Heimskringla

by Snorri Sturluson

  Some men consider Svíthjóth the Great not less in size than Serkland the Great [“Saracen Land,” North Africa], and some think it is equal in size to Bláland [“Blackman’s Land,” Africa]. The northern part of Svíthjóth is uncultivated on account of frost and cold, just as the southern part of Bláland is a desert because of the heat of the sun. In Svíthjóth there are many large provinces. There are also many tribes and many tongues. There are giants and dwarfs; there are black men and many kinds of strange tribes. Also there are animals and dragons of marvellous size. Out of the north, from the mountains which are beyond all inhabited districts,3 a river runs through Svíthjóth whose correct name is Tanais [The Don River]. In olden times it was called Tana Fork or Vana Fork. Its mouth is in the Black Sea. The land around the Vana Fork was then called Vana Home or the Home of the Vanir.4 This river divides the three continents. East of it is Asia, west of it Europe.

  Chapter 2. Of Ásgarth and Óthin

  The land east of the Tana Fork was called the Land or Home of the Æsir, and the capital of that country they called Ásgarth.1 In this capital the chieftain ruled whose name was Óthin.2 This was a great place for sacrifices. The rule prevailed there that twelve temple priests were highest in rank. They were to have charge of sacrifices and to judge between men. They are called díar3 or chiefs. All the people were to serve them and show them reverence.

  Óthin was a great warrior and fared widely, conquering many countries. He was so victorious that he won the upper hand in every battle; as a result, his men believed that it was granted to him to be victorious in every battle. It was his habit that, before sending his men to battle or on other errands, he would lay his hands on their heads and give them a bjannak.4 Then they believed they would succeed. It was also noted that wherever his men were sore bestead, on sea or on land, they would call on his name, and they would get help from so doing. They put all their trust in him. Often he was away so long as to be gone for many years.

  Chapter 3. Of Óthin’s Brothers

  Óthin had two brothers. One was called Vé, and the other, Víli.1 These, his brothers, governed the realm when he was gone. One time when Óthin was gone to a great distance, he stayed away so long that the Æsir thought he would never return. Then his brothers began to divide his inheritance; but his wife Frigg they shared between them. However, a short while afterwards, Óthin returned and took possession of his wife again.

  Chapter 4. The War between the Æsir and the Vanir

  Óthin made war on the Vanir, but they resisted stoutly and defended their land; now the one, now the other was victorious, and both devastated the land of their opponents, doing each other damage. But when both wearied of that, they agreed on a peace meeting and concluded a peace, giving each other hostages. The Vanir gave their most outstanding men, Njorth1 the Wealthy and his son Frey;2 but the Æsir, in their turn, furnished one whose name was Hœnir,3 declaring him to be well fitted to be a chieftain. He was a large man and exceedingly handsome. Together with him the Æsir sent one called Mímir, a very wise man; and the Vanir in return sent the one who was the cleverest among them. His name was Kvasir. Now when Hœnir arrived in Vanaheim he was at once made a chieftain. Mímir advised him in all things. But when Hœnir was present at meetings or assemblies without having Mímir at his side and was asked for his opinion on a difficult matter, he would always answer in the same way, saying, “Let others decide.” Then the Vanir suspected that the Æsir had defrauded them in the exchange of hostages. Then they seized Mímir and beheaded him and sent the head to the Æsir. Óthin took it and embalmed it with herbs so that it would not rot, and spoke charms over it, giving it magic power so that it would answer him and tell him many occult things.

  Óthin appointed Njorth and Frey to be priests for the sacrificial offerings, and they were díar [gods] among the Æsir. Freya was the daughter of Njorth. She was the priestess at the sacrifices. It was she who first taught the Æsir magic such as was practiced among the Vanir. While Njorth lived with the Vanir he had his sister as wife, because that was the custom among them. Their children were Frey and Freya. But among the Æsir it was forbidden to marry so near a kin.

  Chapter 5. Gefjon Ploughs Seeland Out of Lake Mælaren

  A great mountain chain runs from the northeast to the southwest.1 It divides Svíthjóth the Great from other realms. South of the mountains it is not far to Turkey. There Óthin had large possessions. At that time the generals of the Romans moved about far and wide, subjugating all peoples, and many chieftains fled from their possessions because of these hostilities. And because Óthin had the gift of prophecy and was skilled in magic, he knew that his offspring would inhabit the northern part of the world. Then he set his brothers Vé and Víli over Ásgarth, but he himself and all díar, and many other people, departed. First he journeyed west to Gartharíki [Russia], and then south, to Saxland [Northwestern Germany]. He had many sons. He took possession of lands far and wide in Saxland and set his sons to defend these lands. Then he journeyed north to the sea and fixed his abode on an island. That place is now called Óthinsey [Óthin’s Island],2 on the island of Funen.

  Thereupon he sent Gefjon north over the sound to seek for land. She came to King Gylfi, and he gave her a ploughland. Then she went to Giant-land and there bore four sons to some giant. She transformed them into oxen and attached them to the plough and drew the land westward into the sea, opposite Óthin’s Island, and that is [now] called Selund [Seeland], and there she dwelled afterwards. Skjold,3 a son of Óthin married her. They lived at Hleithrar.4 A lake was left [where the land was taken] which is called Logrin.5 The bays in that lake correspond to the nesses of Selund. Thus says Bragi the Old :6

  (1.)

  1.7 Gefjon, glad in mind, from

  Gylfi drew the good land,

  Denmark’s increase, from the

  oxen so the sweat ran.

  Did four beasts of burden—

  with brow-moons8 eight in foreheads—

  walk before the wide isle

  won by her from Sweden.

  But when Óthin learned that there was good land east in Gylfi’s kingdom he journeyed there; and Gylfi came to an agreement with him, because he did not consider himself strong enough to withstand the Æsir. Óthin and Gylfi vied much with each other in magic and spells, but the Æsir always had the better of it.

  Óthin settled by Lake Logrin, at a place which formerly was called Sigtúnir.9 There he erected a large temple and made sacrifices according to the custom of the Æsir. He took possession of the land as far as he had called it Sigtúnir. He gave dwelling places to the temple priests. Njorth dwelled at Nóatún, Frey at Uppsala, Heimdall at Himinbjorg, Thór at Thrúthvang, Baldr at Breithablik. To all he gave good estates.

  Chapter 6. Of Óthin’s Skills

  It is said with truth that when Ása-Óthin1 came to the Northlands, and the díar with him, they introduced and taught the skills practiced by men for a long time afterwards. Óthin was the most prominent among them all, and from him they learned all the skills, because he was the first to know them. Now as to why he was honored so greatly—the reasons for that are these: he was so handsome and noble to look at when he sat among his friends that it gladdened the hearts of all. But when he was engaged in warfare he showed his enemies a grim aspect. The reasons for this were that he knew the arts by which he could shift appearance and body any way he wished. For another matter, he spoke so well and so smoothly that all who heard him believed all he said was true. All he spoke was in rimes, as is now the case in what is called skaldship. He and his temple priests are called songsmiths, because that art began with them in the northern lands. Óthin was able to cause his enemies to be blind or deaf or fearful in battle, and he could cause their swords to cut no better than wands. His own men went to battle without coats of mail and acted like mad dogs or wolves. They bit their shields and were as strong as bears or bulls. They killed people, and neither fire nor iron affected them. This is called berserker rage.

  Chapt
er 7. Of Óthin’s Magic

  Óthin could shift his appearance. When he did so his body would lie there as if he were asleep or dead; but he himself, in an instant, in the shape of a bird or animal, a fish or a serpent, went to distant countries on his or other men’s errands. He was also able with mere words to extinguish fires, to calm the sea, and to turn the winds any way he pleased. He had a ship called Skíthblathnir with which he sailed over great seas. It could be folded together like a cloth.

  Óthin had with him Mímir’s head, which told him many tidings from other worlds; and at times he would call to life dead men out of the ground, or he would sit down under men that were hanged. On this account he was called Lord of Ghouls or of the Hanged. He had two ravens on whom he had bestowed the gift of speech. They flew far and wide over the lands and told him many tidings. By these means he became very wise in his lore. And all these skills he taught with those runes and songs which are called magic songs [charms]. For this reason the Æsir are called Workers of Magic.

  Óthin had the skill which gives great power and which he practiced himself. It is called seith [sorcery], and by means of it he could know the fate of men and predict events that had not yet come to pass; and by it he could also inflict death or misfortunes or sickness, or also deprive people of their wits or strength, and give them to others. But this sorcery is attended by such wickedness that manly men considered it shameful to practice it, and so it was taught to priestesses.

  Óthin knew about all hidden treasures, and he knew such magic spells as would open for him the earth and mountains and rocks and burial mounds; and with mere words he bound those who dwelled in them, and went in and took what he wanted. Exercising these arts he became very famous. His enemies feared him, and his friends had faith in him and in his power. Most of these skills he taught the sacrificial priests. They were next to him in all manner of knowledge and sorcery. Yet many others learned a great deal of it; hence sorcery spread far and wide and continued for a long time. People worshipped Óthin and his twelve chieftains, calling them their gods, and believed in them for a long time thereafter. The name “Authun” is derived from that of Óthin,1 and men gave their sons that name; but from the name of Thór are derived such names as “Thórir” or “Thórarin,” or it is combined with other names, as in “Steinthór,” “Hafthór,” and also changed in other ways.

  Chapter 8. Óthin Ordains the Burial Rites

  In his country Óthin instituted such laws as had been in force among the Æsir before. Thus he ordered that all the dead were to be burned on a pyre together with their possessions, saying that everyone would arrive in Valholl1 with such wealth as he had with him on his pyre and that he would also enjoy the use of what he himself had hidden in the ground. His ashes were to be carried out to sea or buried in the ground. For notable men burial mounds were to be thrown up as memorials. But for all men who had shown great manly qualities memorial stones were to be erected; and this custom continued for a long time thereafter. A sacrifice was to be made for a good season at the beginning of winter, and one in midwinter for good crops, and a third one in summer, for victory.

  In all Sweden men paid tribute to Óthin, a penny2 for every head; and he was to defend their land against incursions and to make sacrifice for them so they would have good seasons.

  Njorth married a woman who was called Skathi. She would not have intercourse with him, and later married Óthin. They had many sons. One of them was called Sæming. About him, Eyvind Skáldaspillir3 composed these verses:

  (2.)

  2. That scion

  his sire gat, of

  Æsir’s kin

  with etin4 maid,

  the time that

  this fair maiden,

  Skathi hight,

  the skalds’ friend5 had.

  (3.)

  3. …

  Of sea-bones,6

  and sons many

  the ski-goddess

  gat with Óthin.

  Earl Hákon the Mighty reckoned his pedigree from Sæming. This part of Svíthjóth they called Man Home; but Svíthjóth the Great they called God Home.7 About this God Home many stories are told.

  Chapter 9. Óthin’s Death and Burial

  Óthin died in his bed in Sweden. But when he felt death approaching he had himself marked with the point of a spear, and he declared as his own all men who fell in battle. He said he was about to depart to the abode of the gods and would there welcome his friends. So then the Swedes believed that he had gone to the old Ásgarth and would live there forever. Then the belief in Óthin arose anew, and they called on him. Often, the Swedes thought, he revealed himself before great battles were fought, when he would give victory to some and invite others to come to his abode. Both fates seemed good to them.

  Óthin was burned after his death, and this burning on the pyre of his body took place with great splendor. It was people’s belief that the higher the smoke rose into the sky, the more elevated in heaven would he be who was cremated; and [therefore] a man [was considered] the nobler, the more possessions were burned with him.

  After him, Njorth of Nóatún took power among the Swedes and continued the sacrifices. Then the Swedes called him their king, and he received their tribute. In his days good peace prevailed and there were such good crops of all kinds that the Swedes believed that Njorth had power over the harvests and the prosperity of mankind. In his days most of the díar died, and all were burned, and men made sacrifices to them. Njorth died in his bed. He had himself marked for Óthin before he died. The Swedes burned his body and wept sorely at his tomb.

  Chapter 10. Frey’s Reign of Plenty

  After Njorth, Frey succeeded to power. He was called king of the Swedes and received tribute from them. He was greatly beloved and blessed by good seasons like his father. Frey erected a great temple at Uppsala and made his chief residence there, directing to it all tribute due to him, both lands and chattels. This was the origin of the Uppsala crown goods, which have been kept up ever since. In his days there originated the so-called Peace of Fróthi, There were good harvests at that time in all countries. The Swedes attributed that to Frey. And he was worshipped more than other gods because in his days, owing to peace and good harvests, the farmers became better off than before. His wife was called Gerth, the daughter of Gymir. Their son was Fjolnir. Frey was also called Yngvi; and the name of Yngvi was for a long time afterwards kept in his line as a name for kings, and his race were thereafter called Ynglings.1

  Frey took sick; and when the sickness gained on him, his followers hit upon the plan to let few men see him, and they threw up a great burial mound with a door and three windows. And when Frey was dead they carried him secretly into the mound and told the Swedes that he was still alive, and kept him there for three years. But all the tribute they poured into the mound—gold by one window, silver by another, and copper coin by the third. Thus good seasons and peace endured.

  Freya kept up the sacrifices for she was the only one among the godheads who survived. Therefore she became most famous, so that all women of rank came to be called by her name. They are now called frúvur [“ladies”]. Thus everyone who is a mistress over her property is called freya, and húsfreya [“lady of the house”] one who owns an estate.

  Freya was rather fickle-minded. Her husband was called Óth, and her daughters, Hnoss and Gersimi.2 They were very beautiful, and we give their names to our most precious possessions.

  When all Swedes knew that Frey was dead but that good seasons and peace still prevailed, they believed this would be the case so long as Frey was in Sweden; and so they would not burn him and called him the God of the World and sacrificed to him ever after for good harvests and peace.

  Chapter 11. King Fjolnir Drowns in a Mead Vat

  Thereafter Fjolnir, the son of Yngvifrey, had sway over the Swedes and the Uppsala crown goods. He was powerful; there were good harvests, and peace obtained during his reign. At the same time Peace-Fróthi ruled in Hleithrar, and there was friendship between
them and they invited one another to feasts. Once when Fjolnir went to visit Fróthi on the Island of Selund, a great banquet had been prepared and many had been invited from near and far. Fróthi had a large estate, and a vat had been built there, many ells high, and reinforced by stout timbers. It stood on the lower floor of a storehouse, and above it was a balcony with an opening in the floor, so that liquids could be poured down, and mead mixed in it. An exceedingly strong drink had been prepared. In the evening Fjolnir and his retinue were led to lodgings in a loft close by. During the night he went out on the balcony to find a place to relieve himself. He was drowsy with sleep and dead drunk, and on his way back to his lodgings he went along the balcony and to the wrong loft door and through it. He missed his footing and fell into the mead vat and drowned. As says Thjóthólf of Hvinir i1

  (4.)

  4. Doom of death

  where dwelled Fróthi

  fulfilled was

  on fey Fjolnir;

  and in mead-

  measure’s spacious,

  windless wave

  the warrior died.

  Chapter 12. King Sveigthir Is Lured into a Rock by a Dwarf

  Sveigthir succeeded to the throne after his father. He made a vow that he would try to find God Home and Óthin the Old. With eleven others he fared widely about the world. He came to the land of the Turks and Svíthjóth the Great, and there he met many of his kinsmen. He was five years on this journey. Then he returned to Sweden and remained at home for a while. In Vanaland he had married a woman named Vana. Their son was Vanlandi.