Gjallarbrú (literally "Gjöll Bridge") is a bridge in

Norse mythology Norse, Nordic, or Scandinavian mythology is the body of myths belonging to the North Germanic peoples, stemming from Old Norse religion and continuing after the Christianization of Scandinavia, and into the Nordic folklore of the modern period ...

which spans the river

Gjöll Gjöll (Old Norse: ''Gjǫll'' ) is the river that separates the living from the dead in Norse mythology. It is one of the eleven rivers traditionally associated with the Élivágar, rivers that existed in Ginnungagap at the beginning of the world ...

in the

underworld The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld. ...

. It must be crossed in order to reach Hel. According to ''

Gylfaginning ''Gylfaginning'' (Old Norse: 'The Beguiling of Gylfi' or 'The Deluding of Gylfi'; c. 20,000 words; 13th century Old Norse pronunciation ) is the first part of the 13th century ''Prose Edda'' after the Prologue. The ''Gylfaginning'' deals with th ...

'' it is described as a covered bridge, "thatched with glittering gold". It figures most prominently in the story of

Baldr Baldr (also Balder, Baldur) is a god in Germanic mythology. In Norse mythology, Baldr (Old Norse: ) is a son of the god Odin and the goddess Frigg, and has numerous brothers, such as Thor and Váli. In wider Germanic mythology, the god was kno ...

, specifically when Hermód is sent to retrieve the fallen

god In monotheism, monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator deity, creator, and principal object of Faith#Religious views, faith.Richard Swinburne, Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Ted Honderich, Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Ox ...

from the land of the dead. When Hermód arrived at the bridge he was challenged by the

giant In folklore, giants (from Ancient Greek: '' gigas'', cognate giga-) are beings of human-like appearance, but are at times prodigious in size and strength or bear an otherwise notable appearance. The word ''giant'' is first attested in 1297 fr ...

maiden Módgud who demanded that he state his name and business before allowing him to pass.''Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs'' (John Lindow, author. Oxford University Press, 2002, page 142)

References

Other sources

* Bellows, Henry Adams (1923) ''The Poetic Edda'' (American-Scandinavian Foundation) * Orchard, Andy (1997) ''Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend'' (Cassell) * Simek, Rudolf (2007) translated by Angela Hall ''Dictionary of Northern Mythology'' (D.S. Brewer) {{DEFAULTSORT:Gjallarbru Locations in Norse mythology Mythological bridges Norse underworld Water in mythology