Chapter 27

‘Heimdall is one. He is called the white god and is powerful and sacred. Nine maidens, all sisters, gave birth to him as their son. He is also known as Hallinskidi and Gullintanni [Gold Toothed], as his teeth are gold. His horse is called Gulltopp [Golden Forelock]. He lives near Bifrost at a place called Himinbjorg. He is the watchman of the gods and sits at heaven’s end, where he keeps watch over the bridge against the mountain giants. He needs less sleep than a bird, and he can see equally well by night or by day a distance of a hundred leagues. He hears the grass growing on the earth and the wool on sheep, as well as everything else that makes more noise. He has the horn known as Gjallarhorn, and its blast can be heard in all worlds. Heimdall’s sword is called a head. It is said:

Himinbjorg it is called and there Heimdall rules over sacred places. There the watchman of the gods drinks in his comfortable lodgings, happily, the good mead.

(The Lay of Grimnir. 13)

‘Further, he himself says in Heimdall’s Chant:¹

“Of nine mothers I am the child, of nine sisters I am the son.”