On The Vanir
The Germanic mythology, like the Vedic mythology, knows two high clans of gods. In character, both clans completely correspond to one another. Among the Teutons, these clans are called the Aesir and the Vanir. The Aesir’s call is to defend the order of the world against its foes. For this reason, they inhabit a realm
Frigg -Friia- Frea – Nerthus – Mother Earth
The life-producing, fruit-bearing earth’s female representative among the powers, the goddess Frigg, has, as I shall demonstrate below, mythological prerequisites that go back to the Proto-Indo-European era; but, as a pronounced epic personality, she belongs to the same period that gave rise to Njörd, Frey, and Freyja. In order not to perpetuate an error that
Agni-Heimdall, the Culture-Bringer
~Agni-Heimdall, the Culture-Bringer~ 76) As we have seen, the Indo-European concept of the first human pair was far removed from that of Christian dogma in that they possessed brilliance in reason and holiness in will. One seems rather to have imagined them as gifted but unevolved and as such, easily accessible to evil. Their offspring
THE WAY OF THOSE FALLEN BY THE SWORD TO VALHAL IS THROUGH THE LOWER WORLD.
The modern conception of the removal of those fallen by the sword to Asgard is that the valkyries carried them immediately through blue space to the halls above. The heathens did not conceive the matter in this manner. It is true that the mythological horses might carry their riders through the air without pressing a
THE WAY TO HADES COMMON TO THE DEAD
It has already been demonstrated that all the dead must go to Hel—not only they whose destination is the realm of bliss, but also those who are to dwell in Asgard or in[Pg 483] the regions of torture in Nifelheim. Thus the dead tread at the outset the same road. One and the same route
The Two Thingsteads of the Asa
The Asas have two thingsteads: the one in Asgard, the other in the lower world. In the former a council is held and resolutions passed in such matters as pertain more particularly to the clan of the Asas and to their relation to other divine clans and other powers. When Balder is visited by ugly
URD’S MAID-SERVANTS: (1) MAID-SERVANTS OF LIFE—NORNS, DISES OF BIRTH,
HAMINGJES, GIPTES, FYLGIES; (2) MAID-SERVANTS OF DEATH—VALKYRIES
As those beings for whom Urd determines birth, position in life, and death, are countless, so 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.
THE PURPOSE OF MIMIR’S GROVE IN THE REGENERATION OF THE WORLD
Investigations into Germanic Mythology, Volume 1 by Viktor Rydberg IV. THE PURPOSE OF MIMIR’S GROVE IN THE REGENERATION OF THE WORLD. We now know the purpose of Ódáinsakur, Mimir’s land and Mimir’s grove in the world-plan of our mythology. We know who the inhabitants of the grove are, and why they, though dwellers in the lower
MIMIR’S GROVE. LIF AND LEIFTHRASIR.
“ Investigations into Germanic Mythology ” – by VIKTOR RYDBERG Translated and Annotated by William P. Reaves © 2010 All Rights Reserved The grove is called after its ruler and guardian, Mimir’s or Treasure-Mimir’s grove (Mímis holt – Uppsala Codex of Gylfaginning 53; Hoddmímis holt – Vafþrúðnismál 45, Gylfaginning 53). 7 Gylfaginning describes the destruction of the world and its regeneration, and then relates how the
Germanic Myths of Proto-Indo-European Origin. (2)
– The Three Underworld Springs-
Viktor Rydberg’s Investigations into Germanic Mythology Volume II Part 1: Indo-European Mythology Translated and Annotated by William P. Reaves © 2010 All Rights Reserved I. Germanic Myths of Proto-Indo-European Origin – THE THREE WELLS – 13) In Norse mythology there are three well-known world-wells: Hvergelmir, the northerly; Mimir’s well, the middlemost; and Urd’s well, the southerly. The
