Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

The other, more near, division of the underworld thus has another purpose than that of
receiving the happy or damned souls of the dead. According to Gorm's saga, the giant Gudmund
dwells there, with his sons and daughters. The Glittering Plains are also there, since these,
according to Hervör's, Bosi's, Thorsteinn Bæjarmagn's, and Helgi Thorisson's sagas, are ruled by
Gudmund.
Some of the accounts cited say that the Glittering Plains are situated in Jotunheim. This
statement does not contradict the fact that they are situated in the lower world. The myths
mention two Jotunheims, and thus the Eddas employ the plural form, Jötunheimar. One of the
Jotunheims is located on the surface of the earth in the far North and East, separated from the
Midgard inhabited by man by the uttermost sea or the Élivágar (Gylfaginning 8, cp.
Vafþrúdnismál 16). The other Jotunheim is subterranean. According to Grímnismál 31, one of
the roots of the world-tree extends down "to the frost-giants." Urd and her sisters, who guard one
of the fountains of Yggdrasil's roots, are giantesses. Mimir, who guards another fountain in the
lower world, is called a giant. That part of the world which is inhabited by the goddesses of fate
and by Mimir is thus inhabited by giants, and is a subterranean Jotunheim. Both these
Jotunheims are connected with each other. From the upper, there is a path leading to the lower.
Therefore, those traditions recorded in a Christian age, which we are discussing here, have
referred to the Arctic Ocean and the uttermost North as the route for those who have the desire
and courage to visit the giants of the lower world.
In Hadding's saga, when it is said that he saw the shades of heroes fallen by the sword
arrayed in line of battle on the other side of the subterranean river and contending with each
other, then this is no contradiction of the myth, according to which the heroes chosen on the
battle-field come to Asgard and play their warlike games on the plains of the world of the gods.
Völuspá 24 relates that when the first "folk"-war broke out in the world, the citadel of
Odin and his clan was stormed by the Vanir, who broke through its bulwark and captured
Asgard. In harmony with this, Saxo (Book 1) relates that at the time when King Hadding reigned
Odin was banished from his power and lived for some time in exile (see Nos. 36-41).
It is evident that no great battles can have been fought, and that there could not have been
any great number of sword-fallen men, before the first great "folk"-war broke out in the world.
Otherwise, this war would not have been the first. Thus, before this war, Valhall has not had
those hosts of einherjar who afterwards sit in Valfather's hall. But as Odin, after the breaking out
of this war, is banished from Valhall and Asgard, and does not return before peace is made
between the Aesir and Vanir, then none of the einherjar chosen by him could be received in
Valhall during the war. Therefore, it follows that the heroes fallen in this war, though chosen by
Odin, must have been referred to some other place than Asgard (excepting, of course, all those
chosen by the Vanir, in case they chose einherjar, which is probable, for the reason that the
Vanadís Freyja gets, after the reconciliation with Odin, the right to divide with him the choice of
the slain). This other place can nowhere else be so appropriately looked for as in the lower
world, which we know was destined to receive the souls of the dead. And as Hadding, who,
according to Saxo, descended to the lower world, is, according to Saxo, the same Hadding during
whose reign Odin was banished from Asgard, then it follows that the statement of the saga,
making him see in the lower world those warlike games which otherwise are practiced on
Asgard's plains, far from contradicting the myth, on the contrary is a consequence of the
connection of the mythical events.