H. A. Guerber

“ When questioned concerning the creation of the world, the Northern scalds, or poets, whose songs are preserved in the Eddas and Sagas, declared that in the beginning, when ther was as yet no earth, nor sea, nor air, when darkness rested over all, there existed a powerful being called Allfather, whom they dimly conceived as uncreated as well as unseen, and that whatever he willed came to pass. ”

“ To support the heavenly vault, the gods stationed the strong dwarfs, Nordri, Sudri, Austri, Westri, at its four corners, bidding them sustain it upon their shoulders, and from them the four points of the compass received their present names of North, South, East, and West. To give light to the world thus created, the gods studded the heavenly vault with sparks secured from Muspells-heim, points of light which shone steadily through the gloom like brilliant stars. ”

“ Balder Dead (Matthew Arnold) . Here he took up his abode, calling the place Jötun-heim (the home of the giants) , and here hebegat a new race of frost-giants, who inherited his dislikes, contintued the feud, and were always ready to sally forth from their desolate country and raid the territory of the gods.
The gods, in Northern mythology called Æsir (pillars and supporters of the world) , having thus triumphed over their foes, and being no longer engaged in perpetual warfare, now began to look about them, with intent to improve the desolate aspect of things and fashion a habitable world. ”

“ THE BEGINNING Myths of Creation ALTHOUGH the Aryan inhabitants of Northern Europe are supposed by some authoritites to have come originally from the plateau of Iran, in the heart of Asia, the climate and scenery of the countires where they finally settled had great influence in shaping their early religious beliefs, as well as in ordering their mode of living. ”

“ As soon as the gods became aware ofthis beautiful being's existence they provided a chariot for him also, drawn by the resplendent white steed Skin-faxi (shining mane) , from whose mane bright beams of light shone forth in every direction, illuminating all the world, and bringing light and gladness to all. ”

“ It is no great wonder, therefore, that the Icelanders, for instance to whom we owe the most perfect records of this belief, fancied in looking about them that the world was originally created from a strange mixture of fire and ice. ”

“ Dwarfs and Elves While the gods were occupied in creating the earth and providing for its illumination, a whole host of maggot-like creatures had been breeding in Ymir's flesh. These uncouth beings now attracted divine attention. Summoning them into their presence, the gods first gave them forms and endowed them with superhuman intelligence, and then divided them into two large classes. ”

“ It was very natural that the dangers incurred in hunting and fishing under these inclement skies, and the suffering entailed by the long cold winters when the sun never shines, made our ancestors contemplate cold and ice as malevolent spirits ”

“ Its principal theme is the perpetual struggle of the beneficent forces of Nature against the injurious and hence it is not graceful and idyllic in character, like the religion of the sunny South, where the people could bask in perpetual sunshine, and the fruits of the earth grew ready to their hand. ”

“ As a further result of the conference the gods set up a forge where they fashioned all their weapons and the tools required to build the magnificent palaces of precious metals, in which they lived for many long years in a state of such perfect happiness that this period has been called the Golden Age. ”

“ WHile the cow had been thus engaged, Ymir, the giant, had fallen aspleep, and as he slept, a son and daughter were born from the perspiration under his armpit, and his feet produced the six-headed giant Thrudgelmir, who, shortly after his birth, brought forth in his turn the giant Bergelmir, from whom all the evil frost giants are descended. ”