Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

substantially the same as that of the subterranean fountains, which contain the elixir of
life, wisdom, and poesy (cp. Nos. 72, 82, and elsewhere).
At what time, Mimir's grove was opened as an asylum for Lif and Leifthrasir,
whether this happened during or shortly before the fimbul-winter, or perchance long
before it, on this point there is not a word in the passages quoted from Vafþrúðnismál.
But by the following investigation, the problem shall be solved.
The Germanic mythology has not looked upon the regeneration of the world as a
new creation. The life which in time's morning developed out of chaos is not destroyed
by Surt's flames, but rescues itself, purified, for the coming age of the world. The worldtree
survives the conflagration, for it defies both edge and fire (Fjölsvinnsmál, 20, 21-
fellir-at hann eldur né járn). 1 The Ida-plains are not annihilated. After Ragnarok, as in
the beginning of time, they are the scene of the assemblings of the gods (Völuspá 7-
Hittust æsir á Iðavelli ; Völuspá 61- Finnast æsir á Iðavelli). Vanaheim is not affected by
the destruction, for Njörd shall in aldar rök 2 (Vafþrúðnismál 39) return there "to wise
Vanir ." Odin's dwellings of victory remain, and are inhabited after the regeneration by
Baldur and Hodur (Völuspá 63- Búa þeir Baldur og Höður Hropts sigtóftir). The new sun
is the daughter of the old one, and was born before Ragnarok, which she passes through
unscathed (Vafþrúðnismál 46-47). The ocean does not disappear in Ragnarok, for the
present earth sinks beneath its surface (Völuspá 58- sígur fold í mar), and the new earth
after regeneration rises from its deep (Völuspá 60 - jörð úr ægi). Gods survive (Völuspá
61, 63, 64 - æsir, Höður og Baldur, Hænir); Vafþrúðnismál 51 -Víðar og Váli, Móði og
Magni; cp. Gylfaginning 53). Human beings survive, for Lif and Leifthrasir are destined
to become the connecting link between the present human race and the better race which
is to spring therefrom. Animals and plants survive - though the animals and plants on the
surface of the earth perish; but the earth risen from the sea was decorated with green, and
there is not the slightest reference to a new act of creation to produce the green
vegetation. Its cascades contain living beings, and over them flies the eagle in search of
his prey (Völuspá 60; see further, No. 55). A work of art from antiquity is also preserved
in the new world. The game of tafl, with which the gods played in their youth while they
were yet free from care, is found again amid the grass on the new earth (Völuspá 8 -
Tefldu í túni; Völuspá 62 - gullnar töflur í grasi finnast; see further, No. 55).
If the regeneration had been conceived as a new creation, a wholly new beginning
of life, then the human race of the new era would also have started from a new creation of
a human pair. The myth about Lif and Leifthrasir would then have been unnecessary and
superfluous. But the fundamental idea is that the life of the new era is to be a continuation
of the present life purified and developed to perfection, and from the standpoint of this
fundamental idea Lif and Leifthrasir are necessary.
The idea of improvement and perfection is most clearly held forth in regard to
both the physical and spiritual condition of the future world. All that is weak and evil
shall be redeemed (böls mun alls batna - Völuspá 63). In that perfection of nature, the
fields unsown by men shall yield their harvests. To secure the restored world against
1 The following passages from Old Norse in this paragraph and similar references from here on out are not
found in Rydberg's work, and were added by Eysteinn Björnsson on his website "Viktor Rydberg's Teutonic
Mythology" at http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/ugm0.html upon which the current version of the English
text is based.
2 "the doom of men," i.e. Ragnarok.