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OF THE GODS. 137
Nature lies in a state of torpor, is a very important
season for the activity of men, hence it is not won-
derful that the heathen Northmen ijnagined one of
the ^sir to preside over that season, and to favor
human operations by furnishing good roads and
facilities for traveling," and inventing means for
passing easily over the ice and snow. This Divin-
ity is Ullar, whose name signifies the Wool-like or
White. His abode is 'I'dalir—the Dale of cool
Dampness.
Forseti signifies, according to the name, the Foreseated^
the Presider. He presides over Justice, and
is the God of Righteousness. His dwelling is Glit-
nir, the SKvning.''' He is the son of Baldur—of
spotless Innocence. When Innocence disappeared
from the earth, Eighteousness was left behind to fill
its place.
The name Yalkyrja signifies the Chooser of the
Slain.f The Yalkyrjur served Odin, "and were the
Goddesses of Battle and of Death. They are beings
who realize to the senses Odin's attributes as the
God of War.
The being who is regarded as the God of the Sea
is designated by three names : JSgir-^the Terrible
(segia, to frighten) ; Hler— ^the Shelterer (hie, A.-8.
* Glita, to shine; or glitra, oogn. with A.-8. glitenan, glitnian;
Engl, glitter, glisten. Forseti was worshiped by the Frisians, and
called Fosite, (Deut. Mytli, pp. 210-212.)
f
Valr, Old. Oerm. wal ; A.-S. wail ; the Slain in battle ; whence
the Dan. Valplada ; Qerm. Wahlplatz ; a field of battle : kyrja
from kjora, tj6sa ; A.-8. cnron, oe6san ; Old, Germ, kiiren, to
choose. In the A.-8. such Latin words as Aleeto, Bellona, were
rendered by Wselcyrige and Wsolcyrie,