Chapter V: Section II

CHIEF MYTHOLOGICAL PERSONAGES OF SCANDINAVIA.

ODIN, THOR, AND LOKE.—THEIR CHARACTERS PHYSICALLY INTERPRETED.—THEIR
WIVES AND OFFSPRING.—THE THREE DEMON CHILDREN OF LOKE.—INFLUENCE OF
THIS DEITY OVER THE FATE OF THE UNIVERSE.—HE IS PRESENT IN EVERY GREAT
MYTHOS.—RAPE OF IDUNA.—THOR’S VISITS TO JOTUNHEIM.—THOR AND THE GIANT
HYMIR.—THOR AND THE GIANT THRYM.—NIVOD, FREYR, FREYA.—EXPEDITION OF
SKIRNIR-ÆGIR AND RAN.—OTHER DEITIES.—BALDER.—PUNISHMENT OF
LOKE.—RAGNAROK.—RECOGNITION OF A GREAT FIRST CAUSE BY THE PAGAN
SCANDINAVIANS.

ODIN, THOR, LOKE.

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Wives and Sons of ODIN 92

His Functions, Abodes, and Ministers 93

The three Valkyrs 93

Legend of Odin and Sterkodder 94

This Legend furnishes another Proof of 95
the Fact that Odin was a foreign Deity

THOR, his Superiority over Odin in the 96
more ancient System of the North, and
his three Treasures

Mythical Interpretation 97

Thor peculiarly worshipped in Norway 97

The Giants, the everlasting Enemies of 98
Thor

This Article of popular Belief 98
essentially Celtic

LOKE 99

His Description 100

His Offspring three:—

1. The Great Serpent 101

2. Hela, Queen of Death 101

3. The Wolf Fenris 102

Manner in which the last-named Demon was 102
bound by the Gods

Loke originally the same with 103
Utgardelok, and the Personification of
Evil in the Celtic Creed

Mythological Fables in which Loke is 104
concerned

RAPE OF IDUNA.

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Odin, Hoenir, and Loke visit Utgard 105

Loke compelled to promise that he will 105
deliver Iduna into the Power of Thiasse

He performs his Promise 106

Consequent Wrath of the Gods, who compel 106
him to restore her

Interpretation of this Mythos 107

THOR’S VISITS TO UTGARD.

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Loke, taken by the Giants, is compelled 108
to promise that he will bring Thor
without Belt or Hammer

Thor accordingly undertakes the Journey; 109
his Punishment of Geyruth, and the
Daughters of that Giant

Second Journey of Thor to Utgard, 110
accompanied by Loke

Adventure in the Cottage 110

Dreary Wastes through which the 111
Travellers passed

Adventure in the desert Heath 112

Adventures in Utgard itself 113

THOR AND THE GIANT HYMIR.

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Banquet of the Sea-god Ægir 114

Thor and Tyr proceed to Giant-land to 114
steal a Caldron

Adventures at the House of Hymir 115

Physical Meaning of this Mythos 116

The same Adventures paraphrased by the 117
Danish Poet Ohlenschlager

THOR AND THE GIANT THRYM.

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Thor loses Miölner 124

Loke discovers the Thief, who is the 125
Giant Thrym

Thrym will not restore it, unless he 125
have Freya to Wife

When Freya refuses, Thor is persuaded to 126
assume Female Apparel, and go to
Jotunheim

Adventures there 127

Metrical Version of this Legend 128

Magnussen’s Interpretation 129

_Sif_, the Wife of Thor 131

NIORD, FREYR, FREYA.

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_Niord_, Lord of the Vaner, and a God 132

His second Wife is Skada, from whom he 133
separates

_Freyr_, the Son of Niord, in love with 133
a Giant Maiden

Skirnir, his Attendant, goes to 134
Jotunheim and wins her

Metrical Version of Skirnir’s Expedition 135

_Freya_, the Daughter of Niord, and the 136
Goddess of Love

Her Functions and Authority in Asgard 140

ÆGIR AND RAN.

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_Ægir_, the God of the Deep, more 141
clement than _Ran_, his Queen

Another Feast given by the Sea-god, in 142
which Loke is abusive

OTHER DEITIES.

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The Nornies 143
Night and Day 143
The Giant of Winter 144

BALDER.

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His Fate connected with that of the 145
Universe; his Dreams, and consequent
Anxiety of the Gods

Interpretation of the Mythos 146

PUNISHMENT OF LOKE.

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He is bound, like Prometheus, to the 146
Flinty Rock; Poison; Fidelity of his
Wife

RAGNAROK, THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS.

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Account of that great Consummation 147
extracted from the Prose Edda

Corroborated by the Voluspa 150

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SECTION III.