Teutonic Mythology

Gods and Goddessesof the Northland

IN

THREE VOLUMES

By VIKTOR RYDBERG, Ph.D.,

MEMBER OF THE SWEDISH ACADEMY; AUTHOR OF "THE LAST ATHENIAN"AND OTHER WORKS.

AUTHORISED TRANSLATION FROM THE SWEDISH

BY

RASMUS B. ANDERSON, LL.D.,
EX-UNITED STATES MINISTER TO DENMARK; AUTHOR OF "NORSE
MYTHOLOGY," "VIKING TALES," ETC.

HON. RASMUS B. ANDERSON, LL.D., Ph.D.,
EDITOR IN CHIEF.
J. W. BUEL, Ph.D.,
MANAGING EDITOR.

VOL. II.

PUBLISHED BY THE
NORRŒNA SOCIETY,
LONDON COPENHAGEN STOCKHOLM BERLIN NEW YORK
1906

OF THE
Viking Edition

There are but six hundred and fifty sets made for the world,of which this is

No. 99

COPYRIGHT,
T. H. SMART,
1905.

VALKYRIES BRINGING THE BODY OF A SLAINWARRIOR TO VALHALLA

(From an etching by Lorenz Frölich.)

Heimdal, the god of light, father of men, sire of kings, waswarder of the gates of Valhalla and lived in a castle at theend of the rainbow (Bifröst bridge). He possessed a trumpetcalled Gjallarhorn with which he summoned together the gods atRagnarok. He is represented as the zealous gate-keeper whoreceived and admitted to Valhalla the bodies of warriors slainin battle, when brought hence by Valkyrie maidens who gatheredthem from battle-fields. Valhalla was the abode of Odinin Asgard which was situated in Gladsheim, the valley of joy.In this paradise dead warriors were revived and spent all after-timefighting, feasting, and drinking as the guests of Odin, pursuingthose pleasures that most delighted them when in the flesh.

TEUTONIC MYTHOLOGY.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

VOLUME TWO