Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

journey around the world. From a mythological standpoint, it would therefore be possible
to entrust the keeping of the castle of the ásmegir to the elf of dawn. The sunset-glow has
another genius, Billing, and he, too, is a creation of Modsognir, if the dwarf-list is correct
(Völuspá, Hauksbók). Sol, who on her way is pursued by two giant monsters in wolfguise,
is secure when she comes to her forest of the Varns 6 behind the western horizon
(til varna viðar - Grímnismál 39). There "in western halls" (Vegtamskviða 11) dwells
Billing, the chief of the Varns (Billing veold Vernum 7 - Widsith, Exeter Book 320). There
rests his daughter Rind bright as the sun on her bed, and his body-guard keeps watch with
kindled lights and burning torches (Hávamál 97; cp. 100). Thus Billing is the watchman
of the western boundary of Mimir's domain, Delling of the eastern.
From this it follows:
that the citadel of the ásmegir is situated in Mimir's lower world, and there in the
regions of the elf of dawn.
that Svipdag, who has seen the citadel of the ásmegir, has made a journey in the
lower world before he found Menglad and secured her as his wife.
The conclusion at which we have arrived in regard to the subterranean situation of
the citadel is entirely confirmed by the other passage in the Poetic Edda, where the
ásmegir are mentioned by this name. Here we have an opportunity of taking a look within
their castle, and of seeing the hall decorated with lavish splendor for the reception of an
expected guest.
Vegtamskvida 6-7 tells us that Odin, being alarmed in regard to the fate of his son
Baldur, made a journey to the lower world for the purpose of learning from a vala what
foreboded his favorite son. When Odin had rode through Niflhel and come to green
pastures (foldvegr), he found there below a hall decorated for festivity, and he asks the
prophetess:
Hveim eru bekkir
baugum sánir,
flet fagurleg
flóuð gulli?"
"For whom are the benches strewn with rings and the gold beautifully scattered
through the rooms?"
And the vala answers:
Hér stendur Baldri
um brugginn mjöður,
skírar veigar,
liggur skjöldur yfir,
en ásmegir
í ofvæni.
6 Varna viðr can also be translated "the protecting woods." If the Varns are the name of a people, nowhere
else are they named in Old Norse literature.
7 "Billing ruled the Verns" (written in Old English)