Free The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson

fate of all,
though she herself says nothing.”
    (
Loki’s Flyting. 21, 29, 47
)
    â€˜Odin is called All-Father, because he is the father of all the gods. He is also called Father of the Slain [Val-Father], because all who fall in battle are his adopted sons. With them he mans Valhalla and Vingolf, and they are known as the Einherjar. He is also called Hanga-God [God of the Hanged], Hapta-God 2 [God of Prisoners] and Farma-God [God of Cargoes], and he named himself in many other ways on his visit to King Geirrod:
    â€œI call myself Grim
and Gangleri,
Herjan, Hjalmberi,
Thekk, Thrid,
Thunn, Unn,
Helblindi, Har,
Sann, Svipal, 3
Sanngetal,
Herteit, Hnikar,
Bileyg, Baleyg,
Bolverk, Fjolnir,
Grimnir, Glapsvid, Fjolsvid,
Sidhott, Sidskegg,
Sig-Father, Hnikud,
All-Father, Atrid, Farmatyr,
Oski, Omi,
Jafnhar, Blindi,
Gondlir, Harbard,
Svidur, Svidrir,
Jalk, Kjalar, Vidur,
Thror, Ygg, Thund,
Vak, Skilfing,
Vafud, Hroptatyr,
Gaut, Veratyr.”’       (
The Lay of Grimnir. 46–50
)
    Then Gangleri said, ‘You have given him a large number of names. Truly, 4 it would be a mark of great learning to be able to relate all the events that lie behind each of these names.’
    Then High said, ‘To go carefully through all of that requires much wisdom. Nevertheless, it can quickly be said that mostnames were given, because, with all the different branches of languages in the world, each of the peoples needed to change his name to their own tongue to worship and to pray. But some names derive from events that took place on his travels. They have formed into tales, and you will never be called a wise man if you are unable to recount these great events.’
21. THOR
    Then Gangleri said, ‘What are the names of the other Æsir? How do they occupy themselves? What have they done of importance?’
    High replied: ‘Thor is the foremost among them. Called Thor of the Æsir [Asa-Thor] and Thor the Charioteer [Oku-Thor], he is the strongest of all gods and men. He rules at the place called Thrudvangar [Plains of Strength], and his hall is called Bilskirnir. There are five hundred and forty living spaces 1 in the hall, and it is the largest building that men have erected. So it says in
The Lay of Grimnir
:
    Five hundred rooms
and forty more are found,
I believe when counted in Bilskirnir.
Of those residences
whose roofs I recognize,
my son’s I know is largest.
    (
The Lay of Grimnir. 24
)
    â€˜Thor has two male goats called Tanngniost [Tooth Gnasher] and Tanngrisnir [Snarl Tooth]. He also owns the chariot that they draw, and for this reason he is called Thor the Charioteer. He, too, has three choice possessions. One is the hammer Mjollnir. Frost giants and mountain giants recognize it when it is raised in the air, which is not surprising as it has cracked many a skull among their fathers and kinsmen. His second great treasure is his Megingjard [Belt of Strength]. When he buckles it on, his divine strength doubles. His third possession,the gloves of iron, are also a great treasure. He cannot be without these when he grips the hammer’s shaft. No one is so wise that he can recount all of Thor’s important deeds. I myself can tell you so many significant tales about him that hours would pass before I have said all I know.’
22. BALDR
    Then Gangleri said, ‘I would like to hear about the other Æsir.’
    High said, ‘Odin’s second son is Baldr, and there is much good to tell about him. He is the best, and all praise him. He is so beautiful and so bright that light shines from him. One plant is so white that it is likened to Baldr’s brow. 1 It is the whitest of all plants, and from this you can judge the beauty of both his hair and his body. He is the wisest of the gods. He is also the most beautifully spoken and the most merciful, but one of his characteristics is that none of his decisions is effective. He lives at the place called Breidablik. It is in