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Chapter 14

Asgard And The Origin Of The Dwarves

Then Gangleri said: ‘What did All-Father do, once Asgard was built?’

High replied, ‘In the beginning he assigned rulers, asking them to judge with him people’s fate and to oversee the arrangements of the stronghold. This was done at the place called Idavoll [Eternally Renewing Field] in the middle of the strong-hold.1 Their first task was to build the temple where they placed their seats – twelve in addition to All-Father’s throne. That building is the best and the largest on earth. Outside and inside everything seems to be made of gold, and the place is called Gladsheim [Home of Joy]. They built a second hall, a sanctuary, which belonged to the goddesses,2 and it was exceptionally beautiful. People call this building Vingolf [Friendly Quarters].

‘Next they set up forges and made hammer, tongs and anvil, and with these they fashioned all other tools. Following this, they worked metal, stone, wood and great quantities of gold, such that all their furniture and household utensils were of gold. That age is called the Golden Age before it was spoiled by the arrival of the women who came from Giant Land.3

‘Next the gods took their places on their thrones. They issued their judgments and remembered where the dwarves had come to life in the soil under the earth, like maggots in flesh. The dwarves emerged first, finding life in Ymir’s flesh. They were maggots at that time, but by a decision of the gods they acquired human understanding and assumed the likeness of men, living in the earth and the rocks. Modsognir was a dwarf and Durin another. So it says in The Sibyl’s Prophecy:

Then all the powerful gods went to their thrones of fate, the most sacred gods, and decided among themselves that a troop of dwarves should be created from the waves of blood[^fn30] and from Blain’s limbs. There in men’s likeness were made many dwarves in the earth, as Durin said. (*The Sibyl’s Prophecy. 9–10*)

‘And these, says the prophetess, are the names of these dwarves:

Nyi, Nidi, Nordri, Sudri, Austri, Vestri, Althjolf, Dvalin, Nar, Nain, Niping, Dain, Bifur, Bafur, Bombor, Nori, Ori, Onar, Oin, Modvitnir, Vig and Gandalf, Vindalf, Thorin, Fili, Kili, Fundin, Vali, Thror, Throin, Thekk, Lit, Vitr, Nyr, Nyrad, Rekk, Radsvinn. (*The Sibyl’s Prophecy. 11–13*)

‘But these, too, are dwarves and they live in the rocks, whereas those mentioned before live in the ground:5

Draupnir, Dolgthvari, Haur, Hugstari, Hledjolf, Gloin, Dori, Ori, Duf, Andvari, Heptifili, Har, Siar. (*The Sibyl’s Prophecy. 13* and *15*[^fn32])

‘These came from Svarin’s mound to Joruvellir [Pebble Plains] at Aurvangar [Mud Fields], and Lofar is descended from them. These are their names:

Skirpir, Virpir, Skafinn, Ai, Alf, Ingi, Eikinskjaldi, Fal, Frosti, Finn, Ginnar.’ (*The Sibyl’s Prophecy. 15–16*)

  1. the middle of the stronghold : The text uses the word borg , which in this context could mean a fortress or a town. The idea seems to be an extensive stronghold and a town within. ↩

  2. goddesses : Here the goddesses are called gyðjur (female gods); elsewhere they are often referred to as ásynjur (female Æsir). ↩

  3. the women… from Giant Land : This line corresponds to stanza 8 of The Sibyl’s Prophecy , which speaks of the coming of three giant maidens from Giant Land. Who these women are is unclear. ↩

  4. from the waves of blood : The text uses the word brim , meaning surf. In The Sibyl’s Prophecy , Brimir is the name for a giant, possibly Ymir. If the verse is referring to a giant, then the line possibly reads: ‘from Ymir’S blood’. ↩

  5. live in the ground : The text uses the word mold , meaning the ground, soil or earth. These dwarves live in holes in the earth, that is, in some form of underground houses, perhaps caves. ↩

  6. The Sibyl’s Prophecy : The lists of the dwarves differ significantly between the Prose Edda and The Sibyl’s Prophecy . ↩



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