Hlidskjalf
Encyclopedia
In Norse mythology
, Hliðskjálf ˈhlið skjɑːɫf, -sçɑːɫf is the high seat of Odin
allowing him to see into all realms.
, Odin and Frigg
are both sitting in Hliðskjálf when they see their foster sons Agnarr and Geirröðr, one living in a cave with a giantess 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
, it is Freyr
who sits in Hliðskjálf when he looks into Jötunheimr
and sees the beautiful giant maiden Gerðr, with whom he instantly falls in love.
, 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
. Odin possesses that dwelling. The gods
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
after he fled from the scene of his murder of Baldr.
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
, Hliðskjálf ˈhlið skjɑːɫf, -sçɑːɫf is the high seat of Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
allowing him to see into all realms.
Poetic Edda
In GrímnismálGrímnismál
Grímnismál 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 of the many guises of the god Odin, who is tortured by King Geirröth...
, Odin and Frigg
Frigg
Frigg is a major goddess in Norse paganism, a subset of Germanic paganism. She is said to be the wife of Odin, and is the "foremost among the goddesses" and the queen of Asgard. Frigg appears primarily in Norse mythological stories as a wife and a mother. She is also described as having the power...
are both sitting in Hliðskjálf when they see their foster sons Agnarr and Geirröðr, one living in a cave with a giantess 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
Skírnismál is one of the poems of the Poetic Edda. It is preserved in the 13th century manuscripts Codex Regius and AM 748 I 4to but may have been originally composed in heathen times...
, it is Freyr
Freyr
Freyr is one of the most important gods of Norse paganism. Freyr was highly associated with farming, weather and, as a phallic fertility god, Freyr "bestows peace and pleasure on mortals"...
who sits in Hliðskjálf when he looks into Jötunheimr
Jötunheimr
Jötunheimr is one of the Nine Worlds and the homeland of the Giants of Norse Mythology — Rock Giants and Frost Giants.-Legend:...
and sees the beautiful giant maiden Gerðr, with whom he instantly falls in love.
Prose Edda
In GylfaginningGylfaginning
Gylfaginning, or the Tricking of Gylfi , is the first part of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda after Prologue. The Gylfaginning deals with the creation and destruction of the world of the Norse gods, and many other aspects of Norse mythology...
, 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
Allfather
Allfather or All-Father may refer to any supreme male god with progenitive characteristics. It may refer to:* Odin, the supreme god in Norse mythology* The Dagda, the supreme god in Celtic mythology...
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
Valaskjálf
In Norse mythology, Valaskjálf is one of Odin's Halls, a great dwelling built and roofed with pure silver. In this room is a high seat, Hliðskjálf, where Odin can watch over the entire universe....
. Odin possesses that dwelling. The gods
Æsir
In Old Norse, áss is the term denoting a member of the principal pantheon in Norse paganism. This pantheon includes Odin, Frigg, Thor, Baldr and Tyr. The second pantheon comprises the Vanir...
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
In Norse mythology, Loki or Loke is a god or jötunn . Loki is the son of Fárbauti and Laufey, and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. By the jötunn Angrboða, Loki is the father of Hel, the wolf Fenrir, and the world serpent Jörmungandr. By his wife Sigyn, Loki is the father of Nari or Narfi...
after he fled from the scene of his murder of Baldr.