Chapter I: Preface

The aim of this handbook of Northern mythology is to familiarize the English student of letters with the religion of his heathen ancestors, and to set forth, as clearly as possible, the various myths which have exercised an influence over our customs, arts, and literature.

As Norwegians, Danes, Swedes, Icelanders, Germans, English, and French all came originally from the same stock and worshiped the same gods, so these tales formed the basis not only of their religious belief, but also of their first attempts at poetry. They are the classics of the North, and deserve as much attention at our hands as the more graceful and idyllic mythology of the South.

The most distinctive traits of the Northern mythology are a peculiar grim humor which is found in the religion of no other race, and a dark thread of tragedy which runs throughout the whole woof. These two characteristics, touching both extremes of the scale, have colored Northern thought, and have left their indelible imprint upon all our writings even to this day.

The mythology of Greece and Rome, growing as spontaneous and luxuriant as the tropical vegetation, came to its full fruition and began to decay before the introduction of Christianity. But Northern mythology, of slower growth, was arrested in mid-career before it had attained its complete development.

A glossary, and complete index have been added to adapt this book for general use in libraries and public schools. Author and publishers sincerely trust that this little work will be as kindly received and as well appreciated as has been the case with its predecessor, “Myths of Greece and Rome,” the first volume of this series.

CONTENTS.

CHAP. PAGE

I. THE BEGINNING OF ALL THINGS 9

II. ODIN 23

III. FRIGGA 46

IV. THOR 61

V. TYR 84

VI. BRAGI 93

VII. IDUN 100

VIII. NIÖRD 107

IX. FREY 112

X. FREYA 124

XI. ULLER 131

XII. FORSETI 134

XIII. HEIMDALL 137

XIV. HERMOD 144

XV. VIDAR 147

XVI. VALI 150

XVII. THE NORNS 154

XVIII. THE VALKYRS 160

XIX. HEL 166

XX. ÆGIR 171

XXI. BALDER 182

XXII. LOKI 198

XXIII. THE GIANTS 210

XXIV. THE DWARFS 217

XXV. THE ELVES 221

XXVI. THE SIGURD SAGA 225

XXVII. THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS 263

XXVIII. GREEK AND NORTHERN MYTHOLOGIES--A COMPARISON 274

INDEX TO POETICAL QUOTATIONS 293

INDEX AND GLOSSARY 295

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

ODIN _Frontispiece_
_Page_
NORTH CAPE AND THE MIDNIGHT SUN 9

VALHALLA--Hoffmann 25

THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN--H. Kaulbach 32

FRIGGA 48

EÁSTRE, OR OSTARA 57

THOR 69

FREY 112

FREYA 124

THE WITCHES DANCE (VALPURGISNACHT)--Von Kreling 129

VALKYRS RIDING TO BATTLE--P. N. Arbo 160

LORELEI AND THE FISHERMAN--Paul Thumann 180

BALDER 188

LOKI AND SIGYN--Carl Gebhardt 200

NORWEGIAN WATERFALL 208

TORGHATTEN, NORWAY 213

DANCE OF THE WILL-O’-THE-WISPS--W. Kray 221

OLD HOUSES WITH CARVED DOORPOSTS, NORWAY 224

THE BRANSTOCK--Hoffmann 229

SIGURD AND THE DRAGON--K. Dielitz 245

BRUNHILD’S AWAKENING--Th. Pixis 249

GUDRUN GIVING THE MAGIC DRINK TO SIGURD--Th. Pixis 252

BRUNHILD--Th. Pixis 256

HÖGNI THROWING THE TREASURE INTO THE RHINE--Julius Schnorr 260

MYTHS OF NORTHERN LANDS.