Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

which once was his, after the arch of Bifröst on this side is already broken under the
weight of the hosts of riders (Fáfnismál 14, 15; Völuspá 53). Óskópnir's plain must
therefore be referred to the south end of Bifröst and outside of the southern Hel-gate of
the lower world. The plain is also called Vígríður (Vafþrúðnismál 18), and is said to be
one hundred rasts long each way. As the gods who appear here in the conflict are called
in svásu goð "the sweet," and as Frey falls in the battle, those who go here to meet Surt
and his people seem to be particularly Vana-gods and Vanir, while those who contend
with the giants and with Loki's progeny are chiefly Aesir.
When the gods have ridden through the southern Hel-gate, there lie before them
magnificent regions over which Urd in particular rules, and which together with Mimir's
domain constitute the realms of bliss in the lower world with abodes for departed children
and women, and for men who were not chosen on the field of battle. Rivers flowing from
Hvergelmir flow through Urd's domain after they have traversed Mimir's realm. The way
leads the gods to the fountain of the norns, which waters the southern root of the worldtree,
and over which Yggdrasil's lower branches spread their ever-green leaves, shading
the gold-clad fountain, where swans swim and whose waters give the whitest color to
everything that comes in contact with them. In the vicinity of this fountain are the
thingstead with judgment-seats, a rostrum, and benches for the hosts of people who daily
arrive to be blessed or damned.
These hosts enter through the Hel-gate of the east. They traverse deep and dark
valleys, and come to a thorn-grown plain against whose pricks Hel-shoes protect those
who were merciful in their life on earth, and from there to the river mixed with blood,
which in its eddies whirls weapons and must be waded over by the wicked, but by the
good can be crossed on the driftwood which floats on the river. When this river is crossed
the way of the dead leads southward to the thingstead of the gods.
Further up there is a golden bridge across the river to the glorious realm where
Mimis holt and the glittering halls are situated, in which Baldur and the ásmegir await the
regeneration. Many streams come from Hvergelmir, among them Leiptur, on whose
waters holy oaths are taken, and cast their coils around these protected places, from
which sorrow, aging, and death are banished. The halls are situated in the eastern part of
Mimir's realm in the domain of the elf of the rosy dawn, for he is their watchman.
Further down in Mimir's land and under the middle root of the world-tree is the
well of creative force and of inspiration, and near it are Mimir's own golden halls.
Through this middle part of the lower world the road which Nott, Dag, Sol, and
Mani travel from Billing's domain to Delling's runs from west to east. When the mother
Nott whose car is drawn by Hrímfaxi makes her entrance through the western Hel-gate,
darkness is diffused along her course over the regions of bliss and accompanies her
chariot to the north, where the hall of Sindri, the great artist, is located, and toward Nidi‟s
mountains, at whose southern foot Nott takes her rest in her own home. Then those who
dwell in the northern regions of Jormungrund retire to rest (Hrafnagaldur Óðins 25); but
on the outer rim of Midgard there is life and activity, for there Dag's and Sol's cars then
diffuse light and splendor on land and sea. The hall of Sindri's race has a special
peculiarity. It is, as shall be shown below, the prototype of "the sleeping castle"
mentioned in the sagas of the Middle Ages.