He frequently appeared to men. One of the most interesting of these revelations of himself is told in the Norse epic, the “Volsung Saga.”
THE STORY OF ODIN’S SWORD AND SIGMUND
King Volsung had made preparations for an entertainment. Blazing fires burned along the hall, and in the middle of the hall stood a large tree, whose green and fair foliage covered the roof. King Volsung had placed it there, and it was called Odin’s tree. Now, as the guests sat around the fire in the evening, a man entered the hall whose countenance they did not know. He wore a variegated cloak, was barefooted, his breeches were of linen, and a wide-brimmed hat hung down over his face. He was very tall, looked old, and was one-eyed. He had a sword in his hand. The man went to the tree, and struck his sword into it with so powerful a blow that it sunk into it even to the hilt. No one dared greet this man. Then said he: “He who draws this sword out of the trunk of the tree shall have it as a gift from me, and shall find it true that he never wielded a better sword.” Then went the old man out of the hall again, and no one knew who he was or whither he went. Now all tried to draw the sword out, but it would not move before Volsung’s son, Sigmund, came; for him it seemed to be quite loose.
When Odin went forth to battle, he was resplendent in armor and a golden helmet; with him were his messengers, the Valkyries—giant, warlike maids who, when in Valhalla, the home of Odin, brought in the drink and waited upon the table, but in time of battle were sent forth by Odin to every battle-field, carrying the message of death to the brave hero, and inviting him home to Odin’s hall, a message he received with joy and gladness. To bear away to heaven the souls of the dead is often an office of a wind god, and in this case of wind goddesses, for there can be little doubt that the Valkyries had some of the attributes of the wind.
The Norse god next in importance to Odin was Thor. He wears a red beard. He has a fiery nature, is girded with a belt of strength, and swings a hammer in his hand. He rides in a chariot drawn by two goats, from whose hoofs and teeth sparks of fire flash, and the scarlet cloud reflects his fiery eyes. Over his head he wears a crown of stars, under his feet rests the earth, and it shows the footprints of his mighty steps. He is enormously strong, and very terrible when angry, which is not supposed to be often, for he has, on the whole, a good-natured disposition. The region in which he lives is called Thrudvaug and his mansion Bilskiner, in which there are five hundred and forty halls. His hammer, his belt, and his gauntlet are all possessed of remarkable qualities. The first is called Mjolner, and woe be to the frost or mountain giant against whom Thor hurls it. His iron gauntlet he wears when he is laying about him with his hammer, and when he puts on his belt of strength his power is redoubled. This mighty god has many and wonderful adventures.
There is no better description of the god Thor to be found than that by our own poet Longfellow, in his “Tales of a Wayside Inn”:
“I am the god Thor,
I am the war god,
I am the Thunderer!