Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

Over Nidi‟s mountains and the lands beyond them we find Yggdrasil's third root,
watered by the Hvergelmir fountain, the mother of all waters. The Nida mountains
constitute Jormungrund's great watershed, from which rivers rush down to the south and
to the north. In Hvergelmir's fountain and above it the world-mill is built through whose
mill-stone eye water rushes up and down, causing the maelstrom and ebb and flood tide,
and scattering the meal of the mill over the bottom of the sea. Nine giantesses march
along the outer edge of the world pushing the mill-handle before them, while the mill and
the starry heavens at the same time are revolved.
Where the Elivogar rivers rise out of Hvergelmir, and on the southern strand of
the mythic Gandvik, is found a region which, after one of its inhabitants, is called Iði's
pasture (Idja setur - Þórsdrápa 2). 15 Here dwell warriors of mixed elf and giant blood
(see the treatise on the Ivaldi race), who received from the gods the task of being a guard
of protection against the neighboring giant-world.
Farther toward the north rise the Nida mountains and form the steep wall which
constitutes Niflhel's southern boundary. In this wall are the Na-gates, through which the
damned when they have died their second death are brought into the realm of torture,
whose ruler is Leikin. Niflheim is inhabited by the spirits of the primeval giants, by the
spirits of disease, and by giants who have fallen in conflict with the gods. Under Niflhel
extend the enormous caves in which the various kinds of criminals are tortured. In one of
these caves is the torture hall of the Nastrands. Outside of its northern door is a grotto
guarded by swarthy elves. The door opens to Amsvartnir's sea, over which eternal
darkness broods. In this sea lies the Lyngvi-holm, within whose jurisdiction Loki, Fenrir,
and "Muspel's sons" are fettered. Somewhere in the same region Bifröst descends to its
well-fortified northern bridgehead. The citadel is called Himinbjörg, "the defense or
rampart of heaven." Its chieftain is Heimdall.
While Bifröst's arch stands in a direction from north to south, the way on which
Mani and Sol travel across the heavens goes from east to west. Mani's way is below
Asgard.
The movable starry heaven is not the only, nor is it the highest, canopy stretched
over all that has been mentioned above. One can go so far to the north that even the
horizon of the starry heavens is left in the rear. Outside, the heavens Andlangur and
Víðbláinn support their edges against Jormungrund (Gylfaginning 17). All this creation is
supported by the world-tree, on whose topmost bough the cock Vidofnir glitters.
94.
THE SEVEN SLEEPERS.
Völuspá gives an account of the events which forebode and lead up to Ragnarok.
Among these we also find that leika Míms synir, that is, that the sons of Mimir "spring
up," "fly up," "get into lively motion." But the meaning of this has previously been an
unsolved problem. 16
15 "Iði is here used as a generic giant name, his setur ("seat, residence") being equivalent to Jötunheim."
Eysteinn Björnsson, Þórsdrápa 2:8 website.
16 The meaning of this passage is still uncertain today. Of this passage, Carolyne Larrington says: "The sons
of Mim are unknown. Mim in l. 4 seems to be identical with Mimir." (Poetic Edda, p. 265) Ursula Dronke