The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson by Saemund Sigfusson and Snorre Sturleson

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HLIDSKJALF, a slope, a declivity; also to waver, to tremble.

HLINA, prop. HLIN, the _support_ on which a person leans, _i.e._ a
tutelary deity.

HLJODALFR, the Genius or Elf of Sound.

HLODYN, the name of Frigga, as the symbol of the earth; _protectress
of the hearth_--of the household. The Romans also worshipped a goddess
of the earth and of fire under the common name of Fornax, dea
fornacalis. Grimm mentions a stone found at Cleves with the remarkable
inscription--DEAE HLUDANAE SACRVM C. TIBERIVS VERVS, and remarks that
Hludana was neither a Roman nor a Celtic goddess, and could be no
other than Hlodyn, which shows the identity of the German and
Scandinavian Mythology.

HLOKK, or HLAUKK, to exalt, to clang, to cry like an eagle.

HNIKARR, or NIKARR, victor, a conqueror; to move, to agitate; to
thrust forward, to take by violence; to repel, to impede. _G._ m. Nix,
fern. Nixe, an aquatic genius. We may remark that the monks having
transformed Odin into the devil, our designation of his Satanic
Majesty, as _Old Nick_ appears to be a mere corruption of these
appellations of the Teutonic divinity.

HNOSSA, a ball of yarn, a clew of thread, a knot.

HODUR, prop. HODR. Grimm thinks that the original signification may
have been war, combat.

HOFVARPNIR, a horse that plies well its hoofs, a good goer.

HRAESVELGUR, lit. Raw-swallower, _i.e._ swallowing raw flesh like an
eagle.

HRAFNAGUD, the Ravens' god; brafn; _G._ rabe; _E._ raven.

HRIMFAXI: brim, rime, or hoar frost; fax, a crest, a mane. The _E._
prop, name Fairfax, means fair-haired.

HRIMTHURSAR, the Rim or Frost Giants: thurs, a giant.

HRINGHORN, lit. a ringed or annulated horn.

HRIST, from v. hrista, to shake, to agitate.

HRYM, HRYMUR, prob. from brim, rime--hoar frost.

HUGI, and HUGINN, from hugr, spirit, breath, thought, mind, reason.

HVERGELMIR, the roaring cauldron; a spring of hot water.

HYRROKIN, lit. Smoky-fire; utter darkness, also smoke.

IDAVOLLR: vollr, a field, a place; to flow together; to ramble, to
take a pleasant walk.

IDUNA, prop. IDUNN or ITHUNN. May mean one who loves either the
confluence of waters, or to work, or to take a pleasant ramble.

JAFNHAR. _The Equally High_; lit. even so high.

JARNVIDR, Iron-wood.

JORD, JORTH, the earth.

JORMUNGANDR. Gandr sig. serpent, and more prop, wolf: jormun is a word
of uncertain origin, but appears in all the anc. Teutonic lang. to
have expressed the idea of great, maximus, universal. The reader will
find much curious information on this subject in Grimm's admirable
work.

JOTUNHEIMR, lit. Giants'-home, the region of the Giants.

KERLAUG: ker, any kind of vessel, cup, bowl, &c; also used to denote
the bed of a river.

KJALARR, prob. from v. kjala, to transport, to convey; a ship, _a
keel_.

KVASIR. This word seems to be used in the sense of a _drinking bout._

LAUFEY, lit. Frondiferous-isle; an island.

LETTFETI, Lightfoot: light.

LIFTHRASIR, vital energy, longevity, life; enduring a long time.

LITUR, colour, complexion, form, the face.

LODURR, LODR, LOTHR, from the ob. _N._ lod, fire.

LOFNA, prop. LOFN, appears allegorlcally to denote perennial and
unchangeable love.

LOGI, Flame; a log of wood burnt or to be burnt.

LOKI, to shut; whence the _E._ to lock, to finish.

LOPTUR, the Aerial, the Sublime; the air; whence the _E._ lofty and
aloft, also a (hay) loft.

LYNGVI, from lyng or ling, the sweet broom, heath or ling.

MAGNI, the Potent, the Powerful; force, energy.

MANAGARMR, lit. the moon's wolf; a monster wolf or dog, voracious.

MANI, the moon.

MARDOLL, Sea-nymph; mere, the sea; whence our word mere, as
Windermere, Buttermere, &c: doll, a nymph; poetically a woman.

MEGINGJARDIR, the Girdle of Might, the Belt of Prowess.

MIDGARD, middleweard, the middleward; _see_ Asgard. Middling, mean.

MIMIR, or MIMER, to keep In memory; to be fanciful; mindful.

MJODVITNIR, lit. knowing in mead; wine; madja, palm-wine,

MJOLNIR, or MJOLLNIR, prob. from v. melja, to pound, or v. mala, to
grind; _E._ mill, and prob. with _L._ malleus, a mallet.

MODGUDUR, a valiant female warrior, _animosa bellona_: courage; mind;
_E._ mood; gracefulness, delectation.

MODSOGNIR, lit. sucking in courage or vigour.

MOINN, dwelling on a moor.

MUNINN, mind; _memory_, recollection; _G._ minne, love.

MUSPELLHEIMR, Muspell's region or home; used in the sense of elemental
or empyreal fire.

NAGLFAR, a nail from nagl, a human nail; according to the Prose Edda,
"constructed of the nails of dead men"; a seafaring man.

NAL. _G._ nadel; _A.S._ naedl; _E._ a needle.

NANNA. Grimm derives this word from the v. nenna, to dare.

NAR, a corpse.

NASTROND, a corpse; The Strand of the Dead.

NAUDUR, necessity; need.

NAUT, ph. from the v. njota, to make use of.

NIDAFJOLL, a rock, a mountain.

NIDHOGG, a phrase used to idicate the new and the waning moon.

NIDI, from nidr, downwards.

NIFLHEIMR, lit. Nebulous-home--the shadowy region of death.

NIFLHEL, from nifi and hel. _See_ the latter word.

NIFLUNGAR, the mythic-heroic ghosts of the shadowy realms of death.

NIPINGR, handsome; to contract, to curve.

NJORD, prop. NJORDR, humid; _Sk._ nar, nir, water; a wave; and
Neriman, an aquatic man.

NOTT; _D._ nat; _M.G._ naht; _G._ nacht; _A.S._ niht; _E._ night.

NYI, these dwarfs were symbolical of the new and the waning moon.

ODIN. _E._ to _wade_ through, consequently the Omnipotent Being that
_permeates all things_.

ODUR, the name of Freyja's husband. Odur may, like Kvasir, be the
personification of poetry.

ODHROERIR, Mind-exciting; the name of a vessel or kettle.

OFNIR, _E._ to weave. The word would thus sig. the textile or creating
power of Odin.

OMI, from omr, a sound, a crash; a name given to Odin, when like, the
Brahmlnlc Indra, he rattles aloft during a battle, or at daybreak.

ONDURDIS, Snow skates; _E._ to wander; dis, a nymph, a goddess.

ORGELMIR, Primordial Giant; also to roar, to howl, to clang, to
resound.

ORI, delirious (with love), one of the Erotic Genii.

OSKI, hence one who listens to the wishes of mankind.

RADGRID, lit. seeking power with avidity; power, empire council.

RADSVITHR, wise, powerful.

RAGNAROKR. The n. ragin signified _rath_, council, the pl. of which,
regin, Is used in the Eddaic Poems for the gods; that is to say, the
consulting, deliberating deities. It answers in fact fully to the _E._
word _rack_, Indicating atmospheric nebulosity; hence Ragnarok is very
approp. rendered by "The Twilight of the Gods."

RAN, to plunder; her spoil being those who were drowned at sea.

RANDGRID: rand, from rond, a shield.

RATATOSKR, from the v. rata; to permeate; the last sylb. may be
derived from _G._ tasche, a pocket or pouch; hence the Permeating
Pouch?

REGIN, Is often used In the sense of vast, immense; the vast sea.

REGINLEIF, dear to the gods, _see_ Regin.

RIGR, Rajah, a king.

RINDA, prop. RINDUR, sig. symbolically, the crust of the earth.

ROSKA, quick, lively, active.

SADR, SATHR, just, true, in sooth, verily.

SAEGR, a large vessel of any kind. The word was used by the Skalds
metaphorically for the sea.

SAGA. The personified saga or narration, from the v. segja, to say;
_G._ sage; _E._ a saying; _L._ Saga, a sorceress; sagax, saga-clous,
to foretell.

SANNGETALL, inquiring after; guessing at truth.

SESSRUMNIR, lit. Seat-roomy, _i.e._ having room for plenty of seats.

SID, declining, hanging, tending downward.

SIDHOTTR, lit. Hanging-hat or hood.

SIDSKEGGR, lit. Hanging-beard; _E._ shag and shaggy.

SIF, signifying peace, friendship, relationship, a goddess, Sibja,
Sippia, and Sib.

SIGFADIR, or SIGFODUR, the Father of Victory; _L._ pater.

SILFRINTOPPR, Silver-mane; _E._ silver: toppr, _see_ Gulltoppr.

SINDRI, either scintillating or producing dross.

SJOFNA. F. Mag. derives it from the v. sja, to see.

SKADI, the magpie received its name from this goddess.

SKAFIDR, shaving, scraping.

SKEGGOLD, lit. Old-beard; also denoted a particular kind of
battle-axe.

SKEIDBRIMIR, any space of time that is elapsing.

SKIDBLADNIR, lath, shingle, billet of wood, a sheath; _E._ blade, a
blade or _leaf_ of grass.

SKILFINGR, prob. to shake, to shatter.

SKINFAXI, Shining-mane: skin, splendour, light.

SKIRNIR, serene, pure, clear; E. sheer, which had formerly the same
meaning.

SKOGUL, prob. from v. skaga, to jut out; whence skagi, a promontory.

SKOLL, to stick to, to adhere, to strike, to smite.

SLEIPNIR. _E._ slippery.

SLIDRUGTANNI, cruel, fierce, savage.

SNOTRA, to blow the nose; a person, even a goddess, being much more
_tidy_ when the nostrils are thoroughly _emunctated._

SOKKVABEKKR, lit. Sinking-brook; to sink; an estuary, a shore, a
brook.

SON, sound, song, _sonus_, _cantus_.

SURTUR, obscure, invisible; and invisible, unintelligible!! Surtur,
according to Fin Magnusen, the invisible, unintelligible being whom
the ancient Scandinavians regarded as "the great First Cause least
understood" of all things.

SVADILFARI, lubricity, also slippery ice.

SVAFNIR, prob. from v. svefa, to cast asleep; sleep, quiet, repose.

SVALINN, the Refrigerating; to cool, to refrigerate.

SVARTALFAHEIMR, lit. Black or Swart Elves' home, region of the Elves
of Darkness in contradistincition to that of the Elves of Light.

SVARTHOFDI, Black-head; svartr, black, swart.

SVASUTHR, Sweet-south; blithe, jocund, dear.

SVIDR and SVIDRIR, from v. svida, to scorch; or wise, powerful.

SVIPALL, to hasten, to vibrate; to wave, to hover; also with _E._ v.
to sweep.

SYLGR, a draught or deglutition; to swallow; to swill; to guzzle, to
feast.

SYN, signifying equity; syn. defence, excuse, negation, impediment,
which has been personified into a judicial goddess.

SYNIR, having a fine appearance.

TANNGNIOSTR, Gnashing-teeth; to bruise, crack, grind, gnash.

THEKKR, to know; _E._ to think. The adj. thekkr means also amiable.

THODNUMA, men, people, nations.

THOR, contraction of Thonar, a word indicating a God who, like Thor,
presided over _thunder_ and atmospherical phenomena.

THORINN, from thor, audacity; whence the v. thora; to dare.

THRAINN, the Pertinacious; from the v. thra, to desire vehemently.

THRIDI, _The Third_.

THROR, ph. from v. throa, to increase, to amplify.

THRUDUR. Thrudr is an obsolete _N._ word signifying fortitude,
firmness; but it appears to have originally had, in most of the
Teutonic languages the sig. of maiden, virgin; and was afterwards used
in the sense of witch, sorceress.

THRUDVANGR, the Abode or Region or Fortitude.

THRYM. F. Mag. says the word is _undoubtedly_ derived from thruma,
thunder.

THUNDR, can be derived from thund, a breastplate, a coat of mail.

THYN, to thunder, to make a thundering noise, as a rapid current does.

TYR, signifying God; as well as the _L._ Jupiter, for which he assumes
a nom. Ju or Jus, Jupiter.

URD, VERDANDI, and SKULD, the Present, Past, and Future. The names of
the Destinies of the Present and Past.

UTGARD, prop. UTGARDR, lit. Outer-ward. _See_ Midgard.

VAFTHRUDNIR, from the v. vefa, to involve, prop, to weave.

VAFUDR, the Weaver, or the Constrainer.

VAKR, VAKUR, alert, lively, vigilant.

VALASKJALF, choice, election.

VALFADIR, or VALFODUR, lit. the Choosing Father.

VALHALLA, prop, VALHOLL, lit. the Hall of the Chosen: may also have
originally indicated a temple.

VALKYRJOR, or VALKYRJUR, sing. VALKYRJA, lit. Choosers of the Slain;
denoted the slain in battle; a poetical word for a field of battle.

VANADIS, prop, a Goddess of the Vanir. _See_ that word, and _Dis_.

VANIR, beautiful; with the _L._ venustus and Venus, and ph. with the
_E. wench_.

VASADR, from vas, moisture, a word cog. with the _E._ wet and wash.

VE. Was used in the m. sing, to express a particular god; that in the
pi. it would be vear, gods, idols; a temple.

VEDURFOLNIR might be rendered Storm-stilling; causing serenity.

VEGSVINN, lit Road-knowing.

VERATYR, lit. the Man-god.

VESTRI, west, occidental.

VIDAR, a tree; wood; and prob. also weed and withy.

VIDBLAINN, expanded azure (lit. Wide-blue).

VIDFINNR, wide, vast.

VIDOLFR, or VIDALFR, lit. Sylvan Elf.

VIDRIR, Moderator of the weather; to still the weather.

VIGRID, from vig, a battle; battle craft, the art of war.

VILI, Will. To will; to choose; to elect.

VILMEITHR, an old word for tree.

VIN, and VINA, a friend, to love, to favour; winsome.

VINDALFR, Wind Elf.

VINDSVALR; vindr, wind: and svalr, cold, glacial.

VINGOLF, lit. the Abode of Friends; golf means lit. a floor.

VOLUNDR. The word denotes a skilful artificer, in which sense it is
still used by the Icelanders; he is a famous workman--a Wayland--in
iron; and they very appropriately term a labyrinth a Wayland-house.

VOLUSPA, a sybil or prophetess.

YGGDRASILL, from Ygg, one of Odin's names (see the following word) and
drasill, bearing; hence, according to F. Mag., it would sig. bearing
(producing) rain, or bearing Odin.

YGGR., to meditate, and also to fear; hence the word might be rendered
by either the Meditating or the Terrible.

YLG, the Howling; to howl.

YMIR, a confused noise, like the rustling of trees when shaken by the
wind; also the clang of metals.

SIEGFRIED AWAKENS BRYNHILD.

(_after the painting of R. Bung._)

The story of Siegfried and Byrnhild constitutes the greatest epic in
Teutonic Gothic literature. Its origin is hard to trace, but parts of
the legends carry the investigator back to Iranian sources. Its
greatest development, however, may justly be credited to Icelandic
sagas, in which the mythology of the Norse people has a prominent
place. In both the Gothic and Teutonic versions, while considerable
variation of incident is noticeable, the awakening of Brynhild, a
valkyrie maiden, and daughter of Wotan, is represented as having been
accomplished by Siegfried, who rides through a wall of flames which
surrounds her, and thus breaks the spell which binds her to sleep
until a warrior fearless enough to brave fire shall come to claim her
for a bride.

[Illustration]

A FEAST IN VALHALLA.

(_From a painting by Jno. Kellar._)

An admirable description of a feast of the gods, in Valhalla, will be
found on pages 293-94-95 of this volume. It was a strong belief among
the Goths, prior to the introduction of Christianity among them, that
the bodies of all warriors who met their deaths in battle were
transported directly to Valhalla by Valkyrie maidens on the backs of
winged horses. Upon reaching this mythological heaven the dead were
revived and ever thereafter enjoyed drinking mead, eating swine flesh,
and in fighting their battles over again every day.

[Illustration]

THE DEATH OF ATLI.

(_From a painting by S. Goldberg._)

Atli has been identified as Attila, called in history "the Scourge of
God," a king of the Huns who twice defeated the Romans under
Theodosius, and plundered the eternal city itself. He was guilty of
many excesses and is reported to have died of a hemorrhage on the day
following his marriage with Ildico (453). In the story of Seigfried
and Brynhild, however, he is represented as having married Gudran,
daughter of Grimhild and King Giuki, who it will be recalled by
readers of the other volumes of this series, beguiled Siegfried by
means of a magic potion, into marriage with her. Her feelings revolted
against an alliance with Atli, but she accepted him for a husband in
order thereby to obtain the power to gratify her vengeance against
Hogni (Hagan), who had assassinated Siegfried.

[Illustration]

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