The Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas on Forseti
Contents > Chapter Xii: Forseti
attestation: Forseti was the son of Balder and Nanna; he was the wisest, most eloquent, and most gentle of all the gods, patron of justice, and dwelt in the palace Glitnir with its silver roof on pillars of gold.
"Son of Balder, god of light, and of Nanna, goddess of immaculate purity, Forseti was the wisest, most eloquent, and most gentle of all the gods... he should be patron of justice and righteousness, and gave him as abode the radiant palace Glitnir. This dwelling had a silver roof, supported on pillars of gold"
attestation: Twelve Frisian wise men (Asegeir) commissioned to compile a law code were storm-driven to sea; when they called on Forseti, a mysterious thirteenth passenger appeared, steered them to an island, struck a spring from the earth with his axe, and expounded a law code before vanishing.
"In their distress the twelve jurists called upon Forseti, begging him to help them to reach land once again, and the prayer was scarcely ended when they perceived, to their utter surprise, that the vessel contained a thirteenth passenger. Seizing the rudder, the newcomer silently brought the vessel round, steering it towards the place where the waves dashed highest, and in an incredibly short space of time they came to an island, where the steersman motioned them to disembark... they saw the stranger fling his battle-axe, and a limpid spring gush forth from the spot on the greensward where it fell."
attestation: The island where Forseti appeared to the Frisian jurists was declared holy as 'Forseti's land' or Heligoland; even the boldest vikings refrained from raiding it lest they suffer shipwreck or shameful death.
"they declared the island upon which they stood to be holy, and they pronounced a solemn curse upon any who might dare to desecrate its sanctity by quarrel or bloodshed. Accordingly this island, known as Forseti's land or Heligoland (holy land), was greatly respected by all the Northern nations, and even the boldest vikings refrained from raiding its shores"
attestation: Forseti held his assizes in spring, summer, and autumn but never in winter; it became customary throughout the North to dispense justice only in those seasons, since light was needed for right to be apparent.
"As Forseti was said to hold his assizes in spring, summer, and autumn, but never in winter, it became customary, in all the Northern countries, to dispense justice in those seasons, the people declaring that it was only when the light shone clearly in the heavens that right could become apparent to all"