52 MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS RITES. 
the richest source of authority on the subject. The Germanic, and particu- 
larly the Scandinavian nations were, more than many others, distinguished 
for possessing unusually athletic bodies, and an iron will, to strain every 
nerve in defence of their gods and their hearths. They were also renowned 
for their bravery and skill in all warlike exercises, while the name of a 
coward was considered the greatest stigma that could be affixed to any 
one; and these virtues and sentiments we see fully reflected in all their 
myths. The distinct features of the northern religion are most conveniently 
examined if we turn our attention separately to the religions of the Scan- 
dinavians proper (comprising the Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians), of the 
Germans, and of the Slavono-Vendic nations. 
1. ScanpinaviaAn Myruo.uoey. 
The first thing that deserves our particular notice in the Scandinavian 
system of religion is the lofty idea which it presents of the Supreme Being. 
Twelve names are given to him, some of which are: the One and Indivisible, 
the Creator, the Destroyer, the Eternal; but the one by which he is the 
most frequently called is Alfadur, the father of all. 
This God and Creator dwelt high above all mundane affairs, and was 
not even approachable by worship; that was paid to inferior deities 
who presided over the temporal interests of man, and who were themselves 
mortal, and finally responsible to the Supreme Ruler, for their death was 
predicted to take place at the twilight of the gods, of which we shall speak 
more hereafter. The chief of these gods was Odin, who, though frequently 
ealled Alfadur, must be carefully distinguished from the Supreme Being, the 
uncreated God. 
The cosmogony of this system is also on a grand scale; for we learn from 
the Edda, on the authority of the Voluspa, a very ancient and sacred poem, 
that, ‘‘ In the beginning there was neither shore nor sea; the earth was not 
to be found below, nor in the expanse above; all was one vast abyss, in 
which a chaos reigned.” To the north of this abyss was Vifleheim (the fog- 
world), a dreary region of mist and cold; and to the south, Muspelheim 
(the fire world), a world glowing and luminous, not to be dwelt in by any 
but the sons of fire. Surtur (the black) is its ruler; but Viftehewn is a 
world of icy coldness and full of gloom, and in its centre, beneath one of 
the roots of the ash tree Yggdrasill, is the spring Hvergelmir, which sends 
forth part of its waters in the Hlwanger, that flow through Helhewm, viz. 
the rivers of destruction, of howling, of roaring, of agony, &c. The world 
of fog is the abode of all who have died as cowards, or in any other dis- 
graceful manner. The ruler of this dreary place is Hela, the daughter of 
Loke and Angurbodi, a monster of Jotunheim, who was hurled into WVéfle- 
hevm by Odin, when Loke dared bring her to Asgard, the abode of the 
gods. Odin gave her power over nine of its worlds, into which she 
distributes those who are sent to her, that is to say, all those who die 
eravens, or through sickness or old age. Her domain is protected by very 
arg 
ad 
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