Chapter IV: Section I

THE SCANDINAVIAN UNIVERSE, ITS WORLDS, AND THEIR INHABITANTS IN GENERAL,
WITH THE PHYSICAL INTERPRETATION.

CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE.—YMER.—THE GIANTS.—THE GODS.—OTHER BEINGS.—THE
NINE WORLDS, WITH THEIR POSITION AND PHYSICAL INTERPRETATION.—THE
TWELVE HOUSES OF ASGARD.—SWARTALFAHEIM.—INHABITANTS OF THE NINE
WORLDS.—THE ASER.—THE VEVER, ETC.

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Progress of Creation according to that 43
venerable Authority, the Elder Edda

The Waters of Nifleheim flow into the 43
Abyss and freeze

But they are thawed by the Fires of 44
Muspelheim

To the Operation of Cold and Heat on the 44
Waters of Nifleheim must be ascribed the
Origin of this visible Universe

Generation of Ymer, the Patriarch of the 44
Frost Giants

Creation of the Cow Andumbla, which 45
calls Burè into Existence

From this new Being, half Deity, half 45
Giant, arose Odin, Vilè, and Vè

Ymer destroyed, and the Universe formed 45
from his Body

Affinities between the Scandinavian and 46
other Systems of Mythology

The Cow, as a Symbol, very generally 47
diffused

Physical Interpretation of the Mythos 47

Physical Interpretation of another 48
Mythos, the Destruction of Ymer and his
Offspring

Notions concerning a Supreme, Eternal 49
Being entertained by the Scandinavians

Creation of other Beings, especially the 50
Dwarfs

Creation of Man 51

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THE NINE WORLDS.

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GIMLÈ AND MUSPELHEIM 53

MIDGARD AND UTGARD 53

ASGARD 55

Divine Residences in Asgard:—

1. Ydale 56

2. Alfheim 57

3. Valaskialf 57

4. Soequabeck 58

5. Gladsheim 58

6. Thrymheim 58

7. Breidablik 59

8. Himmelbierg 60

9. Folkvangur 60

10. Glitner 61

11. Noatun 61

12. Landvide 61

Residences of Odin 62

Diversions of the Einheriar 62

Ascent of slain Heroes from Earth to 63
Heaven

Bloodthirsty Character of the Odinists 63

SWARTALFAHEIM 64

Residences of the Alfs or Elves 64

Their Nature according to Thorlacius 64

Origin of the Word 65

Universality of the Word 66

Traditions still rife respecting them 67

Scandinavian Dwarfs 69

Two Legends respecting them 70

Their wondrous Manufactures at the 70
Instance of Loke

Physical Interpretation 72

THORSTON AND THE DWARF 73

HELHEIM AND NIFLEHEIM 74

THE YGGDRASIL 75

Explanation of this Mythos 77

Races which inhabited the Scandinavian 78
Universe

Were the Aser Gods, or Mortals only, or 79
deified Mortals?

Some Reasons for the Inference that Odin 80
and his Followers really existed

Hypothesis of two Odins, how far 81
reconcileable with Facts

Did Odin, in his own Case, inculcate the 82
Doctrine of Metempsychosis?

Conclusion that Odin and his Companions 82
actually existed on Earth; but how
account for the divine Attributes
claimed by them? still more, how account
for the extraordinary Diffusion of their
Worship?

Their Policy in the North 83

Two distinct Systems of Religion 84
evidently prevalent in the North,—the
Native and the Foreign,—that of Thor,
and that of Odin

And also two distinct Systems of Magic 85

Another Argument for this Distinction 86

Progress of Odin and his Companions 88
towards Deification

Geographical Position of the Aser and 89
Vanir led to their celestial Location

The Union of two Systems—the Native and 91
the Foreign, the Finnish and the
Gothic—every where discernible in the
Eddas