Heimdall

The god Heimdall, also called the White God, is the son of the Allfather Odin and nine mothers who were giant sisters as inseparable as the waves of the sea. He was also called Hallinskídi and Gullintanni, his teeth were made of gold, his horse’s name was Gold-top. How exactly the god Heimdall was born is a mystery.

Heimdall was a worthy guardian of the bridge between the worlds of Bifrost. Heard everything, saw everything; so sharp a hearing that he heard at great distances how the grass grew; his eyesight was so sharp that he could see in the distance day and night.

Heimdall possessed the Hofud sword, in other words the Human Head, and the Gjallar-Horn trumpet. From Gjallar-Horn, just as he played to warn the gods of danger in front of the Birföst bridge, so he used it for drinking. It was with Gjallar-Horn that he drank from the well of the giant Mimir, the well of knowledge, and thus acquired his great wisdom. With Gjallar-Horn, in the prophecy of the end of the world, Ragnarok, Heimdall would announce the end with a deafening call, and Heimdal himself would fight to the death with the god Loki – both of whom would die.

Heimdall’s Kids – Builders of Society

Trael

One day the god Heimdall crossed the bridge Bifrost and reached a deep lake around Midgard. There was a hut where two old men knocked and opened the door. Inside it smelled unfriendly, miserable, the old man’s clothes worn out, the smell of abandoned and crumbling plaster. Because god Heimdall was a secular deity, he traveled many worlds, he knew how to communicate, he talked to the elders. Their names were Great-grandfather Ai and Great-grandmother Eda. It wasn’t long before he was invited near the fire to warm his hands and then share the meager hot soup. When it was time for a good night sleep, the old men went to bed, and Heimdall settled between the old couple in the middle.

Heimdall blows on the trumpet Gjallar-Horn 1895 Lorenz Frølich

The god left the next day, but great-grandmother Eda was with a child of his. Nine months later, Trael was born, or Slave. Trael was not very handsome, had a hump and knotted rough hands. On the other hand, he was kind-hearted, strong and hardworking.

One day Trael met the Thurr the Slave. They fell in love. She wasn’t beautiful either, black teeth, a flat face, crescent-shaped legs. Trael Slave and Thurr Slave gave birth to a bunch of children. And they were ugly and with even uglier names: Cleggy the Stork, Fulnir the Stinker, the Foolish Kumba, Okvainkalfa the Fat-footed. But they also had good hearts. They were not endowed with appearance, but their kindness was the highest morality.

And so came this layer of society of slaves: industrious workers serving others.

Carl the Freeman

God Heimdall continued on his way and soon found himself in front of a homestead. He knocked and two old people opened it and invited the wandering god not too enthusiastically. These were Grandpa Afi and Grandma Ama. Grandpa Afi was about to carve a weaving cloth with the tree in his lap, and Grandma Ama with a hurka with flax to spin a thread.

Their house was sound, tidy, and the old people maintained it to be neat and clean. The mondain Heimdall spoke to the elders, approached the fire to warm himself, and received a large slice of bread with a thick layer of butter. When it came time to sleep, the old couple went to bed, and Heimdall lay down in the middle again.

Three nights later, when Heimdall left, Baba Ama was pregnant. Nine months later, she gave birth to Carl the Free. A reddish handsome child, very strong and learned quickly. He managed the industrious oxen and plowed the fields, built solid houses and barns, foundations for buildings were created by his skillful hands.

Carl the Free grew up, and his parents met him with Snorr, who became his wife. Tools hung on her belt and it didn’t take long – a bunch of children were born. And they were so skillful, so talented working with the hands. They had the names: Dreng Yakia, Smid the Craftsman, Dirt the Bride, Svarri the Proud.

Thus arose the class of masters, of free men, of that part of men who did things that did not suit slaves and servants.

Earl the Count

God Heimdall after he continued on his path, stopped in front of another house. He knocked and was warmly received by Mother Modir and Father Fadir. Heimdall once again showed his worldly qualities in an incendiary sweet tale, and after spending the night, Mother Modir had life in her. Nine months later, Earl the Count appeared. This is where the lineage of fighters and warriors began.

Thus, with his adventures, Heimdall created the various strata of society, as well as the kings of men. Some even called him the Father of Men.

Heimdall give the god’s gifts to humankind, (1907) by Nils Asplund