Asgard and the Gods The Tales and Traditions of Our Northern Ancestors Adapted from the work of W. Wagner by M. W. Macdowall London, 1884

CONTENTS PREFACE — p. vii INTRODUCTION — p. 1 Myths and stories of the gods — 3 The gods, their worlds and deeds — 4 Odin, Wudan, Wuotan — 5 Frigg, or Freya, and her handmaids — 6 Thor or Thunar — 6 Tyr, Tius or Zio — 9 Heru, Cheru or Saxnot — 9 Heimdal or Riger — 10 Bragi and Iduna — 10 The Wanes, Niörder, Freyer, Freya — 10 Fate, Norns, Hel, Walkyries — 10 Ögir and his companions — 11 Loki — 11 The other gods — 12 The Golden Age — 12 Sin — 13 Iduna’s departure — 13 Baldur’s death — 14 Ögir’s banquet — 15 Loki in chains — 15 Ragnarok — 16 Lay of the Norse gods and heroes — 18 Part I LEGENDS AND MYTHS — p. 22 Creation of the world — 22 Day and Night — 24 Two first human beings — 25 Allfather — 25 Yggdrasil, the World-Ash — 26 The divine kingdom — 31 Influence of Christianity — 32 The Runic language — 33 Part II THE GODS, THEIR WORLDS AND DEEDS — p. 36 The Norns — 36 Dwarfs and Elves — 38 Giants — 42 Worlds and heavenly palaces — 47 Part III OPPONENTS OF THE GODS — p. 51 Loki and his kindred — 53 The giants — 55 Muspel and his sons — 56 Surtur — 57 Part IV KING GYLPHI AND THE ASES — p. 58 Gefion — 53 Gylphi in Asgard — 62 Part V ODIN, FATHER OF THE GODS AND OF THE ASES — p. 66 Wodan, according to the oldest conceptions — 71 The myths of the Wild Hunt and of the Raging Host — 72 The sleeping heroes — 78 The higher conception of Wodan — 81 Odin at Geirod’s Palace — 83 Odin, the discoverer of the Runes, and god of poetry and of wisdom — 86 The draught of inspiration; Odin’s visit to Gunlod; Journey to Wafthrudnir — 88 Odin’s descendants — 94 Frigg and her maidens — 96 Other goddesses related to Frigg — 102 Holda, Ostara — 107 Berchta — 115 The White Lady — 116 Thor, Thunar (Thunder) — 121 Thor’s deeds and journeys; Making of Miölnir — 125 Journey to Utgard — 129 Duel with Hrungnir — 137 Journey to Hymir — 141 Journey to Thrymheim to get back Miölnir — 142 Journey to Geiröd’s-gard — 147 The Harbard Lay — 151 Irmin — 151 Tyr or Zio — 155 Heru or Cheru, Saxnot — 161 Heimdal, Riger — 166 Bragi and Iduna — 172 Giant Thiassi steals Iduna — 174 Uller — 177 Part VI THE WANES — p. 181 Niörder and Skadi — 183 Freyer and Fro — 189 The wonderful Quern Stones — 191 Skirnir’s Journey to Gerda — 199 Young Swendal — 204 Freya, Frea or Frouwa — 206 Rerir and his love Helga — 209 Swipdager returns to Menglada’s Castle — 212 PART VII — p. 217 Fate — 217 Legend of Starkad — 219 King Fridleif — 222 The Norns — 222 Hel — 225 The Walkyries — 227 Legend of King Kraki — 227 Dises — 233 Mandrake root — 234 Part VIII ÖGIR AND HIS FOLLOWERS — p. 236 Legend of the Lake Maiden — 236 Legend of the Loreley — 241 The Water–neck — 245 Part IX LOKI AND HIS RACE — p. 247 The giant Skrymsli and the peasant — 247 Loki’s progeny — 250 Loki’s race — 251 Part X THE OTHER ASES — p. 252 Widar — 252 Hermodur the Swift — 254 Wali or Ali, Skeaf — 256 Legend of King Skeaf — 257 Baldur and Hödur — 259 Forseti — 264 Part XI SIGNS OF THE APPROACHING DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD — p. 265 The Golden Age — 265 Sin — 266 Iduna’s departure — 270 Part XII BALDUR’S DEATH — p. 273 How Wala was conjured up — 273 Loki visits Frigg in the dress of an old woman — 276 Death of Baldur — 278 Hermodur sent to the realm of the shades — 282 Wali appears at Walhalla, and avenges Baldur — 285 Part XIII LOKI’S CONDEMNATION — p. 287 Ögir’s banquet — 287 Loki reviles the gods, 289 Loki flees, is captured and put in chains — 290 The faithful Sigyn — 294 Part XIV RAGNAROK, THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS — p. 296 The Fimbul-Winter — 296 The Last Battle — 298 Surtur flings his fire-brands over the nine worlds — 301 Renewal of the World — 301 Lif and Lifthrasir — 302 The Field of Ida — 305 The Lay of Wala — 309 GENERAL INDEX — p. 317

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