Hector Munro Chadwick

“ Tacitus states that the ancient Germans worshipped Mercurius more than any other god, and that they offered him human sacrifices. Many scholars connect the origin of the deity with the popular German and Swedish belief in a raging host (in Germany called das wütende Heer or Wutes Heer, but in Sweden Odens Jagt) , which passes through the forests on stormy nights. ”

“ Like them they are generally represented as three in number, and they are said to spin, or weave, the destiny of men. Their dwelling is beside the “Spring of fate,” beneath the “world-tree,” Yggdrasil’s ash, which they water with draughts from the spring. In some cases the Norns are not easily to be distinguished from the Valkyries (q.v) . Sometimes again they appear as prophetesses (völur) at the birth of children, whose destiny they foretell. ”