The Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas on Hermod

Contents > Chapter Xiv: Hermod

• attestation: Hermod was another son of Odin, the swift or nimble god designated as divine messenger; Odin gave him a magnificent corselet and helmet and sometimes entrusted him with the spear Gungnir to cast over combatants.

  "Another of Odin's sons was Hermod, his special attendant, a bright and beautiful young god, who was gifted with great rapidity of motion and was therefore designated as the swift or nimble god... Allfather gave him a magnificent corselet and helmet, which he often donned when he prepared to take part in war, and sometimes Odin entrusted to his care the precious spear Gungnir, bidding him cast it over the heads of combatants about to engage in battle"

• attestation: Hermod's distinctive attribute was a wand or staff called Gambantein, the emblem of his office as messenger.

  "Hermod's distinctive attribute, besides his corselet and helm, was a wand or staff called Gambantein, the emblem of his office, which he carried with him wherever he went."

• attestation: Odin sent Hermod to the Finnish magician Rossthiof on Sleipnir to learn the future; Hermod bound the magician and forced him to prophesy.

  "Odin bade Hermod don his armour and saddle Sleipnir, which he alone, besides Odin, was allowed to ride, and hasten off to the land of the Finns... Hermod, "the swift," rode rapidly northward, with directions to seek this Finn, and instead of his own wand, he carried Odin's runic staff... Hermod was enabled safely to reach the magician's abode, and upon the giant attacking him, he was able to master him with ease, and he bound him hand and foot"

• attestation: The Finnish magician Rossthiof prophesied to Hermod that a stream of blood signified the murder of one of Odin's sons, but that Odin would sire a son on Rinda (in Russia) who would grow to full stature in a few hours and avenge his brother.

  "Rossthiof now began to explain the omens which his art had conjured up, and he declared that the stream of blood portended the murder of one of Odin's sons, but that if the father of the gods should woo and win Rinda, in the land of the Ruthenes (Russia), she would bear him a son who would attain his full growth in a few hours and would avenge his brother's death."

Contents > Chapter Xxi: Balder

• attestation: Hermod volunteered to ride to Hel to beg for Balder's release; Odin lent him Sleipnir, who normally bore no rider but Odin.

  "Frigga promised that she and Odin would reward the messenger by loving him above all the Æsir, Hermod signified his readiness to execute the commission. To enable him to do so, Odin lent him Sleipnir, and the noble steed, who was not wont to allow any but Odin upon his back, set off without demur upon the dark road"

• attestation: Hermod rode nine days and nine nights through dark valleys to reach the golden bridge over the river Gjoll at the entrance to Niflheim.

  "all that night he rode, and journey'd so, Nine days, nine nights, toward the northern ice, Through valleys deep-engulph'd by roaring streams. And on the tenth morn he beheld the bridge Which spans with golden arches Giall's stream"

Contents > Chapter Xxix: Greek And Northern Mythologies

• comparison: Hermod parallels Mercury as the swift messenger of the gods; he bore Gambantein (a wand) instead of a Caduceus and used Sleipnir instead of winged sandals.

  "Hermod, the quick or nimble, resembles Mercury not only in his marvellous celerity of motion. He, too, was the messenger of the gods, and, like the Greek divinity, flashed hither and thither, aided not by winged cap and sandals, but by Odin's steed Sleipnir, whom he alone was allowed to bestride. Instead of the Caduceus, he bore the wand Gambantein."