Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

northernmost part, which always is shrouded in night. From Hliðskjálf the eye cannot
discern what is done there. But Heimdall keeps watch there, and when anything unusual
is perceived Odin sends the raven Huginn (Hugur) thither to spy it out (Hrafnagaldur
Óðins, 10, 3, which strophes belong together). 6 But from Hliðskjálf as the point of
observation the earth conceals all that part of Jormungrund below it; and as it is important
to Odin that he should know all that happens there, Hugin and Munin fly daily over these
subterranean regions: Huginn og Muninn fljúga hverjan dag jörmungrund yfir
(Grímnismál 20). 7 The expeditions of the ravens over Niflhel in the north and over Surt's
"deep dales" in the south expose them to dangers: Odin expresses his fear that some
misfortune may befall them on these excursions (Grímnismál 20).
In the western and eastern parts of jaðarr Jörmungrundar dwell the two divine
clans the Vans and Elves, and the former rule over the whole zone ever since "the gods in
time's morning" gave Frey, Njörd's bounteous son, Alfheim as a tooth-gift (Grímnismál
5). Delling is to be regarded as clan-chief of the Elves (light-Elves), since in the very
theogony he is ranked with the most ancient powers. With Mimir's daughter Nott he
becomes the father of Dag and the progenitor of Dags synir (the light-Elves). 8 It has
already been emphasized (see No. 53) that he is the lord of the rosy dawn, and that
outside of his doors the song of awakening is sung every morning over the world: "Power
to the Aesir, success to the Elves, and wisdom to Hroptatyr" (Hávamál 100). The glow of
dawn blazes up from his domain beyond the eastern horizon. Where this clan-chieftain of
the Elves dwells, there the mythology has referred the original home of his clan.
Álfheimur occupies the eastern part of Jormungrund's zone. It is in the eastern part that
Dag, Delling's son, and Sol, his kinswoman, mount their chariots to make their journey
around the earth in the sky. Here is also the Hel-gate through which all the dead must
pass in the lower world (No. 68).
There are many proofs that the giant settlement with the Ironwood or Mirkwood
was conceived as extending from the north over large portions of the east (Völuspá 40,
50, etc.). 9 These regions of Alfheim constitute the southern coasts of the Elivogar, and are
the scenes of important events in the epic of the mythology (see the treatise on the Ivaldi
race).
Vanaheim is situated in the western half of the zone. At the banquet in Ægir's hall,
described in Lokasenna 34, Loki says to Njörd:
þú varst austur héðan
gísl um sendur goðum -
"From here you were sent east as a hostage to the gods."
6 HRG 10 reads: Odin listens in Hlidskjalf watched the travellers' distant journey." HRG 3 reads: "Hugur
then disappears seeking the heavens, men's ruin is suspected, if he's delayed." (Eysteinn Björnsson and
William Reaves tr.)
7 In this verse Jormungrund is commonly translated as "the spacious earth" and understood as Midgard.
8 The term Dags synir is derived from Sigurdrífumál 3. In Skáldskaparmál 80 (Faulkes, 64) Snorri names
Dag as one of Halfdan's nine sons. There his descendants are called Daglingar. This may be derived from
an older source since we also find Nef and the Niflungs there.
9 For passages in which the location of Mirkwood can be inferred, see also Lokasenna 42, Völundarkviða 1,
Atlakviða 13.