Gangleri began to question: ‘Who is the highest or the oldest of all the gods?’
High replied, ‘He is called All-Father in our language, but in Asgard the Old, he has twelve names: one is All-Father, a second is Herran or Herjan [Lord], a third is Nikar or Hnikar [Thruster], a fourth is Nikuz or Hnikud [Thruster], a fifth is Fjolnir [Wise One], a sixth Oski [Fulfiller of Desire], a seventh Omi [Resounding One], an eighth Biflidi or Biflindi [Spear Shaker], a ninth Svidar, a tenth Svidrir, an eleventh Vidrir [Ruler of Weather] and a twelfth Jalg or Jalk [Gelding].’
Then Gangleri asked, ‘Where is this god? What is he capable of doing and what outstanding deeds has he done?’
High replied, ‘He lives through all ages and governs all things in his realm. He decides all matters, great or small.’
Then Just-as-High said, ‘He made heaven, earth and the skies and everything in them.’
Then Third said, ‘Most important, he created man and gave him a living spirit that will never die, even if the body rots to dust or burns to ashes. All men who are righteous shall live and be with him in that place called Gimle or Vingolf. But evil men go to Hel1 and from there into Niflhel2 [Dark Hel], which is below in the ninth world.
Gangleri then asked: ‘What did he do before heaven and earth were created?’
High answered, ‘Back then, he was with the frost giants.’
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Hel : The world of the dead, a pre-Christian concept. ↩
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Niflhel : Nifl , an old word, means mist, fog and darkness. At the time the Edda was written, the word was already obsolete but remained in many mythological compounds, as here in Niflhel (Dark Hel), a place seemingly different from Hel , where the worst of men underwent a kind of second death. Some manuscripts confuse Niflhel with Niflheim, the dark world of freezing mists. ↩