deity, who appears to have been the Venus
in the northern Mythology; and next to her
was Thor, whose authority extended over
the winds and seasons, and particularly over
thunder and lightning.o o He is called in the
Edda, the most valiant of the sons of Odin.
These three deities composed the supreme
counsel of the gods, and were the principal
objects of the worship of the Scandinavians,
who, nevertheless, were not all agreed about
the preference which was due to each of
them in particular: thus the Danes paid the
higo hest honors to Odin, and the Swedes to
Freya, while the natives of Iceland bestowed
them upon Thor. Twelve other gods (inferior
deities) and as many goddesses are
besides enumerated in the Edda. Odin was
believed to be the creator of heaven and
earth. The ideas upon this head, as handed
down to us by the Icelandic Mythology,
cannot be better expressed than in the language
of the Voluspa. “ In the day-spring of
the ages,” says the poet, “ there was neither
sea nor shore, nor refreshing breezes. There
was neither earth below nor heaven above to
be distinguished. The whole was only one
vast abyss, without herb, and without seeds.
The stin had then no palace; the stars knew
not their dwelling-places; the moon was
ignorant df her power. After this there
was a luminous, burning, flaming world
towards the south, and from this world
flowed out ihcessantly into the abyss, that
lay towards the north, torrents of sparkling
fire, which, in proportion as they removed
far a!Way from their source, Congealed
in their falling into the void, and
so filled it with scum and ice. Thus, was
the abyss, by little and little, filled quite
full: but there remained within it a light
and immoveable air, and thence exhaled icy
vapors. Then a warm breath coming from
the south melted those vapors, and formed of
them living drops, whence was born the
giant Ymer. It is reported that, while he
slept, an extraordinary sweat, under his armpits,
produced a male and female, whence is
sprung the race of giants; a race evil and
corrupt, as well as Ymer their author.
Another race was brought forth, which
formed alliances with that of the giant
Ymer: this was called the family of Bor,
so named from the first of that family, who
was the father of Odin. The sons of Bor