Hlidskjálf
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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 as the Nordic folklore of the modern period. The ...
, the Hliðskjálf (literally meaning the high seat with an expansive view) allowed
Odin Odin (; from ) is a widely revered god in Norse mythology and Germanic paganism. Most surviving information on Odin comes from Norse mythology, but he figures prominently in the recorded history of Northern Europe. This includes the Roman Em ...
to see into all realms as well as listen to them. Although not explicit in any surviving source, there may be a connection between Hliðskjálf and the art of
seiðr In Old Norse, (sometimes anglicized as ''seidhr'', ''seidh'', ''seidr'', ''seithr'', ''seith'', or ''seid'') was a type of Magic (paranormal), magic which was practiced in Vikings, Norse society during the Iron Age Scandinavia, Late Scandinavian ...
, a type of magic said to be practiced by Odin that was often performed from a high, raised platform called a seiðhjallr. The works of
Rudolf Simek Rudolf Simek (born 21 February 1954) is an Austrian philologist and religious studies scholar who is Professor and Chair of Ancient German and Nordic Studies at the University of Bonn. Simek specializes in Germanic studies, and is the author ...
suggest that Hliðskjálf could be the model that actual seiðhjallr platforms attempted to emulate.


''Poetic Edda''

In ''
Grímnismál ''Grímnismál'' (Old Norse: ; 'The Lay of Grímnir') is one of the mythological poems of the '' Poetic Edda''. It is preserved in the Codex Regius manuscript and the AM 748 I 4to fragment. It is spoken through the voice of ''Grímnir'', one ...
'', Odin and
Frigg Frigg (; Old Norse: ) is a goddess, one of the Æsir, in Germanic mythology. In Norse mythology, the source of most surviving information about her, she is associated with marriage, prophecy, clairvoyance and motherhood, and dwells in the wetl ...
are both sitting in Hliðskjálf when they see their foster sons
Agnarr Agnar or Agnarr is a masculine given name of Scandinavian origin. The name is a compound. The first part is either the word ''agn'' 'punishment, deed' or ''egg'' 'knife edge', and the second part is from ''harr'' 'warrior'. It has the variant ''Agn ...
and
Geirröðr Geirröðr (also Geirröd) is a jötunn in Norse mythology. He is the father of the Gjálp and Greip, who are killed by the thunder-god Thor. Geirröðr is mentioned in the skaldic poem '' Þórsdrápa'', written by Eilíf Godrúnarson ( ...
, one living in a cave with a
giantess Giantesses are imaginary, gigantic women. They are widely believed to be mythological by the humans of modern-day, since the term "giantess" is so generic, it seems possible to describe female giants not native to Earth which fall under the very ...
and the other a king. Frigg then made the accusation to her husband that Geirröðr was miserly and inhospitable toward guests, so after wagering with one another over the veracity of the statement, Odin set out to visit Geirröðr in order to settle the matter. In ''
Skírnismál ''Skírnismál'' (Old Norse: 'The Lay of Skírnir', but in the Codex Regius known as ''Fǫr Skírnis'' ‘Skírnir’s journey’) is one of the poems of the ''Poetic Edda''. It is preserved in the 13th-century manuscripts Codex Regius and AM ...
'', Freyr sneaks into Hliðskjálf when he looks into
Jötunheimr The terms Jötunheimr (in Old Norse orthography: Jǫtunheimr ; often Old Norse orthography#Anglicized spelling, anglicised as Jotunheim) or Jötunheimar refer to either a land or multiple lands respectively in Nordic mythology inhabited by the j ...
and sees the beautiful giant maiden
Gerðr In Norse mythology, Gerðr (Old Norse: ; "fenced-in"Orchard (1997:54).) is a jötunn, Æsir, goddess, and the wife of the god Freyr. Gerðr is attested in the ''Poetic Edda'', compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources; the ''P ...
, with whom he instantly falls in love.


''Prose Edda''

In ''
Gylfaginning ''Gylfaginning'' (Old Norse: 'The Beguiling of Gylfi' or 'The Deluding of Gylfi'; 13th century Old Norse pronunciation ) is the first main part of the 13th century ''Prose Edda'', after the initial Prologue. The ''Gylfaginning'' takes the form of ...
'', Snorri mentions the high seat on four occasions. In the first instance he seems to refer to it rather as a dwelling place: "There is one abode called Hliðskjálf, and when Allfather sat in the high seat there, he looked out over the whole world and saw every man's acts, and knew all things which he saw." However, later he explicitly refers to it as the high seat itself: "Another great abode is there, which is named
Valaskjálf In Norse mythology, Valaskjálf ("the Shelf of the Slain"''Grimnismol''
translated by Henry Adams Bellows, p. 89 ...
. Odin possesses that dwelling. The
gods A deity or god is a supernatural being considered to be sacred and worthy of worship due to having authority over some aspect of the universe and/or life. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines ''deity'' as a God (male deity), god or god ...
made it and thatched it with sheer silver, and in this hall is the Hliðskjálf, the high seat so called. Whenever Allfather sits in that seat, he surveys all lands." The third mention made of Hliðskjálf is during Snorri's recounting of the wooing of Gerd, quoted by him from ''Skírnismál''. Lastly, Snorri relates how Odin used the high seat to find
Loki Loki is a Æsir, god in Norse mythology. He is the son of Fárbauti (a jötunn) and Laufey (mythology), Laufey (a goddess), and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. Loki is married to the goddess Sigyn and they have two sons, Narfi (son of Lo ...
after he fled from the scene of his murder of
Baldr Baldr (Old Norse also Balder, Baldur) is a god in Germanic mythology. In Norse mythology, he 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 known in ...
. It is described to be inside the throne room of
Valaskjálf In Norse mythology, Valaskjálf ("the Shelf of the Slain"''Grimnismol''
translated by Henry Adams Bellows, p. 89 ...
Odin's home. It said upon it that Odin looks upon his world.


See also

*
Öndvegissúlur Öndvegissúlur (), or high-seat pillars, were a pair of wooden poles placed on each side of the high-seat—the place where the head of household would have sat—in a Viking-period Scandinavian house. According to descriptions in ''Landnámabók ...
*
Valaskjálf In Norse mythology, Valaskjálf ("the Shelf of the Slain"''Grimnismol''
translated by Henry Adams Bellows, p. 89 ...


References

{{Norse mythology Places in Norse mythology Odin