AGNAR. A son of King Hraudung and foster-son of Frigg. Agnar.

AGNAR. A son of King Geirrod. He serves drink to Grimner (Odin). Agnar.

ALFR. An elf, fairy; a class of beings like the dwarfs, between gods and men. They were of two kinds: elves of light (Ljosalfar) and elves of darkness (Dokkalfar). The abode of the elves is Alfheimr, fairy-land, and their king is the god Frey. Elf.

ALFODR or ALFADIR [Father of all]. The name of Odin as the supreme god. Allfather.

ALFHEIMR. Elf-land, fairy-land. Frey’s dwelling. Alfheim.

ALSVIDR. The all-wise. One of the horses of the sun. Alsvid.

ALVISS. The dwarf who answers Thor’s questions in the lay of Alvis. Alvis.

AMSVARTNIR. The name of the sea, in which the island was situated where the wolf Fenrer was chained. Amsvartner.

ANNARR or ONARR. Husband of night and father of Jord (the earth). Annar.

ANDHRIMNIR. The cook in Valhal. Andhrimner.

ANDVARI. The name of a pike-shaped dwarf; the owner of the fatal ring called Andvaranautr. Andvare.

ANDVARAFORS. The force or waterfall in which the dwarf Andvare kept himself in the form of a pike fish. Andvare-Force.

ANDVARANAUTR. The fatal ring given Andvare (the wary spirit). Andvarenaut.

ANGANTYR. He has a legal dispute with Ottar Heimske, who is favored by Freyja. Angantyr.

ANGEYJA. One of Heimdal’s nine mothers. The Elder Edda says in the Lay of Hyndla : Nine giant maids gave birth to the gracious god, at the world’s margin. These are: Gjalp, Greip, Eistla, Angeyja, Ulfrun, Eyrgjafa, Imd, Atla, and Jarnsaxa. Angeyja.

ANGRBODA [Anguish-creating]. A giantess; mother of the Fenris-wolf by Loke. Angerboda.

ARVAKR [Early awake]. The name of one of the horses of the sun. Aarvak.

ASS or AS; plural ÆSIR. The asas, gods. The word appears in such English names as Osborn, Oswald, etc. With an n it is found in the Germ. Ansgar (Anglo-Sax. Oscar). The term aesir is used to distinguish Odin, Thor, etc., from the vanir (vans). Asa.

ASA-LOKI. Loke, so called to distinguish him from Utgard-Loke, who is a giant. Asa-Loke.

ASA-THORR. A common name for Thor. Asa-Thor.

ASGARDR. The residence of the gods (asas). Asgard.

ASKR. The name of the first man created by Odin, Hœner and Loder. Ask.

ASYNJA; plural ASYNJUR. A goddess; feminine of Ass. Asynje.

ATLA. One of Heimdal’s nine mothers. Atla.

AUDHUMLA; also written AUDHUMBLA. The cow formed from the frozen vapors resolved into drops. She nourished the giant Ymer. Audhumbla.

AURBODA. Gymer’s wife and Gerd’s mother. Aurboda.

AURGELMIR: A giant; grandfather of Bergelmer; called also Ymer. Aurgelmer.

AUSTRI. A dwarf presiding over the east region. Austre. East.

B

BALDR. God of the summer-sunlight. He was son of Odin and Frigg; slain by Hoder, at the instigation of Loke. He returns after Ragnarok. His dwelling is Breidablik. Balder.

BARREY. A pleasant grove in which Gerd agreed with Skirner to meet Frey. Barey.

BAUGI. A brother of Suttung, for whom (Baugi) Odin worked one summer in order to get his help in obtaining Suttung’s mead of poetry. Bauge.

BELI. A giant, brother of Gerd, who was slain by Frey. Bele.

BERGELMIR. A giant; son of Thrudgelmer and grandson of Aurgelmer. Bergelmer.

BESTLA. Wife of Bur and mother of Odin. Bestla.

BEYLA. Frey’s attendant; wife of Bygver. Beyla.

BIFROST. [To tremble; the trembling way]. The rainbow. Bifrost.

BILSKIRNIR. The heavenly abode of Thor, from the flashing of light in the lightning. Bilskirner.

BOLTHORN. A giant; father of Bestla, Odin’s mother. Bolthorn.

BOLVERKR [Working terrible things]. An assumed name of Odin, when he went to get Suttung’s mead. Bolverk.

BODN. One of the three vessels in which the poetical mead was kept. Hence poetry is called the wave of the bodn. Bodn.

BORR [burr, a son; Scotch bairn]. A son of Bure and father of Odin, Vile and Ve. Bor.

BRAGI. The god of poetry. A son of Odin. He is the best of skalds. Brage.

BREIDABLIK. [Literally to gleam, twinkle]. Balder’s dwelling. Breidablik.

BRISINGAMEN. Freyja’s necklace or ornament. Brisingamen.

BURL. The father of Bor. He was produced by the cow’s licking the stones covered with rime, frost. Bure.

BYGGVIR. Frey’s attendant; Beyla’s husband. Bygver.

BYLEIPTR [Flame of the dwelling]. The brother of Loke. Byleipt.

D

DAGR [Day]. Son of Delling. Dag.

DAINN. A hart that gnaws the branches of Ygdrasil. Daain.

DELLINGR [Dayspring]. The father of Day. Delling.

DIS; plural DISIR. Attendant spirit or guardian angel. Any female mythic being may be called Dis. Dis.

DRAUPNIR. Odin’s ring. It was put on Balder’s funeral-pile. Skirner offered it to Gerd. Draupner.

DROMI. One of the fetters by which the Fenris-wolf was chained. Drome.

DUNLYRR, Harts that gnaw the branches of Ygdrasil.

DURAPROP. Durathror.

DURINN. A dwarf, second in degree. Durin.

DVALINN. A dwarf. Dvalin.

DVERGR. A dwarf. In modern Icelandic lore dwarfs disappear, but remain in local names, as Dverga-steinn, and in several words and phrases. From the belief that dwarfs lived in rocks an echo is called dwerg-mal (dwarf talk), and dwerg-mala means to echo. The dwarfs were skilled in metal-working.

E

EDDA. The literal meaning of the word is great-grandmother, but the term is usually applied to the mythological collection of poems discovered by Brynjolf Sveinsson in the year 1643. He, led by a fanciful and erroneous suggestion, gave to the book which he found the name Sæmundar Edda, Edda of Sæmund. This is the so-called Elder Edda. The Younger Edda, is a name applied to a work written by Snorre Sturleson, and contains old mythological lore and the old artificial rules for verse-making. The ancients applied the name Edda only to this work of Snorre. The Elder Edda was never so called. And it is also uncertain whether Snorre himself knew his work by the name of Edda. In the Rigsmal (Lay of Rig) Edda is the progenitrix of the race of thralls.

EGOIR. An eagle that appears at Ragnarok. Egder.

EGILL. The father of Thjalfe; a giant dwelling near the sea. Thor left his goats with him when on his way to the giant Hymer to get a vessel in which to brew ale.

EIKTHYRNIR. A hart that stands over Odin’s hall (Valhal). From his antlers drops water from which rivers flow. Eikthyrner.

FINHERI; plural EINHERJAR. The only (ein) or great champions; the heroes who have fallen in battle and been admitted into Valhal. Einherje.

EIR [The word signifies peace, clemency]. An attendant of Menglod, and the most skillful of all in the healing art. Eir.

EISTLA. One of Heimdal’s nine mothers. Eistla.

ELDHRIMNIR. The kettle in which the boar Saehrimner is cooked in Valhal. Eldhrimner.

ELDIR. The fire-producer; a servant of Æger. Elder.

ELIVAGAR. The ice-waves; poisonous cold streams that flow out of Niflheim. Elivagar.

EMBLA. The first woman. The gods found two lifeless trees, the ask (ash) and the embla; of the ash they made man, of the embla, woman.

EYRGJAFA. One of Heimdal’s nine mothers. Eyrgjafa.

F

FAVNIR. Son of Hreidmar. He kills his father to get possession of the Andvarenaut. He afterwards changes himself into a dragon and guards the treasure on Gnitaheath. He is slain by Sigurd, and his heart is roasted and eaten. Fafner.

FALHOFNIR [Hollow-hoof]. One of the horses of the gods. Falhofner.

FARBAUTI [Ship-destroyer]. The father of Loke. Farbaute.

FENRIR or FENRISULFR. The monster-wolf. He is the son of Loke, who bites the hand of Tyr. The gods put him in chains, where he remains until Ragnarok. In Ragnarok he gets loose, swallows the sun and conquers Odin, but is killed by Vidar. Fenrer or Fenris-wolf.

FENSALIR. The abode of Frigg. Fensal.

FJALAR. A misnomer for Skrymer, in whose glove Thor took shelter. Fjalar.

FJALAR. A dwarf, who slew Kvaser, and composed from his blood the poetic mead. Fjalar.

FJALAR. A cock that crows at Ragnarok. Fjalar.

FIMAFENGR. The nimble servant of Æger. He was slain by the jealous Loke. Fimafeng.

FIMBUL. It means mighty great. In the mythology it appears as:

FIMBULFAMBI. A might fool. Fimbulfambe.

FIMBULTYR. The mighty god, great helper (Odin). Fimbultyr.

FIMBULVETR [vetr, winter]. The great and awful winter of three years’ duration preceding the end of the world. Fimbul-winter.

FIMBULTHUL. A heavenly river. Fimbulthul.

FIMBULTHULR. The great wise man. Fimbulthuler.

FJOLNIR. One of Odin’s many names. Fjolner.

FJORGYN. A personification of the earth; mother of Thor. Fjorgyn.

FOLKVANGR. [Paradise, a field]. The folk-field. Freyja’s dwelling. Folkvang.

FORNJOTR. The most ancient giant. He was father of Æger, or Hler, the god of the ocean; of Loge, flame or fire, and of Kaare, wind. His wife was Ran. These divinities are generally regarded as belonging to an earlier mythology, probably to that of the Fins or Celts. Fornjot.

FORSETI [The fore-sitter, president, chairman]. Son of Balder and Nanna. His dwelling is Glitner, and his office is that of a peacemaker. Forsete.

FRANANGRS-FORS. The force or waterfall into which Loke, in the likeness of a salmon, cast himself, and where the gods caught him and bound him. Fraananger-Force.

FREKI. One of Odin’s wolves. Freke.

FREYJA [Feminine of Freyr]. The daughter of Njord and sister of Frey. She dwells in Folkvang. Half the fallen in battle belong to her, the other half to Odin. She lends her feather disguise to Loke. She is the goddess of love. Her husband is Oder. Her necklace is Brisingamen. She has a boar with golden bristles. Freyja.

FREYR. He is son of Njord, husband of Skade, slayer of Bele, and falls in conflict with Surt in Ragnarok. Alfheirn was given him as a tooth-gift. The ship Skidbladner was built for him. He falls in love with Gerd, Gymer’s fair daughter. He gives his trusty sword to Skirner. Frey.

FRIGG. [Love]. She is the wife of Odin, and mother of Balder and queen of the gods, and reigns with Odin in Hlidskjalf. She exacts an oath from all things that they shall not harm Balder. Frigg.

FULLA [Fullness]. Frigg’s attendant. She takes care of Frigg’s toilette, clothes and slippers. Nanna sent her a finger-ring from Helheim. She is represented as wearing her hair flowing over her shoulders. Fulla.

G

GALAR. One of two dwarfs who killed Kvaser. Fjalar was the other. Galar.

GAGNRADE. A name assumed by Odin when he went to visit Vafthrudner. Gagnraad.

GANGLERI. One of Odin’s names in Grimner’s Lay. Ganglere.

GANGLERI. A name assumed by King Gylfe when he came to Asgard. Ganglere.

GARDROFA. The goddess Gnaa has a horse by name Hofvarpner. The sire of this horse is Hamskerper, and its mother is Gardrofa. Gardrofa.

GARMR. A dog that barks at Ragnarok. He is called the largest and best among dogs. Garm.

GEFJUN or GEFJON. A goddess. She is a maid, and all those who die maids become her maid-servants. She is present at Æger’s feast. Odin says she knows men’s destinies as well as he does himself. Gefjun.

GEIRRODR. A son of King Hraudung and foster-son of Odin; he becomes king and is visited by Odin, who calls himself Grimner. He is killed by his own sword. There is also a giant by name Geirrod, who was once visited by Thor. Geirrod.

GEIRSKOGUL. A valkyrie. Geirskogul.

GEIRVIMUL. A heavenly river. Geirvimul.

GERDR. Daughter of Gymer, a beautiful young giantess; beloved by Frey. Gerd.

GERI. [gerr, greedy]. One of Odin’s wolves. Gere.

GERSEMI. One of Freyja’s daughters. Gerseme.

GJALLARBRU [gjalla, to yell, to resound]. The bridge across the river Gjol, near Helheim. The bridge between the land of the living and the dead. Gjallarrbridge.

GJALLARHORN. Heimdal’s horn, which he will blow at Ragnarok. Gjallar horn.

GILLING. Father of Suttung, who possessed the poetic mead. He was slain by Fjalar and Galar. Gilling.

GIMLI [Heaven]. The abode of the righteous after Ragnarok. Gimle.

GJALP. One of Heimdal’s nine mothers. Gjalp.

GINNUNGA-GAP. The great yawning gap, the premundane abyss, the chaos or formless void, in which dwelt the supreme powers before the creation. In the eleventh century the sea between Greenland and Vinland (America) was called Ginnunga-gap. Ginungagap.

GJOLL. One of the rivers Elivagar that flowed nearest the gate of Hel’s abode. Gjol.

GISL [Sunbeam]. One of the horses of the gods. Gisl.

GLADR [Clear, bright]. One of the horses of the gods. Glad.

GLADSHEIMR [Home of brightness or gladness]. Odin’s dwelling. Gladsheim.

GLASIR. A grove in Asgard. Glaser.

GLEIPNIR. The last fetter with which the wolf Fenrer was bound. Gleipner.

GLER [The glassy]. One of the horses of the gods. Gler.

GLITNIR [The glittering]. Forsete’s golden hall. Glitner.

GNA. She is the messenger that Frigg sends into the various worlds on her errands. She has a horse called Hofvarpenr, that can run through air and water. Gnaa.

GNIPAHELLIR. The cave before which the dog Garm barks. The Gnipa-cave.

GNITAHEIDR. Fafner’s abode, where he kept the treasure called Andvarenaut. Gnita-heath.

GOINN. A serpent under Ygdrasil. Goin.

GOLL. A valkyrie. Gol.

GOMUL. A heavenly river. Gomul.

GONDUL. A valkyrie. Gondul.

GOPUL. A heavenly river. Gopul.

GRABAKR. One of the serpents under Ygdrasil. Graabak.

GRAD. A heavenly river. Graad.

GRAFVITNIR. Serpents under Ygdrasil. Grafvitner;

GRAFVOLLUDR. Grafvollud.

GREIP. [Eng. grip]. One of Heimdal’s nine giant mothers. Greip.

GRIMNIR. A kind of hood or cowl covering the upper part of the face. Grimner is a name of Odin from his traveling in disguise. Grimner.

GROA. The giantess mother of Orvandel. Thor went to her to have her charm the flint-stone out of his forehead. Groa.

GULLPAXI [Gold-mane]. The giant Hrungner’s horse. Goldfax.

GULLINKAMBI [Gold-comb]. A cock that crows at Ragnarok. Gullinkambe or Goldcomb.

GULLTOPPR [Gold-top]. Heimdal’s horse. Goldtop.

GULLVLIG [Gold-thirst]. A personification of gold. Though pierced and thrice burnt, she yet lives. Gulveig.

GULLINBURSTI [Golden bristles]. The name of Frey’s hog. Gullinburste.

GUNGNIR [To tremble violently]. Odin’s spear. Gungner.

GUNNLOD [To invite]. One who invites war. She was daughter of the giant Suttung, and had charge of the poetic mead. Odin got it from her. Gunlad.

GYLPI. A king of Svithod, who visited Asgard under the name of Ganglere. The first part of the Younger Edda is called Gylfaginning, which means the Delusion of Gylfe. Gylfe.

GYLLIR [Golden]. One of the horses of the gods. Gyller.

GYMIR. A giant; the father of Gerd, the beloved of Frey. Gymer.

GYMIR. Another name of the ocean divinity Æger. Gymer.

H

HALLINSKIDI. Another name of the god Heimdal. The possessor of the leaning (halla) way. Hallinskid.

HAMSKERPIR [Hide-hardener]. A horse; the sire of Hofvarpner, which was Gnaa’s horse. Hamskerper.

HAR. The High One, applied to Odin. Haar.

HARBARDR. The name assumed by Odin in the Lay of Harbard. Harbard.

HEIDRUNR [Bright-running]. A goat that stands over Valhal. Heidrun.

HJIMDALR. He was the heavenly watchman in the old mythology, answering to St. Peter in the medieval. According to the Lay of Rig (Heimdal), he was the father and founder of the different classes of men, nobles, churls and thralls. He has a horn called Gjallar-horn, which he blows at Ragnarok. His dwelling is Himinbjorg. He is the keeper of Bifrost (the rainbow). Nine giantesses are his mothers. Heimdal.

HEL. [Anglo-Sax. and Eng. hell; to kill]. The goddess of death, born of Loke and Angerboda. She corresponds to Proserpina. Her habitation is Helheim, under one of the roots of Ygdrasil. Hel.

HELBLINDI. A name of Odin. Helblinde.

HELGRINDR. The gates of Hel. Helgrind or Helgate.

HELHEIM. The abode of Hel. Helheim.

HERFODR, [The father of hosts]. A name of Odin.

HERJAFODR Herfather.

HERMODR [Courage of hosts]. Son of Odin, who gives him a helmet and a corselet. He rode on Sleipner to Hel to bring Balder back. Hermod.

HILDISVINI [Means war]. Freyja’s hog. Hilde-svine.

HIMINBJORG [Heaven, help, defense; hence heaven defender]. Heimdal’s dwelling. Himinbjorg.

HIMINBRJOTR [Heaven-breaker]. One of the giant Hymer’s oxen. Himinbrjoter.

HLESEY. The abode of Æger. Hlesey.

HLIDSKJALF. The seat of Odin, whence he looked out over all the worlds. Hlidskjalf.

HLIN. One of the attendants of Frigg; but Frigg herself is sometimes called by this name. Hlin.

HLODYN. A goddess; a name of the earth; Thor’s mother. Hlodyn.

HLORIDI [Eng. low, to bellow, roar, and reid, thunder] One of the names of Thor; the bellowing thunderer. Hloride.

HNIKARR, HNIKUDR. Names of Odin, Hnikar and Hnikuder.

HNOSS [Anglo-Sax. to hammer]. A costly thing; the name of one of Freyja’s daughters. Hnos.

HODDMIMISHOLT. Hodmimer’s holt or grove, where the two human beings Lif and Lifthraser were preserved during Ragnarok. Hodmimer’s forest.

HODR. The slayer of Balder. He is blind, returns to life in the regenerated world. The Cain of the Norse mythology. Hoder.

HOENIR. One of the three creating gods. With Odin and Loder Hœner creates Ask and Embla, the first human pair. Hoener.

HOFVARPNIR [Hoof-thrower]. Gnaa’s horse. His father is Hamskerper and mother Gardrofa. Hofvarpner.

HRAESVELGR [Corpse-swallower]. A giant in an eagle’s plumage, who produces the wind. Hraesvelger.

HRAUDUNGR. Geirrod’s father. Hraudung.

HREIDMARR. Father of Regin and Fafner. He exacts the blood-fine from the gods for slaying Otter. He is slain by Fafner. Hreidmar.

HRIMFAXI [Rime-mane]. The horse of night. Rimefax.

HRIMTHURSAR [Eng. rime, hoar-frost]. Rime-giants or frost-giants, who dwell under one of Ygdrasil’s roots. Giants.

HRODVITNIR. A wolf; father of the wolf Hate. Hrodvitner.

HROPTR. One of Odin’s names. Hropt.

HRUNGNIR. A giant; friend of Hymer. Thor fought with him and slew him. Hrungner.

HRINGHORNI. The ship upon which Balder’s body was burned. Hringhorn.

HROSSTHJOFR [Horse-thief]. A giant. Hrosthjof.

HUGINN [Mind]. One of Odin’s ravens. Hugin.

HVERGELMIR [The old kettle]. The spring in the middle of Niflheim, whence flowed the rivers Elivagar. The Northern Tartaros. Hvergelmer.

HYMIR. A giant with whom Thor went fishing when he caught the Midgard-serpent. His wife was the mother of Tyr. Tyr and Thor went to him to procure a kettle for Æger in which to brew ale for the gods. Hymer.

HYNDLA. A vala visited by Freyja, who comes to her to learn the genealogy of her favorite, Ottar. Hyndla.

I

IDAVOLLR. A plain where the gods first assemble, where they establish their heavenly abodes, and where they assemble again after Ragnarok. The plains of Ida. Idavold.

IDUNN. Daughter of the dwarf Ivald; she was wife of Brage, and the goddess of early spring. She possesses rejuvenating apples of which the gods partake. Idun.

IFING. A river which divides the giants from the gods. Ifing.

IMD. One of Heimdal’s nine giant mothers. Imd.

IMR. A son of the giant Vafthrudner. Im.

INGUNAR-FREYR. One of the names of Frey. Ingun’s Frey.

INNSTEINN. The father of Ottar Heimske; the favorite of Freyja. Instein.

IVALDI. A dwarf. His sons construct the ship Skidbladner. Ivald.

J

JAFNHAR [Equally high]. A name of Odin.

JALKR. A name of Odin (Jack the Giant-killer?). Jalk.

JARNSAXA [Iron-chopper]. One of Heimdal’s nine giant mothers. Jarnsaxa.

JARNVIDR [Iron-wood]. A wood east of Midgard, peopled by giantesses called Jarnvids. This wood had iron leaves. Jarnvid.

JARNVIDIUR. The giantesses in the Iron-wood. Jarnvids.

JORD. Wife of Odin and mother of Thor. Earth.

JOTUNN. A giant. The giants were the earliest created beings. The gods question them in regard to Balder.

Thor frequently contends with them. Famous giants are: Ymer, Hymer, Hrungner, Orvandel, Gymer, Skrymer, Vafthrudner and Thjasse. Giant.

JOTUNHEIMAR (plural). The Utgaard; the home of the giants in the outermost parts of the earth. Jotunheim.

K

KERLAUGAR (plural). Two rivers which Thor every day must cross. Kerlaug.

KORMT. Another river which Thor every day must pass. Kormt.

KVASIR. The hostage given by the vans to the asas. His blood, when slain, was the poetical mead kept by Suttung. Kvaser.

L

LAEDINGR. One of the fetters with which the Fenris-wolf was bound. Laeding.

LAERADR. A tree near Valhal. Laerad.

LANDVIDI [A mountain range overgrown with trees]. Vidar’s abode. The primeval forests. Landvide.

LAUREY [Leafy island]. Loke’s mother. Laufey.

LEIRTHRASIR, LIF. The two persons preserved in Hodmimer’s grove during Surt’s conflagration in Ragnarok; the last beings in the old and the first in the new world. Lif and Lifthraser.

LETFETI [Light-foot]. One of the horses of the gods. Lightfoot.

LITR. A dwarf that Thor kicked into Balder’s funeral pile. Liter.

LODDRARNIR. A protege of Odin. Lodfafner.

LODURR [To flame]. One of the three gods (Odin, Haener and Loder) who create Ask and Embla, the first man and woman. He is identical with Loke. Loder.

LOKI [To end, finish; Loke is the end and consummation of divinity]. The evil giant-god of the Norse mythology. He steers the ship Naglfar in Ragnarok. He borrows Freyja’s feather-garb and accompanies Thor to the giant Thrym, who has stolen Thor’s hammer. He is the father of Sleipner; also of the Midgard serpent, of the Fenris-wolf and of Hel. He causes Balder’s death, abuses the gods in Æger’s feast, but is captured in Fraanangerforce and is bound by the gods. Loke.

LOPTR [The aerial]. Another name of Loke. Lopter.

M

MAGNI [megin, strength]. A son of Thor. Magne.

MANI [Eng. moon]. Brother of Sol (the sun, feminine), and both were children of the giant Mundilfare. Moon or Maane.

MARDOLL or MARTHOLL. One of the names of Freyja. Mardallar gratr (the tears of Mardal), gold. Mardal.

MANAGARMR [Moon-swallower]. A wolf of Loke’s offspring. He devours the moon. Maanegarm or Moongarm.

MANNHEIMAR (plural) [Homes of man]. Our earth. Manheim.

MEILI. A son of Odin. Meile.

MIDGARDR. [In Cumberland, England, are three farms High-garth, Middle-garth, Low-garth.] The mid-yard, middle-town, that is, the earth, is a mythological word common to all the ancient Teutonic languages. The Icelandic Edda alone has preserved the true mythical bearing of this old Teutonic word. The earth (Midgard), the abode of men, is situated in the middle of the universe, bordered by mountains and surrounded by the great sea; on the other side of this sea is the Utgard (out-yard), the abode of the giants; the Midgard is defended by the yard or burgh Asgard (the burgh of the gods) lying in the middle (the heaven being conceived as rising above the earth). Thus the earth and mankind are represented as a stronghold besieged by the powers of evil from without, defended by the gods from above and from within. Midgard.

MIDGARDSORMR [The serpent of Midgaard]. The world-serpent hidden in the ocean, whose coils gird around the whole Midgard. Thor once fishes for him, and gets him on his hook. In Ragnarok Thor slays him, but falls himself poisoned by his breath. Midgard-serpent.

MIMAMEIDR. A mythic tree; probably the same as Ygdrasil. It derives its name from Mimer, and means Mimer’s tree. Mimameider.

MIMIR. The name of the wise giant keeper of the holy well Mimis-brunnr, the burn of Mimer, the well of wisdom, at which Odin pawned his eye for wisdom; a myth which is explained as symbolical of the heavenly vault with its single eye, the sun, setting in the sea.

MJOLNIR. Thor’s formidable hammer. After Ragnarok, it is possessed by his sons Mode and Magne. Mjolner.

MISTILTEINN [Eng. mistletoe]. The mistletoe or mistle-twig, the fatal twig by which Balder, the white sun-god was slain. After the death of Balder, Ragnarok set in. Balder’s death was also symbolical of the victory of darkness over light, which comes every year at midwinter.. The mistletoe in English households at Christmas time is no doubt a relic of a rite lost in the remotest heathendom, for the fight of light and darkness at midwinter was a foreshadowing of the final overthrow in Ragnarok. The legend and the word are common to all Teutonic peoples of all ages. Mistletoe.

MODI [Courage]. A son of Thor. Mode.

MODSOGNIR. The dwarf highest in degree or rank. Modsogner.

MOINN. A serpent under Ygdrasil. Moin.

MUNDILFARI. Father of the sun and moon. Mundilfare.

MUNINN [Memory]. One of Odin’s ravens. Munin.

MUSPELL. The name of an abode of fire. It is populated by a host of fiends, who are to appear at Ragnarok and destroy the world by fire. Muspel.

MUSPELLSHEIMR The abode of Muspel. This interesting word (Muspell) was not confined to the Norse mythology, but appears twice in the old Saxon poem Heliand. In these instances muspel stands for the day of judgment, the last day, and answers to Ragnarok of the Norse mythology.

MOKKURKALFI [A dense cloud]. A clay giant in the myth of Thor and Hrungner. Mokkerkalfe.

N

NAGLRAR [Nail-ship]. A mythical ship made of nail-parings. It appears in Ragnarok. Naglfar. Nailship.

NAL [Needle]. Mother of Loke. Naal.

NANNA. Daughter of Nep (bud); mother of Forsete and wife of Balder. She dies of grief at the death of Balder. Nanna.

NARI or NARFI. Son of Loke. Loke was bound by the intestines of Nare. Nare or Narfe.

NASTROND [The shore of corpses]. A place of punishment for the wicked after Ragnarok. Naastrand.

NIDAI DOLL. The Nida-mountains toward the north, where there is after Ragnarok, a golden hall for the race of Sindre (the dwarfs). Nidafell.

NIDHOGGR. A serpent of the nether world, that tears the carcases of the dead. He also lacerates Ygdrasil. Nidhug.

NIFHEIMR. The world of fog or mist; the nethermost of the rime worlds. The place of punishment (Hades). It was visited by Odin when he went to inquire after the fate of Balder. Niflheim.

NJORDR. A van, vanagod. He was husband of Skade, and father of Frey and Freyja. He dwells in Noatun. Njord.

NOATUN [Place of ships]. Njord’s dwelling; Njord being a divinity of the waterr or sea. Noatun.

NORDRI [North]. A dwarf presiding over the northern regions. Nordre or North.

NOTT. Night; daughter of Norve. Night.

NORN; plural NORNIR. The weird sisters; the three heavenly norns Urd, Verdande, and Skuld (Past, Present, and Future); they dwelt at the fountain of Urd, and ruled the fate of the world. Three norns were also present at the birth of very man and cast the horoscope of his life. Norn.

O

ODINN [Anglo-Sax. Wodan]. Son of Bor and Bestla. He is the chief of the gods. With Vile and Ve he parcels out Ymer. With Hœner and Loder he creates Ask and Embla. He is the fountain-head of wisdom, the founder of culture, writing and poetry, the progenitor of kings, the lord of battle and victory. He has two ravens, two wolves and a spear. His throne is Hlidskjalf, whence he looks out over all the worlds. In Ragnarok he is devoured by the Fenris-wolf. Odin.

ODR. Freyja’s husband. Oder.

ODROERIR [The spirit-mover]. One of the vessels in which the blood of Kvaser, that is, the poetic mead, was kept. The inspiring nectar. Odroerer.

OFNIR. A serpent under Ygdrasil. Ofner.

OKOLNIR. After Ragnarok the giants have a ball (ale-hall) called Brimer, at Okolner.

OKU-THORR. So called from the Finnish thunder-god Ukko. Akethor.

OSKI [Wish]. A name of Odin. Oske. Wish.

OTR [OTTER]. A son of Hreidmar; in the form of an otter killed by Loke. Oter.

OTTARR or OTTARR HEIMSKI [Stupid]. A son of Instein, a protege of Freyja. He has a contest with Angantyr. Hyndla gives him a cup of remembrance. Ottar.

R

RAGNAROK [Sentence, judgment, from rekja, is the whole development from creation to dissolution, and would, in this word, denote the dissolution, doomsday, of the gods; or it may be from rokr (reykkr, smoke), twilight, and then the word means the twilight of the gods]. The last day; the dissolution of the gods and the world. Ragnarok.

RAN [Rob]. The goddess of the sea; wife of Æger. Ran.

RATATOSKR. A squirrel that runs up and down the branches of Ygdrasil. Ratatosk.

RATI. An auger used by Odin in obtaining the poetic mead. Rate.

REGINN. Son of Hreidmar; brother of Fafner and Otter. Regin.

RINDR. A personification of the hard frozen earth. Mother of Vale. The loves of Odin and Rind resemble those of Zeus and Europa in Greek legends. Rind.

ROSKVA. The name of the maiden follower of Thor. She symbolizes the ripe fields of harvest. Roskva.

S

SAEHRIMNIR [Rime-producer]. The name of the boar on which the gods and heroes in Valhal constantly feed. Saehrimner.

SAGA [History]. The goddess of history. She dwells in Sokvabek.

SESSRUMNIR. Freyja’s large-seated palace. Sesrumner.

SIDHOTTR [Long-hood]. One of Odin’s names, from his traveling in disguise with a large hat on his head hanging down over one side of his face to conceal his missing eye. Sidhat.

SIDSKEGGR [Long-beard]. One of Brage’s names. It is also a name of Odin in the lay of Grimner. Sidskeg.

SIF. The wife of Thor and mother of Uller. The word denotes affinity. Sif, the golden-haired goddess, wife of Thor, betokens mother earth with her bright green grass. She was the goddess of the sanctity of the family and wedlock, and hence her name. Sif.

SIGFADIR [Father of victory]. A name of Odin. Sigfather.

SIGYN. Loke’s wife. She holds a basin to prevent the serpent’s venom from dropping into Loke’s face. Sigyn.

SILPRINTOPPR. One of the horses of the gods. Silvertop.

SINDRI. One of the most famous dwarfs. Sindre.

SINIR [Sinew]. One of the horses of the gods. Siner.

SJOVN. One of the goddesses. She delights in turning men’s hearts to love. Sjofn.

SKADI [scathe, harm, damage]. A giantess; daughter of Thjasse and the wife of Njord. She dwells in Thrymheim, and hangs a venom serpent over Loke’s face. Skade.

SKEIDBRIMIR [Race-runner]. One of the horses of the gods. Skeidbrimer.

SKIDBLADNIR. The name of the famous ship of the god Frey that could move alike on land or sea and could be made small or great at will. Skidbladner.

SKINFAXI [Shining-mane]. The horse of Day. Skinfax.

SKIRNIR [The bright one]. Frey’s messenger. Skirner.

SKRYMIR. The name of a giant; also the name assumed by Utgard-Loke. Skrymer.

SKULD [Shall]. The norn of the future. Skuld.

SKOGUL. A valkyrie. Skogul.

SLEIPNIR [The slipper]. The name of Odin’s eight-footed steed. He is begotten by Loke with Svadilfare. Sleipner.

SNOTRA [Neat]. The name of one of the goddesses. Snotra.

SOKKMIMIR [Mimer of the deep]. A giant slain by Odin. Sokmimer

SOKKVABEKKR. A mansion where Odin and Saga quaff from golden beakers. Sokvabek.

SOL [Sun]. Daughter of Mundilfare. She drives the horses that draw the car of the sun.

SONR. One of the vessels containing the poetic mead. Son.

SUDRI [South]. A dwarf who presides over the south region. Sudre. South.

SURTR. A fire-giant in Ragnarok who contends with the gods on the plain of Vigrid and guards Muspelheim. Surt.

SUTTUNGR The giant possessor of the poetic mead. Suttung.

SVADILPARI. A horse; the sire of Sleipner. Svadilfare.

SVAFNIR. A serpent under Ygdrasil. Svafner.

SVALINN [Cooler]. The shield placed before the sun. Svalin.

SVASUDR [Delightful]. The name of a giant; the father of the sun. Svasud.

SYN. A minor goddess.

T

TYR. Properly the generic name of the highest divinity, and remains in many compounds. In mythology he is the one-armed god of war. The Fenris-wolf bit one hand off him. He goes with Thor to Hymer to borrow a kettle for Æger. He is son of Odin by a giantess. Tyr.

THJALFI. The name of the servant and follower of Thor. The word properly means a delver, digger. The names Thjalfe and Roskva indicate that Thor was the friend of the farmers and the god of agriculture. Thjalfe.

THJAZI [Thjassi]. A giant; the father of Njord’s wife, Skade. His dwelling was Thrymheim ; he was slain by Thor. Thjasse.

THORR. The English Thursday is a later form, in which the phonetic rule of the Scandinavian tongue has been followed. The god of thunder, keeper of the hammer, the ever-fighting slayer of trolls and destroyer of evil spirits, the friend of mankind, the defender of the earth, the heavens and the gods; for without Thor and his hammer the earth would become the helpless prey of the giants. He was the consecrator, the hammer being the cross or holy sign of the ancient heathen. Thor was the son of Odin and Fjorgyn (mother earth); he was blunt, hot-tempered, without fraud or guile, of few words but of ready stroke — such was Thor, the favorite deity of our forefathers. The finest legends of the Younger Edda and the best lays of the Elder Edda refer to Thor. His hall is Bilskirner. He slays Thjasse, Thrym, Hrungner, and other giants. In Ragnarok he slays the Midgard-serpent, but falls after retreating nine paces, poisoned by the serpent’s breath. Thor.

THRIDI [Third]. A name of Odin in Gylfaginning. Thride.

THRUDGELMIR. The giant father of Bergelmer. Thrudgelmer.

THRUDHEIMR or THRUDVANGR. Thor’s abode. Thrudheim; Thrudvang.

THRUDR. The name of a goddess; the daughter of Thor and Sif. Thrud.

THRYMHEIMR. Thjasse’s and Skade’s dwelling. Thrymheim.

THRYMR. The giant who stole Thor’s hammer and demanded Freyja as a reward for its return. Thrym.

THOKK. The name of a giantess (supposed to have been Loke in disguise) in the myth of Balder. Thok.

U

ULFRUN. One of Heimdal’s nine giant mothers. Ulfrun.

ULLR. The son of Sif and stepson of Thor. His father is not named. He dwells in Ydaler. Uller.

URDARBRUNNR. The fountain of the norn Urd. The Urdar-fountain. The weird spring.

URDR [Eng. weird]. One of the three norns. The norn of the past. Urd.

UTGARDAR [The out-yard]. The abode of the giant Utgard-Loke. Utgard.

UTGARDA-LOKI. The giant of Utgard visited by Thor. He calls himself Skrymer. Utgard-Loke.

V

VAFTHRUDNIR. A giant visited by Odin. They try each other in questions and answers. The giant is defeated and forfeits his life. Vafthrudner.

VALASKJALF. One of Odin’s dwellings. Valaskjalf.

VALFODR [Father of the slain]. A name of Odin. Valfather.

VALGRIND. A gate of Valhal. Valgrind.

VALHOLL [The hall of the slain]. The hall to which Odin invited those slain in battle. Valhal.

VALKYRJA [The chooser of the slain]. A troop of goddesses, handmaidens of Odin. They serve in Valhal, and are sent on Odin’s errands. Valkyrie.

VALI. Is a brother of Balder, who slays Hoder when only one night old. He rules with Vidar after Ragnarok. Vale.

VALI. A son of Loke. Vale.

VALTAMR. A fictitious name of Odin’s father. Valtam.

VE. A brother of Odin (Odin, Vile and Ve). Ve.

VEGTAMR. A name assumed by Odin. Vegtam.

VANAHEIMAR. The abode of the vans. Vanaheim.

VANR; plural VANIR. Those deities whose abode was in Vanaheim, in contradistinction to the asas, who dwell in Asgard: Njord, Frey and Freyja. The vans waged war with the asas, but were afterwards, by virtue of a treaty, combined and made one with them. The vans were deities of the sea. Van.

VEORR [Defender]. A name of Thor. Veor.

VERDANDI [To become]. The norn of the present.

VESTRI. The dwarf presiding over the west region. Vestre. West.

VIDARR. Son of Odin and the giantess Grid. He dwells in Landvide. He slays the Fenris-wolf in Ragnarok. Rules with Vale after Ragnarok. Vidar.

VIGRIDR [A battle]. The field of battle where the gods and the sons of Surt meet in Ragnarok. Vigrid.

VILI. Brother of Odin and Ve. These three sons of Bor and Bestla construct the world out of Ymer’s body. Vile.

VIMUR. A river that Thor crosses. Vimer.

VINDSVALR. The father of winter. Vindsval.

VINDHEIMR. The place that the sons of Balder and Hoder are to inhabit after Ragnarok. Vindheim. Windhome.

VIN-GOLF [The mansion of bliss] The palace of the asynjes. Vingolf.

VINGTHORR. A name of Thor. Vingthor.

VOR. The goddess of betrothals and marriages. Vor.

Y

YDALIR. Uller’s dwelling. Ydaler.

YGGR. A name of Odin. Ygg.

YGGDRASILL [The bearer of Ygg (Odin)]. The worldembracing ash tree. The whole world is symbolized by this tree. Ygdrasil.

YMIR. The huge giant in the cosmogony, out of whose body Odin, Vile and Ve created the world. The progenitor of the giants. He was formed out of frost and fire in Ginungagap. Ymer.