The Gods of the North: an epic poem. Adam Oehlenschläger
in the shape of an eagle, causes tempests by the flapping of his wings. Etym.: hrosi (corpse), and svelge (swallow), the wind being the cleanser of all impurities.
HRUGNER, name of a giant made of stone, and animated by the giants, in order to aid them in the conflict with the Asar. Within his breast, instead of a heart, he had a three-corner stone. He typifies probably a volcano, since in the Icelandic tongue Hrungnir signifies “something that makes a violent noise.” Hrugner was slain by Thor.
HUGIN and MUNIN, names given to Odin’s two ravens, who descend to earth, and bring back to him the news from the nether world; when not employed as messengers, they perch themselves on Odin’s shoulders. By Hugin is meant “thought,” and by Munin “memory.”
HVERGELMER, name of a source or fountain in Niffelheim. Etym.: Hver (urn or kettle), and gamla (old).
HYMIR, name of a giant, with whom Thor goes a-fishing in the disguise of a peasant lad. He catches the serpent Jormundgard, but Hymir files in two the anchor which served as a hook, and the serpent escapes.
IDA, IDAVALLEN, name of the plain, on which the resuscitated Asar and the human race are to be assembled by Vidar, after the reconstruction of the world.
IDUNA, name of an Asynia, wife of Bragur. She is the guardian of the golden vase, containing the apples of immortality, the juice of which gives to the gods perpetual youth, health and beauty. She was once carried off from Asagard by the giant Thiasse, aided by the treachery of Asa Lok; and the gods became at once old and feeble; but when Iduna was recovered, and brought back to Valhalla with her precious vase, the gods recovered all their power and advantageous attributes. This mythe of Iduna’s apples has its parallel in the Amreeta (drink of immortality) in the Hindoo mythology.
ISSEFIORD, name of a large creek or fiord, in the island of Sealand (Denmark), lying towards the north.
JETTE, pl. JETTER, JOTUN. So were called the evil genii or giants of the Gothic mythology. Historically, they were probably the aboriginal inhabitants of Scandinavia, and were of Celtic race, with black hair. Being engaged in continual and deadly warfare with the Asar or Goths, from the time of Odin’s invasion, these last may have, from a spirit of national hatred, transferred the appellation Jotun to the evil genii of their own mythology, before that epoch termed Hrimthusser. In spite, however, of the hatred and jealousy between the Asar and Jetter, they sometimes, like the Spaniards and Moors, formed political and also matrimonial alliances.
JORMUNGARD, name of the mythologic serpent, called also the serpent of Midgard. This serpent was offspring of Asa Lok, by the giantess Angurbod. His enormous size and frightful appearance excited such terror in the breast of the gods, that they hurled him down into the ocean that surrounds Midgard. There he is to remain until Ragnarok. On that day he will join the giants in the battle against the gods, and will be slain by Thor; but Thor will perish himself immediately after, from the effect of the serpent’s venom. This serpent is represented by the poets as holding his tail in his mouth, and is no doubt an emblem of the great Ocean, which was thought in those times to encircle the earth. His venom represents the dangerous effects of humidity. In the Hindoo mythology, there is the serpent Naga, which typifies the Ocean. Etym.: jord (earth), munr (mouth), gard (inclosure).
JOTUN (giant); see Jette and Giant.
JOTUNHEIM, peculiar province of the Jotun or giants in Utgard. Geographically, it is thought to denote Siberia.
LAUFEY, or LAUFEIA, name of a giantess, the mother of Asa Lok.
LEIRE, name of the ancient capital of Denmark, situated on the Issefiord, in Sealand. Leire was the theatre of many an important event. The modern city of Roskild is very near the spot, where Leire once stood.
LIF and LIFTRASIR, names of two mythological beings, who remain concealed in the wood of Hoddmimer, at the destruction of the world, and from whom the new race of men are to spring; these beings are purely allegorical, for lif signifies “life,” and liftrasir “producer of life.”
LINDERNÆS, name of a promontory on the southern coast of Norway, in the canton of Mandal.
LODER, an Asa, who conferred beauty on mankind; by some he is confounded with Ve, the third person of the Scandinavian mythologic triad.
LOFNA, name of an Asynia, who presided over marriage. Etym.: Icelandic verb lofa (to promise, to betroth).
LOK, ASA LOK, UTGARD LOK. In the Gothic mythology, there are two important personages of the name of Lok or Loke, in the earliest times perhaps identic, but in the latter divided; namely Lok of Utgard, the supreme ruler of the giants or malevolent spirits, belonging to our world’s system, who dwells in and rules over Utgard; and Asa Lok, originally of giant race, but admitted among the Asar. According to Ling, a modern Swedish poet, in the notes to his poem, called Asarne (the Asar), the mythe of the two Loks is thus explained: Utgard Lok represents the subterranean fire and its destructive effects, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions; Asa Lok represents the deleterious qualities of the air, such as tempests and unwholesome exhalations. In my opinion, the most simple explanation of this mythe would be as follows: Utgard Lok typifies physical evils and calamities, and in this respect he resembles the Siva of the Hindoos; as possessor of subterranean riches, he resembles the Plutus of the Greeks, who, as we are told, was related to Pluto. Asa Lok is the type of moral evil, or the propensity to vice in human nature, which has been personified by the Orientals, under the various names of Satan, Ahrimanes, Belial and Eblis. The punishment inflicted on Asa Lok for his treachery has been already related. At Ragnarok, he will break his chain, and join in combat with the giants against the gods. He and Heimdal will destroy each other.
LOPTUR, a name given to Asa Lok; it means one who runs through the air.
MALSTROM, name of the famous whirlpool on the coast of Norway, near Lofoden. Malstrom signifies “millstream.” It is called by the Skalds the mill of Ægir.
MAANEGARM, name of the mythologic winged goblin, who constantly pursues the moon (maane), and will swallow her up at Ragnarok.
MANHEIM (abode of man), a name often given to Midgard, or the earth.
MEGINGARD (girdle of strength), name of Thor’s belt, which had the faculty of doubling his force when he girded himself with it.
MIDGARD, name given to the earth, as being in the middle region between Asagard and Utgard.
MIMER, an Asa, the god of eloquence and of wisdom; he sits by the wave of Urda, called the fountain of wisdom, of which he is the guardian, and which springs near the ash-tree Yggdrassil. Urda is the destiny of the past, so that the allegory is clear; by consulting the records of the past, we gain wisdom and experience.
MIÖLNER (breaker in pieces), name of Thor’s hammer, type of the thunderbolt.
MOKKURKALF, name of a gigantic figure made of clay, and animated by the giants, that he might aid them against Thor. They gave to him the heart of a horse. This may allude to the custom among many heathen nations of consecrating an idol of clay, wood or stone, by putting therein the heart of a man, or of some animal. Mokkurkalf was slain by Tialf.
MUSPEL, MUSPELHEIM, name given to the region of fire and heat which lies to the south of Ginnungagap, and from whence at Ragnarok, Surtur will collect flames, and set fire to the universe. Flames are often termed by the Scalds “the children of Muspel.”
NAGLEFARE (ship of nails), name of a bark or vessel built by the giants. As its name imports, it was