Myths of the Norsemen Part 21

In the course of a walk along the sea-sh.o.r.e Odin once beheld nine beautiful giantesses, the wave maidens, Gialp, Greip, Egia, Augeia, Ulfrun, Aurgiafa, Sindur, Atla, and Iarnsaxa, sound asleep on the white sand. The G.o.d of the sky was so charmed with these beautiful creatures that, as the Eddas relate, he wedded all nine of them, and they combined, at the same moment, to bring forth a son, who received the name of Heimdall.

"Born was I of mothers nine, Son I am of sisters nine."

Saemund's Edda (Thorpe's tr.).

The nine mothers proceeded to nourish their babe on the strength of the earth, the moisture of the sea, and the heat of the sun, which singular diet proved so strengthening that the new G.o.d acquired his full growth in a remarkably short s.p.a.ce of time, and hastened to join his father in Asgard. He found the G.o.ds proudly contemplating the rainbow bridge Bifrost, which they had just constructed out of fire, air, and water, the three materials which can still plainly be seen in its long arch, where glow the three primary colours: the red representing the fire, the blue the air, and the green the cool depths of the sea.

The Guardian of the Rainbow

This bridge connected heaven and earth, and ended under the shade of the mighty world-tree Yggdrasil, close beside the fountain where Mimir kept guard, and the only drawback to prevent the complete enjoyment of the glorious spectacle, was the fear lest the frost-giants should make their way over it and so gain entrance into Asgard.

The G.o.ds had been debating the advisability of appointing a trustworthy guardian, and they hailed the new recruit as one well-fitted to fulfil the onerous duties of the office.

Heimdall gladly undertook the responsibility and henceforth, night and day, he kept vigilant watch over the rainbow highway into Asgard.

"Bifrost i' th' east shone forth in brightest green; On its top, in snow-white sheen, Heimdal at his post was seen."

Oehlenschlager (Pigott's tr.).

To enable their watchman to detect the approach of any enemy from afar, the a.s.sembled G.o.ds bestowed upon him senses so keen that he is said to have been able to hear the gra.s.s grow on the hillside, and the wool on the sheep's back; to see one hundred miles off as plainly by night as by day; and with all this he required less sleep than a bird.

"'Mongst s.h.i.+vering giants wider known Than him who sits unmoved on high, The guard of heaven, with sleepless eye."

Lay of Skirner (Herbert's tr.).

Heimdall was provided further with a flas.h.i.+ng sword and a marvellous trumpet, called Giallar-horn, which the G.o.ds bade him blow whenever he saw their enemies approach, declaring that its sound would rouse all creatures in heaven, earth, and Nifl-heim. Its last dread blast would announce the arrival of that day when the final battle would be fought.

"To battle the G.o.ds are called By the ancient Gjallar-horn.

Loud blows Heimdall, His sound is in the air."

Saemund's Edda (Thorpe's tr.).

To keep this instrument, which was a symbol of the crescent moon, ever at hand, Heimdall either hung it on a branch of Yggdrasil above his head or sank it in the waters of Mimir's well. In the latter it lay side by side with Odin's eye, which was an emblem of the moon at its full.

Heimdall's palace, called Himinbiorg, was situated on the highest point of the bridge, and here the G.o.ds often visited him to quaff the delicious mead which he set before them.

"'Tis Himminbjorg called Where Heimdal, they say, Hath dwelling and rule.

There the G.o.ds' warder drinks, In peaceful old halls, Gladsome the good mead."

Norse Mythology (R. B. Anderson).

Heimdall was always depicted in resplendent white armour, and he was therefore called the bright G.o.d. He was also known as the light, innocent, and graceful G.o.d, all of which names he fully deserved, for he was as good as he was beautiful, and all the G.o.ds loved him. Connected on his mothers' side with the sea, he was sometimes included with the Vanas; and as the ancient Northmen, especially the Icelanders, to whom the surrounding sea appeared the most important element, fancied that all things had risen out of it, they attributed to him an all-embracing knowledge and imagined him particularly wise.

"Of aesir the brightest-- He well foresaw Like other Vanir."

Saemund's Edda (Thorpe's tr.).

Heimdall was further distinguished by his golden teeth, which flashed when he smiled, and won for him the surname of Gullintani (golden-toothed). He was also the proud possessor of a swift, golden-maned steed called Gull-top, which bore him to and fro over the quivering rainbow bridge. This he crossed many times a day, but particularly in the early morn, at which time, as herald of the day, he bore the name of Heimdellinger.

"Early up Bifrost Ran Ulfrun's son, The mighty hornblower Of Himinbiorg."

Saemund's Edda (Thorpe's tr.).

Loki and Freya

His extreme acuteness of hearing caused Heimdall to be disturbed one night by the sound of soft, catlike footsteps in the direction of Freya's palace, Folkvang. Projecting his eagle gaze through the darkness, Heimdall perceived that the sound was produced by Loki, who, having stealthily entered the palace as a fly, had approached Freya's bedside, and was trying to steal her s.h.i.+ning golden necklace, Brisinga-men, the emblem of the fruitfulness of the earth.

Heimdall saw that the G.o.ddess was resting in her sleep in such a way that no one could possibly unclasp the necklace without awaking her. Loki stood hesitatingly by the bedside for a few moments, and then began rapidly to mutter the runes which enabled the G.o.ds to change their form at will. As he did this, Heimdall saw him shrivel up until he was changed to the size and form of a flea, when he crept under the bed-clothes and bit Freya's side, thus causing her to change her position without being roused from sleep.

The clasp was now in view, and Loki, cautiously unfastening it, secured the coveted treasure, and forthwith proceeded to steal away with it. Heimdall immediately started out in pursuit of the midnight thief, and quickly overtaking him, he drew his sword from its scabbard, with intent to cut off his head, when the G.o.d transformed himself into a flickering blue flame. Quick as thought, Heimdall changed himself into a cloud and sent down a deluge of rain to quench the fire; but Loki as promptly altered his form to that of a huge polar bear, and opened wide his jaws to swallow the water. Heimdall, nothing daunted, then likewise a.s.sumed the form of a bear, and attacked fiercely; but the combat threatening to end disastrously for Loki, the latter changed himself into a seal, and, Heimdall imitating him, a last struggle took place, which ended in Loki being forced to give up the necklace, which was duly restored to Freya.

In this myth, Loki is an emblem of drought, or of the baleful effects of the too ardent heat of the sun, which comes to rob the earth (Freya) of its most cherished ornament (Brisinga-men). Heimdall is a personification of the gentle rain and dew, which after struggling for a while with his foe, the drought, eventually conquers him and forces him to relinquish his prize.

Heimdall's Names

Heimdall has several other names, among which we find those of Hallinskide and Irmin, for at times he takes Odin's place and is identified with that G.o.d, as well as with the other sword-G.o.ds, Er, Heru, Cheru and Tyr, who are all noted for their s.h.i.+ning weapons. He, however, is most generally known as warder of the rainbow, and G.o.d of heaven, and of the fruitful rains and dews which bring refreshment to the earth.

Heimdall also shared with Bragi the honour of welcoming heroes to Valhalla, and, under the name of Riger, was considered the divine sire of the various cla.s.ses which compose the human race, as appears in the following story:

The Story of Riger

"Sacred children, Great and small, Sons of Heimdall!"

Saemund's Edda (Thorpe's tr.).

Heimdall left his place in Asgard one day to wander upon the earth, as the G.o.ds were wont to do. He had not gone far ere he came to a poor hut on the seash.o.r.e, where he found Ai (great grandfather) and Edda (great grandmother), a poor but worthy couple, who hospitably invited him to share their meagre meal of porridge. Heimdall, who gave his name as Riger, gladly accepted this invitation, and remained with the couple three whole days, teaching them many things. At the end of that time he left to resume his journey. Some time after his visit, Edda bore a dark-skinned thick-set boy, whom she called Thrall.

Thrall soon showed uncommon physical strength and a great apt.i.tude for all heavy work; and when he had grown up he took to wife Thyr, a heavily built girl with sunburnt hands and flat feet, who, like her husband, laboured early and late. Many children were born to this couple and from them all the serfs or thralls of the Northland were descended.