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THE GODS OF THE NORTH. 93
CHAPTEE in.
THE GODS AND THEIR ABODES.
In heaven is Asgar5, the abode of the Gods. In
its midst is the Field of Ida (I8a-voUr), the Assem-
bling-place of the Gods, and Odin's High-Seat 11115-
skjalf, from whence he looks forth over all the
worlds. But above the heaven of the ^sir reaches
a higher heaven, and in .the highest stands the im-
perishable gold-roofed haU, Gimli, brighter than the
sun.
Odin or Alfa5ir is the highest and eldest of the
.(Esir; his wife is Friga, the daughter of Fjorgyn;
from them descends the race of ^ir. Odin's
Jiall is the great Yalhalla (YalhoU). Spears support
its ceiling, with shields it is roofed, and
coats of mail adorn its benches. Thither, and
to Yingolf, the hall of the Goddesses, Odin invites
all men wounded by ^rms, aU in battle fallen
therefore he is called YalfaSir, the Father of the
Slain ; and his invited guests are called Einheija.r.
It is their pastime to fight and slay each other everyday;
but they revive again before evening, and
ride home reconciled to Yalhalla, where they are
refreshed with the flesh of the boar Ssehrimnir, and
where the Yalkyrjur reach them mead. By the
side of Odin stand two wolves, Geri and Freki;
upon his shoulders sit two ravens, Huginn and Mu-
ninn, which regularly fly out and return with tidings
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