Heimdal(l)
Heimdall
is the god of light, the son of nine mothers (variously
given as the daughters of Geirrendour the Giant or
of Aegir).
He
was born at the end of the world and raised by the force
of the earth, seawater and the blood of a boar. Because
of his shining, golden teeth he is also called Gullintani
("gold tooth"). His hall is Himinbjorg, The Cliffs
of Heaven, and his horse is Gulltop. Heimdall carries
the horn Gjall.
He
is the watchman of the gods and guards Bifrost,
the only entrance to Asgard, the
realm of the gods. It is Heimdall's duty to prevent the
giants from forcing their way into Asgard. He requires less
sleep than a bird and can see a hundred miles around him,
by night as well as by day. His hearing is so accurate that
no sound escapes him: he can even hear the grass grow or
the wool on a sheep's back. At the final conflict of Ragnarok
he will kill his age-old enemy, the evil god Loki,
but will die himself from his wounds.
As
the god Rig ("ruler"), Heimdall created the three
races of mankind: the serfs, the peasants, and the warriors.
It is interesting to note why Heimdall fathered them, and
not Odin as might be expected. Furthermore,
Heimdall is in many attributes identical with Tyr.
Old
Norse: Heimdallr
Source(s):
Encyclopedie van de Mythologie. Elseviers Mythologische
Encyclopedie.
Source:
the Encyclopedia Mythica, please visit their site for
much more
