Njord was born in Vanaheim, among the wise vans, but was received by the asas when the vans made a treaty with the asas, and gave the vans Hcener. Njord is the ruler of the winds ; he subdues the sea and fire, and distributes wealth among men ; he should be in- voked by sailors and fishermen. His wife is Skade, a daughter of the giant Tlijasse. But Njord and Skade do not agree. Njord dwells in Noatun, near the sea. Skade stays in her father's dwelling, Thrymheim, where she rides on her skees (snow-shoes) down the moun- tains, and hunts the -wild boar with bow and arrow,
Fi-eij is the son of Njord, and rules over rain and sun- shine and the fruit fulness of the earth, hence he should be invoked to obtain good harvests, peace, and wealth. He is good-natured and kind-hearted ; he causes sorrow to no one, but releases the prisoners from their chains. His dwelling is Alfheim. He rides with the boar Gold- enbristle, or sails in his splendid ship Skidbladner, which was made for him by the same skilful dwarfs who made Odin's ring and Thor's hammer. To obtain the giant's daughter Gerd, he gave away his trusty sword, and hence he has no weapon in the last conflict of the gods in Ragnarok. In the Kkkr Kdda there is a beautiful poem describing how Frey fell in love with Gerd, the daughter of (Jymer and Aurboda, and sent his servant Skirner with his sword to get her.
Ttj, after whom Tuesday (Ty's-day) has its name, is the one-handed god, and the most valiant of the asas. All brave men should invoke him. Ty gave a splendid proof of his intre]iidity when the gods tried to persuade the Fenris-wolf to let himself be bound up with the chain Glitner. The wolf, fearing that the gods would not unloose him again, consented to be bound only on the condition that while thev were chaining him he
should keep the right hand of one of the gods between his jaws. Ty did not hesitate to put his hand in the monster's mouth ; but when the Fenris-wolf perceived that the gods had no intention to unchain him, he bit Ty's hand off at that point which has ever since been called the wolf's joint — that is, the wrist.
Brarje, the long-bearded, is the god of the art of poetry. He is celebrated for his wisdom, but especially for his correct forms of speech. Runes are engraved on his tongue, and he wears a long, flowing beard. Brage's wife is Idun, who keeps in a box the apples which the gods, when they feel old age approaching, have only to taste of to become young again. In this manner they will preserve their youth until Ragnarok. The giant Thjasse once, by the co-operation of Loke, succeeded in capturing Idun, but the gods compelled Loke to fetch her back.
Heimdal, the white god with golden teeth, is the protector of the gods, and dwells in Himlnbjorg, where the rainbow (Bifrost) reaches the heavens; he stands there at the borders of heaven to prevent the giants from crossing the bridge. He requires less sleep than a bird, and sees, by night as well as bj' day, a hundred miles around him. So acute is his ear that no sound escapes him, for he can even hear the grass growing on the earth, and the wool on the backs of the sheep. When he blows his horn (the GjoU-horn) all the worlds re- sound.
Hod is a son of Odin, and becomes accidentally the slayer of the good Balder.
Vidar is a son of Odin and the giantess Grid. He is surnamed the Silent. He is almost as strong as Thor, and the gods place great reliance on him in all critical conjunctures. He has a shoe for which material has been gathered through all ages. It is made of the scraps of leather that have been cut off from the toes and heels in cutting patterns for shoes. These pieces must be thrown away by shoemakers who desire to render assistance to the gods in the final conflict, where Vidar avenges Odin by tearing the Fenris-wolf to pieces. Vidar dwells in the uninhabited Landvide.
Vale, the skilful archer, is the son of Odin and Rind. He was born in the western halls ; he slays Hod im- mediately after the death of Balder, and rules with Vidar after Ragnarok.
Ull is the stepson of Thor; is the god of the chase and of running on skees (snow-shoes) ; is invoked for success in duels, and dwells in Ydal. His father is not named.
Forsete is the son of Balder and Nanna. He settles all disputes among gods and men. He dwells in Glitner, the silver roof of which is supported by columns of gold.
Frigg is the daughter of Fjorgyn, and the first among the goddesses, the queen of the asas and asynjes. Odin is her husband. She sits with him in Hlidskjalf, and looks out upon all the worlds. She exacted an oath from all things that they should not harm Balder. Her dwelling is Fensal.
Freyja is next to Frigg in importance. She is Njord's daughter and Frey's sister. She is the goddess of love, and Friday is named after her. (Comp. Dies Veneris.') She rides in a carriage drawn by two cats, and dwells in Folkvang, where she has a hall called Sessrymner. When she rides to the field of battle, she shares the fall- en equally with Odin. Her husband, Od, went far away and wandered through many lands, but she weeps gold- en tears of longing for him. She is also called Vanadis — that is, goddess of the vans ; and the many names which were given to her are accounted for by the fact that she visited manj' different peoples in search of her husband.