151.
RÜGEN (rē´gen). Nerthus’s worship on island of, 59.
RUNES (ro͞onz). Odin masters and uses, 39, 94, 182, 185.
RUSSIA. Æsir migrate to, 43;
name for, 146.
RUTHENES. Odin visits the land of the, 146, 150.
SÆHRIMNIR (sā´hrim-nir). Boar in Valhalla, 27.
SÆMING (sā´ming). King of Norway, 44, 111.
SÆMUND (sā´mo͞ond). Compiler of Elder Edda, 224.
SAGA (sä´gä).
1. Wife of Odin, 43, 279.
2. Records called, 10, 87, 262, 272.
SAGITTARIUS. Northern equivalent, 132.
ST. GERTRUDE. Belief in, 130.
ST. GOAR. Lorelei at, 179.
ST. HUBERT. Uller is, 132.
ST. JOHN’S DAY. Celebrations, 197.
ST. MICHAEL. Bears Cheru’s sword, 88.
ST. VALENTINE. Replaces Vali, 153.
SARPEDON (sär-pē´don). Northern equivalent, 290.
SATAERE (sāt´ā-re). God of agriculture, 209.
SATAN. Same as Loki, 209.
SATURDAY. Sacred to Loki, 209.
SATURN. Equivalent, 209, 284.
SAXNOT. God of Saxons, 86;
Frey like, 112.
SAXON. Irmin, a god, 36;
Hengist and Horsa, 44;
Eástre, goddess, 57.
SAXONY. Conquered by Odin, 44.
SCALDS. Edda the work of, 10.
SCANDINAVIA. Worship in, 60, 108, 121, 223, 224;
fairies in, 222.
SCANDINAVIANS. Belief of the, 132, 147, 211, 212;
epic of the, 225;
topographical belief of the, 211.
SCHWARTZE SEE (shvärt´se sā). Nerthus’s car bathed in the, 60.
SCOURGE OF GOD. Attila the, 87, 262.
SCYLLA (sil´ä). Northern equivalent, 283.
SEASONS. The division of the, 17.
SEELAND. Gefjon plows, 53, 280.
SENJEMAND (sen´je-mänd). Story of giant, 212, 213.
SENJEN. Island of, 212, 213.
SESSRYMNIR (ses´rim-nir). Freya’s home is, 124.
SHAKESPEARE. Norns used by, 158.
SIBICH (sē´bikh). The traitor, 260.
“SIEGFRIED” (sēg´frēd). Wagner’s opera of, 225.
SIF. Wife of Thor, 64;
hair stolen, 65–68, 199;
Uller, son of, 131;
Loki slanders, 205, 206;
dwarfs make hair, 218;
comparisons, 281, 282.
SIGGEIR (sig´īr). Marriage feast of, 226–228;
treachery and death of, 228, 230, 233.
SIGI (sig´ē). Son of Odin, 44, 225;
comparison, 261.
SIGMUND (sig´mo͝ond). Völund’s sword for, 165;
brother of Signy, 227;
sword won by, 228;
a prisoner, 229;
the vow of, 230;
tests Signy’s sons, 231;
a werewolf, 232;
prisoner of Siggeir, 233;
escape and vengeance of, 234;
the son of, 236;
Hiordis, wife of, 237;
death of, 238;
Sigurd, son of, 239;
the sword of, 244;
comparisons, 261, 291.
SIGNY (sig´ni). Volsung’s daughter, 226–229;
vengeance of, 230–234.
SIGTUNA (sig-tū´nȧ). Odin founds, 43.
SIGURD (sē´go͞ord). Brunhild to marry, 165;
story of, 225;
birth of, 239;
Grani selected by, 240;
Regin speaks to, 243;
sword of, 244;
slays Fafnir, 245;
rides through flames, 247;
betrothal of, 248;
marriage of, 249;
Gudrun gives potion to, 250;
Gudrun, wife of, 251;
wooes Brunhild for Gunnar, 252;
awakening of, 253;
death of, 254–256;
funeral pyre of, 255;
Gudrun mourns, 257;
Atli slain with sword of, 260;
a sun myth, 261;
Greek equivalents, 287, 291, 292.
SIGYN (sē´gēn). Loki’s faithful wife, 200, 207.
SINDRI (sin´drē). Dwarf, smith, 67, 68;
king of dwarfs, 273.
SINDUR (sin´do͝or). A wave maiden, 137.
SINFIOTLI (sin-fe-ot´li). Birth and education of, 231;
Signy aids, 233;
vengeance of, 234;
career and death of, 235, 236.
SIR OLAF. Fairies beguile, 222.
SIRENS. Compared to Lorelei, 288.
SIRIUS (sir´i-us). Northern equivalent, 284.
SKADI (skä´dē). Wife of Odin, 43;
in Asgard, 108, 109;
wife of Niörd, 112, 124;
wife of Uller, 132;
punishes Loki, 207;
comparison, 284.
SKIALF (skyȧlf). Same as Freya, 125.
SKIDBLADNIR (skid-bläd´nir). Dvalin makes, 66, 218;
properties of, 66;
Frey owns, 68, 113;
comparison, 282.
SKIN-FAXI. Steed of Day, 15.
SKIOLD (shōld). King of Denmark, 44, 53.
SKIOLDINGS (shōld´ings). Descendants of, 53, 279.
SKIRNIR (skēr´nir). Servant of Frey, 90, 114, 117;
journey of, 114, 115, 285.
SKÖLL (skul). Wolf pursuing sun and moon, 16, 265, 290.
SKRYMIR (skrim´ir). Thor’s encounter with, 71, 72.
SKRYMSLI (skrims´lē). The story of giant, 201.
SKULD (sko͞old). One of the Norns called, 154, 155, 157, 159, 162.
SLAGFINN. Marries a Valkyr, 163.
SLEEPING BEAUTY. Origin of myth, 158.
SLEIPNIR (slīp´nir). Odin’s steed, 29, 39, 73, 75, 184, 268;
Hermod rides, 145, 189, 193;
Loki, parent of, 204, 290;
Grani, son of, 240.
SLID (slēd). Stream in Nifl-heim, 168.
SNOR. Wife of Karl, 142.
SNORRO-STURLESON (snor´rō-sto͞or´-lā-sun). Author of “Heimskringla,”
117.
SNOTRA (snō´trȧ). Goddess of virtue, 53.
SOKVABEK (so-kvä´bek). Home of Saga, 43;
comparison, 279.
SOL. The sun maid, 14, 264;
death of, 265, 270;
compared, 276.
SOMNUS. Northern equivalent for servants of, 291.
SON (sŏn). Bowl of expiation, 93.
SÖRLI (sēr´li). Son of Gudrun, 260, 261;
compared, 292.
SPARTAN KING. Equivalent, 291.
STEROPES. Northern equivalent, 284.
STRAW DEATH. Northern contempt for, 168.
STROMKARLS. Water divinities, 178, 179.
SUABIANS (swā´bi-ȧnz). Tyr, a god of the, 84.
SUDRI (sū´drē). Supports heavenly vault, 14.
SURTR (so͞ortr). Flame giant, 10;
progeny, 15;
world destroyed by, 21;
arrival of, 267, 268;
Frey slain by, 269;
world consumed by, 270.
SUTTUNG (so͝ot´to͞ong). The story of giant, 94, 95, 97.
SVADILFARE (svä´dil-fär-e). Horse of architect, 202, 203.
SVALIN (svä´lin). Shield tempered sun rays, 14.
SVANHVIT (svon´whit). Marries mortal, 163.
SVART-ALFA-HEIM (svärt-alf´a-hīm). Home of dwarfs, 18, 66, 90, 113,
127, 220.
SVART-ALFAR (svärt-alf´ar), 217.
SVASUD (svä´zood). Father of Summer, 17.
SWANHILD (swon´hild). Daughter of Gudrun, 256, 257, 260;
compared, 292.
SWEDEN. Landscapes of, 9;
May-day in, 42;
Odin conquers, 43, 44;
Gylfi, king of, 44, 52;
Thor in, 64;
Frey, king of, 122;
Frodi visits, 122;
Freya in, 124, 130;
Nidud, king of, 163;
miners in, 220.
SWITZERLAND. Giants in, 211.
SWORD DANCES, 84, 85.
SYN (sēn). Goddess of truth, 52.
SYR (sir). Same as Freya, 125.
TANNGNIOSTR (täng´nyos-ter). Thor’s goat, 64.
TANNGRISNR (tän´gris-ner). Thor’s goat, 64.
TANNHÄUSER (tän´hoi-zer). Story of, 56, 57;
equivalent for, 281.
TARNKAPPE (tärn´kap-pe). Invisible cap, 218.
TARTARUS (tär´tar-us). Northern equivalents, 275, 283, 288.
TELEMACHUS (te-lem´a-kus). Northern equivalent, 281.
TEUTON (tū´ton). Ostara, a goddess, 58.
TEUTONIC GODS, 209, 211.
THANATOS (than´a-tos). Same as Hel, 288.
THESEUS (thē´sūs). Northern equivalent, 291, 292.
THETIS (thē´tis). Northern equivalent for, 286.
THIALFI (te-älf´e). Servant of, 69, 70, 72, 80;
duel of, 74, 75;
Egil’s son, 174.
THIASSI (te-äs´se). Loki’s adventure with, 101;
Idun kidnapped, 102, 103, 104, 107–109, 199, 283;
Loki pursued by, 104, 108;
Gerda, relative of, 114;
the eyes of, 283, 284.
THING (ting). Northern popular assembly, 30, 128, 129.
THOK (tok). Loki as, 194, 196, 204;
comparison, 289.
THOR (thôr or tôr). Never crosses Bifröst, 21;
Jörd, mother of, 43;
toast to, 46;
god of thunder, 61–83;
infancy of, 61;
anger of, 61, 65;
description of, 62;
hat of, 64;
Alvis petrified by, 65;
Miölnir given to, 68;
drinking wager of, 72;
duel with Hrungnir, 74;
adventure with Geirrod, 80;
temples and statues of, 82;
Tyr like, 84;
giants hated by, 113, 211;
Yule sacred to, 118;
Brisinga-men worn by, 127;
Uller, stepson of, 131;
Grid’s gauntlet helps, 148;
kettle secured by, 174;
goes fishing, 175, 176, 177;
consecrates Balder’s pyre, 191;
visits Utgard-loki, 198;
slays architect, 204;
threatens Loki, 206;
slays Midgard snake, 269;
sons of, 271;
Greek equivalents, 281, 282, 290.
THORA (tō´rȧ). Wife of Elf, daughter of Hakon, 256.
THORBURN. Origin of name, 81.
THORN OF SLEEP. Brunhild stung by, 248.
THORWALDSEN (tôr´wald-sn). Origin of name, 81.
THRALL. Birth of, 141, 142.
THRIDI (trē´dē). One of the trilogy, 44.
THRONDHJEIM (trōnd´yem). Temple of Frey at, 118.
THRUD (tro͞od). Thor’s daughter, 64, 65.
THRUDGELMIR (tro͞od-gel´mir). Birth of giant, 12.
THRUD-HEIM (tro͞od´hīm). Thor’s realm, 61.
THRUNG (tro͞ong). Freya, 125.
THRYM (trim). Thor visits, 77, 78, 281, 282;
Freya refuses, 129;
son of Kari, 212.
THRYM-HEIM (trim´hīm). Home of Thiassi, 102;
Loki visits, 103, 104.
THUNDERER. Same as Odin, 277.
THUNDERHILL. Named after Thor, 81.
THURINGIA (thū-rin´ji-ȧ). Hörselberg in, 56;
giants in, 215.
THURSDAY. Sacred to Thor, 82, 282.
THURSES (to͞ors´ez). Giants called, 210.
THVERA (tvā´rȧ). Temple of Frey at, 118.
THVITI (tvē´ti). Bowlder where Fenris is bound, 92.
THYR (tir or tēr). Wife of Thrall, 141.
TITANIA. Queen of fairies, 223.
TITANS. Northern equivalents for, 275, 283, 290.
TITYUS (tit´i-us). Northern equivalent, 289.
TIU (tū). Same as Tyr, 84, 282.
TOASTS. To Odin, 45;
to Frigga, 46;
to Bragi, 99;
to Niörd and Frey, 111;
to Freya, 130.
TORGE (tôr´ge). Story of giant, 213.
TORGHATTEN (torg-hat´ten). Mountain, 213.
TREE MAIDENS. Elves same as, 223.
TRENT. Superstition along the, 173.
TROLLS. Dwarfs known as, 18, 213, 217, 220, 291.
TROY. Northern equivalent for siege of, 280.
TÜBINGEN (tē´bing-en). Worship of Tyr in, 92.
TUESDAY. Tyr’s day, 84.
TWELFTH-NIGHT. Wild Hunt at, 31;
festival, 59.
TWILIGHT OF THE GODS, 263, 273.
TYR (tēr). Son of Frigga, 43;
god of war, 84–92;
one arm, 88, 267;
feeds Fenris, 89;
like Frey, 112;
like Irmin, 144;
chains Fenris, 166;
accompanies Thor, 174–177;
fights Garm, 268;
death of, 269.
TYRFING (tēr´fing). Magic sword, 219.
TYROL (tĭr´ul). Story of flax in, 54.
TYR’S HELM. Aconite called, 92.
ULFRUN (o͝ol´froon). A wave maiden, 137.
ULLER (o͝ol´er). Skadi marries, 111;
winter-god, 131–133;
equivalents, 286.
ULYSSES (ū-lis´sez). Compared to Tannhäuser, 281.
UNDINES (un´dēnz). Female water divinities, 178, 179, 288.
UPSALA (up-sä´lȧ). Temple at, 44, 82, 280;
Ingvi-Frey at, 117;
mound at, 284.
URD (o͝ord). One of the Norns, 154, 155.
URDAR (o͝ord´ar). Fountain, 19, 20, 21, 62, 148, 154, 155, 186, 268.
UTGARD (o͝ot´gard). Realm of, 71, 72.
UTGARD-LOKI. Castle of, 71, 72, 73;
evil, 198;
Thor visits, 198.
VAFTHRUDNIR (väf-tro͞od´nir). Odin’s visit to, 37, 211, 279;
fulfillment of prediction, 266.
VAK (väk). Odin as, 151.
VALA (vä´lȧ). Druidess, 86;
grave of, 185.
VALAS. Norns called, 158;
Odin consults, 184.
VALASKIALF (vä´la-skyȧlf). Hall in Asgard, 25;
Vali in, 153.
VALENTINE. Vali as St., 153.
VALFATHER. Same as Odin, 26, 160.
VALFREYA. Same as Freya, 124.
VALHALLA (väl-häl´lȧ). Description of, 25–28, 38;
masters of, 62;
Hrungnir enters, 73;
Tyr welcomed to, 84;
Tyr’s warriors in, 88;
Bragi, bard of, 99;
heroes in, 141, 145, 235;
Vidar visits, 148;
Valkyrs choose guests for, 160, 162;
Ran’s hall rivals, 172;
mistletoe near, 184, 188;
Helgi promised, 234, 235;
Gudrun returns to, 236;
Fialar above, 265;
host of, 268.
VALI (vä´lē). Emblem of spring, 43.
1. The avenger, 150–153, 186;
slays Hodur, 195;
survival of, 271.
2. Son of Loki, 200, 207.
VALKYRS (val´kirz). Attendants of Odin, 26;
of the heroes, 26, 28;
of Tyr, 88;
led by Freya, 124;
accompany Hermod, 145;
Skuld a, 159;
general account of, 160–165;
Helgi marries a, 235;
Gudrun a, 236;
Brunhild a, 248;
Freya a, 285;
Hebe compared to the, 287.
VALPURGISNACHT (väl-po͞or´gēs-nähkt). Witches’ dance on, 130, 159.
VALTAM (väl´tam). Vegtam, son of, 185.
VAN. Niörd a, 22, 284.
VANA-HEIM. Home of the Vanas, 21, 22, 107, 112, 124.
VANABRIDE. Freya, 124.
VANADIS (văn´ȧ-dis). Freya, 124.
VANAS. Sea and wind gods, 21, 112, 124, 139, 171;
quarrel between the Æsir and the, 93, 107;
comparisons, 271, 278.
VANDALS. Story of Winilers and, 49, 280.
VARA (vä´rȧ). Oath keeper, 53.
VASUD (vä´so͞od). Father of Vindsual, 17.
VE (vā). Creation of, 12, 19, 278;
replaces Odin, 42, 132;
equivalent, 275.
VECHA (vech´ȧ). Odin as, 151.
VEDFOLNIR (ved-fol´nir). Falcon, reporter, 20.
VEGTAM (veg´tam). Odin, 185.
VEIMER (vī´mer). Thor fords, 80, 282.
VELEDA. Warns Drusus, 159.
VENEUR DE FONTAINEBLEAU (vēn-ur duh fōn-tān-blō´). Wild Huntsman, 32.
VENUS. Northern equivalents for, 279, 282, 285, 291.
VERDANDI (vēr-dän´dē). Norn of present, 154;
beneficent ways of, 155.
VESPASIAN (ves-pā´shan). Election of, 87.
VIDAR (vē´där). Parents of, 43;
story of, 147–149;
slays Fenris, 269;
the survival of, 153, 271;
comparisons, 286, 290.
VIENNA. Customs in, 120, 121.
VIGRID (vig´rid). Last battle on plain of, 38, 208, 266, 268, 271.
VIKINGS (vī´kingz). Valkyrs take, 161.
VILI (vē´lē). Creation, 12, 19, 278;
replaces Odin, 42, 132;
comparison, 275.
VINDSUAL (vind´su-al). Father of Winter, 17.
VINGNIR (ving´nir). Foster father of Thor, 61.
VINGOLF (ving´golf). Tyr welcome in, 84.
VINGTHOR (ving´tôr). Same as Thor, 61.
VINLAND. Norse settlement in, 224.
VIRGIN. Sponge called hand of, 111;
health of, 130.
VITELLIUS. Has Cheru’s sword, 86, 87.
VJOFN (vyofn). Goddess of concord, 52.
VOLLA. Same as Fulla, 50, 51.
VOLSUNG (vol´so͝ong). Saga of, 225, 292;
birth of, 52, 226;
career and death of, 225–230;
descendants of, 231, 235, 238, 261.
VÖLUND (vēl-oond). Story of the smith, 163–165, 287.
VÖLUNDARHAUS (vēl´oond-ar-hous’). Maze, 164;
compared to Cretan labyrinth, 287.
VON. River from Fenris’s mouth, 92.
VÖR (vēr). Same as Faith, 53.
VROU-ELDE (vrou-eld´e). Same as Frigga, 59.
VROU-ELDEN-STRAAT. Milky Way in Holland, 59.
VULCAN. Northern equivalents for, 277, 285, 287, 291.
VULDER (vo͝ol´der). Same as Uller, 132.
WAGNER. Four operas from Volsunga Saga, 225.
WAIN. Same as Great Bear, 36.
WANDERER. Same as Odin, 37.
WAVES. Ægir’s daughters, 173, 288.
WEDNESDAY. Sacred to Odin, 45.
WELDEGG. King of East Saxony, 44.
WEREWOLF. Sigmund a, 232.
WESER (vā´zer). Rats drowned in, 33.
WEST SAXONY. Conquered by Odin, 44.
WESTERBURG. Ilse loves knight of the, 215.
WESTRI (wes´trē). Dwarf supporting heavenly vault, 14.
WHITE LADY. Last appearance of, 58, 59.
WILD HUNT. Leaders of, 30, 32, 59, 132.
WILD HUNTSMAN, 30, 32.
WILL-O’-THE-WISP. Mediæval superstition concerning, 222.
WIND. Waves play with, 173.
WINGI (wing´ē). Same as Knefrud, 257.
WINILERS (win´i-lerz). Story of Vandals and, 49, 280.
WINTER. Odin supplanted by, 42.
WODE (wō´da). Same as Frigga, 59.
WODEN. Same as Odin, 23, 30, 45.
WODEN’S DAY. Same as Wednesday, 45.
WOOD MAIDENS. Elves known as, 223.
WUOTAN (wō´tan). Same as Odin, 23, 59.
WURD (wo͝ord). Same as Urd, 155.
WYRD (wērd). Mother of Norns, 148, 149.
YDALIR (ē-däl´ir). Abode of Uller, 131.
YGGDRASIL (ig´drȧ-sil). Creation of, 19;
stags pasture on, 20;
assembly under, 21;
spear from, 37;
Odin hangs from, 39;
Thor goes to, 62;
Idun falls from, 105;
Bifröst reaches to, 137;
Giallar-horn hung on, 138;
Norns dwell under, 154;
Nidhug eats, 169, 265;
consumed, 269;
comparison, 283.
YMIR (ē´mir). Giant of fire and ice, 11;
sleep of, 12;
death of, 12, 210;
earth created from, 13;
dwarfs from, 17, 217, 277;
Fornjotnr same as, 199, 212;
comparisons, 275, 277.
YOUNGER EDDA. Gylfi’s delusion described in the, 44.
YULE. Month and festival of, 118, 119.
YULE LOG, 121.
YULE-TIDE, 82, 99.
ZEPHYRUS (zef´i-rus). Frey like, 284.
ZEUS (zūs). Northern equivalents for, 280.
ZIU (zū). Same as Tyr, 84.
ZIUSBURG (zūz´berg). Same as Augsburg, 84.
Transcriber’s Notes
Punctuation, hyphenation, and spelling were made consistent when a
predominant preference was found in the original book; otherwise they
were not changed.
Simple typographical errors were corrected; unbalanced quotation
marks were remedied when the change was obvious, and otherwise left
unbalanced.
Illustrations in this eBook have been positioned between paragraphs
and outside quotations. In versions of this eBook that support
hyperlinks, the page references in the List of Illustrations lead to
the corresponding illustrations.
Printer’s placement designations omitted from illustrations.
The index was not checked for proper alphabetization or correct page
references.
In the Plain Text version of this ebook, o͞o indicates a macron above
oo, o͝o indicates a breve above oo, and y̆ indicates a breve above
y. These diacritics displayed directly above the oo’s and the y in
Browsers, as they did in the original book.