SECTION II.
CHIEF MYTHOLOGICAL PERSONAGES OF SCANDINAVIA.
ODIN, THOR, AND LOKE.—THEIR CHARACTERS PHYSICALLY INTERPRETED.—THEIR WIVES AND OFFSPRING.—THE THREE DEMON CHILDREN OF LOKE.—INFLUENCE OF THIS DEITY OVER THE FATE OF THE UNIVERSE.—HE IS PRESENT IN EVERY GREAT MYTHOS.—RAPE OF IDUNA.—THOR’S VISITS TO JOTUNHEIM.—THOR AND THE GIANT HYMIR.—THOR AND THE GIANT THRYM.—NIVOD, FREYR, FREYA.—EXPEDITION OF SKIRNIR-ÆGIR AND RAN.—OTHER DEITIES.—BALDER.—PUNISHMENT OF LOKE.—RAGNAROK.—RECOGNITION OF A GREAT FIRST CAUSE BY THE PAGAN SCANDINAVIANS.
Odin, Thor, Loke.
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| Wives and Sons of Odin | [92] |
| His Functions, Abodes, and Ministers | [93] |
| The three Valkyrs | [93] |
| Legend of Odin and Sterkodder | [94] |
| This Legend furnishes another Proof of the Fact that Odin was a foreign Deity | [95] |
| Thor, his Superiority over Odin in the more ancient System of the North, and his three Treasures | [96] |
| Mythical Interpretation | [97] |
| Thor peculiarly worshipped in Norway | [97] |
| The Giants, the everlasting Enemies of Thor | [98] |
| This Article of popular Belief essentially Celtic | [98] |
| Loke | [99] |
| His Description | [100] |
| His Offspring three:— | |
| 1. The Great Serpent | [101] |
| 2. Hela, Queen of Death | [101] |
| 3. The Wolf Fenris | [102] |
| Manner in which the last-named Demon was bound by the Gods | [102] |
| Loke originally the same with Utgardelok, and the Personification of Evil in the Celtic Creed | [103] |
| Mythological Fables in which Loke is concerned | [104] |
Rape of Iduna.
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| Odin, Hoenir, and Loke visit Utgard | [105] |
| Loke compelled to promise that he will deliver Iduna into the Power of Thiasse | [105] |
| He performs his Promise | [106] |
| Consequent Wrath of the Gods, who compel him to restore her | [106] |
| Interpretation of this Mythos | [107] |
Thor’s Visits to Utgard.
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| Loke, taken by the Giants, is compelled to promise that he will bring Thor without Belt or Hammer | [108] |
| Thor accordingly undertakes the Journey; his Punishment of Geyruth, and the Daughters of that Giant | [109] |
| Second Journey of Thor to Utgard, accompanied by Loke | [110] |
| Adventure in the Cottage | [110] |
| Dreary Wastes through which the Travellers passed | [111] |
| Adventure in the desert Heath | [112] |
| Adventures in Utgard itself | [113] |
Thor and the Giant Hymir.