Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

hinn er Surts
úr sökkdölum
farmögnuður
fljúgandi bar.
("the drink, which Odin flying bore from Surt's deep dales"). 24
When Odin had come safely out of Fjalar-Suttung's deep rocky halls, and, on
eagle-pinions, was flying with the precious mead to Asgard, it was accordingly that
abyss, in which Surt dwells, which he left below him, and the giant race who had been
drinking the mead before that time, while it was still in Suttung's possession, was Surt's
race. From this it follows that "the ancient giant," whom Odin visited for the purpose of
robbing his circle of kinsmen of the skaldic mead, is none other than that being so well
known in the mythology, Surt, and that Surt is identical with Durinn (Durnir), and
Sökkmimir.
This also explains the epithet Sökkmímir, "the Mimir of the deep." Sökk- in Sökk-
Mímir refers to Sökk- in Sökkdalir, Surt's domain, and that Surt could be associated with
Mimir is, from the standpoint of Old Norse poetics, perfectly justifiable from the fact that
he appears in time's morning as a co-worker with Mimir, and operating with him as one
of the forces of creation in the service of the oldest high-holy powers (see No. 53).
Consequently Mimir and Sökkmimir (Surt-Durinn) created the clans of artists.
Surt, Durinn, Durnir, Sökkmimir, are, therefore, synonyms, and designate the
same person. He has a son who is designated by the synonyms Suttungur, Fjalar,
Mjöðvitnir (Miðvitnir). Suttung has a son slain by Odin, when the latter robs him of the
mead of inspiration, and a daughter, Gunnlod. The giant maid, deceived and deplored by
Odin, is consequently the daughter of Surt's son.
Light is thus shed on the myth concerning the giant who reappears in Ragnarok,
and there wields the sword which fells Frey and hurls the flames which consume the
world. It is found to be connected with the myth concerning the oldest events of
mythology. In time's morning we find the fire-being Surt -- the representative of
subterranean fire -- as a creative force by the side of Mimir, who is a friend of the gods,
and whose kinsman he must be as a descendant of Ymir. Both work together in peace for
similar purposes and under the direction of the gods (Völuspá 9, 10). But then something
occurs which interrupts the amicable relations. Mimir and Surt no longer work together.
The fountain of creative force, the mead of wisdom and inspiration, is in the exclusive
possession of Mimir, and he and Urd are together the ruling powers in the lower world.
The fire-giant, the primeval artist, is then with his race relegated to the "deep dales,"
situated to the south (Völuspá 52), difficult of access, and dangerous for the gods to visit,
and presumably conceived as located deeper down than the lower world governed by
24 It is impossible to determine whether Surts sökkdölum, "Surts deep vales" is a proper placename or
simply a kenning for deep underground caverns.
The actual designation of Odin here is farmögnuður. Faulkes defines this word as "enhancer of the speed
of travel, of Odin in the form of an eagle" (Edda, Skáldskaparmál 2, Glossary and Index of Names) and
renders the phrase that "which the speedy one [Odin] flying bore from Surt's deep vales" (Edda, pg. 69).
Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur renders this name "the Strong-through-spells" (The Prose Edda, American-
Scandinavian Foundation 1960).