Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

örlög (nom. pl.; the original meaning seems to be ur-laws, that is, the original laws) 17
frequently has a decided leaning to the idea of death (cp. Völuspá 31: Eg sá Baldri örlög
fólgin). 18 Hakon Jarl's örlög was that Kark cut his throat (Njal's Saga, ch. 100). 19 Among
the Germanic branches in Germany and England to receive the "judgment of the norns"
was identical with being doomed to die (Heimskringla, Ynglingasaga 47, Ynglingatal 32 -
norna dóms notið hafði). 20 Fate and death were in the idea and in usage so closely related,
that they were blended into one personality in the mythology. The ruler of death was that
one who could resolve death; but the one who could determine the length of life, and so
also could resolve death, and the kind of death, was, of course, the goddess of fate. They
must blend into one.
In the ancient Norse documents, we also find the name Urd used to designate
death, just as in Heliand and Beowulf, and this, too, in such a manner that Urd's personal
character is not emphasized. Ynglingatal 28 calls Ingjald's manner of death his Urðr, and
to determine death for anyone was to draga Urðr at him [Egilsson's, Lex. Poet. - draga
urð at e-m: cause someone's death].
Far down in the Christian centuries the memory survived that Urd was the
goddess of the realm of death and of death. When a bright spot, which was called Urd's
moon, appeared on the wall, it meant the breaking out of an epidemic (Eyrbyggja Saga,
chapter 52). Even as late as the year 1237, Urd is supposed to have revealed herself, the
night before Christmas, to Snaebjorn to predict a bloody conflict, and she then sang a
song in which she said that she went mournfully to the contest to choose a man for
death. 21 Saxo translates Urðr or Hel with "Proserpina" (Hist., Book 3 - "the goddess of
death" - Fisher).
64.
URD'S MAID-SERVANTS: (1) MAID-SERVANTS OF LIFE: NORNS, DISES OF
BIRTH, HAMINGJUR, GIPTUR, FYLGJUR; (2) MAID-SERVANTS OF DEATH:
VALKYRIES, THE PSYCHOPOMPS OF DISEASES AND ACCIDENTS.
Since the beings for whom Urd determines birth, position in life, and death, are
countless, so too her servants, who perform the tasks commanded by her as queen, must
also be innumerable. They belong to two large classes: the one class is active in her
service in regard to life, the other in regard to death.
Most intimately associated with her are her two sisters. With her they have the
authority of judges. Compare Völuspá 20, and the expressions norna dómur, norna
kviður. And they dwell with her under the world-tree, which stands for ever green over
her gold-clad fountain.
17 "From legan (to lay down, constituere) like the AS lage, ON lög (lex); therefore urlac, fundamental
laws." Grimm, DM Vol. I, 16, 3. (Stallybrass tr.)
18 "I saw Baldur's fate concealed."
19 "That was the örlog of Earl Hakon, that Kark the thrall cut his throat." A full description of Jarl Hakon's
death at the hands of Tormod Kark is recounted in Heimskringla, Saga Ólafs Tryggvasonar, chapter 51.
20 "had to suffer the judgement (the doom) of the Norns."
21 This reference is most likely from the Íslendingasögur or the Konungasögur. Rydberg has not provided
information to adequately trace it, nor do I find it in Grimm.