Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

Their way from Urd's well goes to the north (see No. 63) through Mimir's domain.
It is ordained that before their arrival at the home of torture they are to see the regions of
bliss. Thus they know what they have forfeited. Then their course is past Mimir's
fountain, the splendid dwellings of Baldur and the ásmegir, the golden hall of Sindri's
race (see Nos. 93, 94), and to those regions where mother Nott rests in a hall built on the
southern spur of the Nida-mountains (Hrafnagaldur Óðins). The procession proceeds up
this mountain region through valleys and gorges in which the rivers flowing from
Hvergelmir find their way to the south. The damned leave Hvergelmir in their rear and
cross the border rivers Hrönn (the subterranean Elivagar rivers, see No. 59), on the other
side of which rise Niflhel's black, perpendicular mountain-walls (Saxo, Book 8; see No.
46). Ladders or stairways lead across giddying precipices to the Na-gates. Howls and
barking from the monstrous Niflheim dogs watching the gates (see Nos. 46, 58) announce
the arrival of the damned. Then hasten, in compact winged flocks, monsters, Niflheim's
birds of prey, Nidhogg, Ari, Hraevelgur, and their like to the south, and alight on the
rocks around the Na-gates (see below). When the latter are opened on creaking hinges,
the damned have died their second death. To that event, which is called "the second
death," and to what this consists of, I shall return below (see No. 95).
Those who have thus marched to a terrible fate are sinners of various classes.
Below Niflheim there are nine regions of punishment. That these correspond to nine
kinds of unpardonable sins is in itself probable, and is to some extent confirmed by
Sólarljóð, if this poem, standing almost on the border-line between heathendom and
Christianity, may be taken as a witness. Sólarljóð enumerates nine or ten kinds of
punishments for as many different kinds of sins. From the purely heathen records we
know that enemies of the gods (Loki), perjurers, murderers, adulterers (see Völuspá),
those who have violated faith and the laws, and those who have lied about others, are
doomed to Niflhel for ever, or at least for a very long time (oflengi - Reginsmál 4). Of the
unmerciful, we know that they have already suffered great agony on their way to Urd's
fountain. Both in reference to them and to others, it doubtless depended on the inquiry at
the Thing whether they could be ransomed or not.
The sacredness of the bond of kinship was strongly emphasized in the
eschatological conceptions. Niflgóðr, "good for the realm of damnation," is he who slays
kinsmen and sells the dead body of his brother for rings (Sonatorrek 15); but he who in
all respects has conducted himself in a blameless manner toward his kinsmen, and is slow
to take revenge if they have wronged him, shall reap advantage therefrom after death
(það kveða dauðum duga - Sigurdrífumál 22).
When the damned come within the Na-gates, the winged demons rush at the
victims designated for them, press them under their wings, and fly with them through
Niflheim's foggy space to the departments of torture appointed for them. The seeress in
Völuspá 66 sees Nidhogg, loaded with náir under his wings, soar away from the Nida
mountains. Where he was accustomed to fly with them appears from strophe 39, where
he in Nastrond is sucking his prey. When King Gorm, beyond the above-mentioned
boundary river, and by the Nida mountains' ladders, had reached the Na-gates opened for
him, he sees dismal monsters (larvæ atræ; cp. Völuspá's inn dimmi dreki) in dense
crowds, and hears the air filled with their horrible screeches (cp. Völuspá's Ari hlakkar,
slítur nái neffölur, 47). When Sólarljóð's skald enters the realm of torture he sees
"scorched" birds, which are not birds but souls (sálir), flying "numerous as gnats."