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136 EELIGION OP THE NDETHMEN.
with iragi refers to the poet's mission of immortal-
izing great deeds.
Saga is, as the name directly implies, the Goddess
of History.
(the sinking, the
Her dwelling is Sokkvabekk
deep brook)— ^the stream of Time
and of Events, where Odin (Spirit) visits her and is
gladdened by her instructive discourse.
Heimdall is one of the Gods whose signification is
very obscure. The name may perhaps be traced
from heimr and- dallr (in the sense of dsell, agree-
able, pleasing), and may denote the pleasures of the
world. The name of his abide Himinbjorg signifies
Heaven's Mount or Heaven's Salvation. He
was probably regarded as the Deity of the Kainbow,
although the many special attributes and
names bestowed upon him can hardly be explained
by this character alone.
Not less obscure in YiSar's character. The name
seems most easily . explained with " The Winner of
Victory" (being used in the sense of Vinnar, from
vinna to overcome), and in this case refers to his
victory in the last battle of the Gods. He may
thus denote the regenerative power which was
thought to lie in the Earth. Therefore was he a son
of Odin and a Jotun woman—of Spirit and Mat-
ter ;
wide earth ; therefore was he the silent, inefficient
god during the existing state pf the world. In its
—
therefore was his dwelling-place LandviSi— ^the
downfall he first steps forth in his strength, conquering
the powers of Darkness and Desolation, and
he afterward dwells in the rejuvenated world.
In the high northern latitudes Winter, although