Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

"Now tell me, Fjolsvith, what I will ask you, and what I wish to know: Who has
constructed that which I saw within the walls of the ásmegir?" 7
Fjolsvith answers (Fjölsvinnsmál 34):
Uni og Íri,
Óri og Bári,
Varr og Vegdrasill,
Dóri og Úri;
Dellingur og varðar,
líðski álfr, loki.
"Uni and Iri, Ori and Bari, Var and Vegdrasil, Dori and Uri; Delling, the cunning
elf, is the watchman at the gate (lit. guardian of the tower's lock)." 8
Thus Svipdag has seen a place where beings called ásmegir dwell. It is well
enclosed and guarded by the elf Delling. The myth must have laid great stress on the fact
that the citadel was well guarded, since Delling, whose cunning is especially emphasized,
has been entrusted with this task. The citadel must also have been distinguished for its
magnificence and for other qualities, since what Svipdag has seen within its gates has
awakened his astonishment and admiration, and caused him to ask Fjolsvith about the
name of its builder. Fjolsvith enumerates no less than eight architects. At least three of
these are known by name in other sources - namely, the "dwarves" Varr (Nafnaþulur),
Dori and Ori (Nafnaþulur, Gylfaginning 14). Both the last-named are also found in the
list of dwarves incorporated in Völuspá [as quoted in Snorri's Prose Edda]. Both are said
to be dwarves in Dvalin's group of attendants or servants (í Dvalins liði - Völuspá 14).
The problem to the solution of which I am struggling on - namely, to find the
explanation of what beings those are which are called ásmegir - demands first of all that
we should find out where the myth located their dwelling seen by Svipdag, a fact which
is of mythological importance in other respects. This result can be gained, providing
Dvalin's and Delling's real home and the scene of their activity can be determined. This is
particularly important in respect to Delling, since his office as gate-keeper at the castle of
7 Looking simply at the form, the verse may also be translated in the following manner: "Now tell me,
Fjolsvith, what I will ask you, and what I wish to know: Who of the ásmegir constructed what I saw within
the wall?" Against this formal possibility there are, however, several objections. Svipdag would then be
asking Fjolsvith who had made that which he had seen once in the past within a castle wall without
informing Fjolsvith in regard to which particular castle wall he has reference. It also presupposes that
Svipdag knew that the ásmegir had made the things in question which were within the castle wall, and that
he only wished to complete his knowledge by finding out which one or ones of the ásmegir it was that had
made them. And finally, it would follow from Fjolsvith's answer that the dwarves he enumerates are sons of
Aesir. The formal possibility pointed out also has a formal probability against it. The genetive plural
ásmaga has garð as its nearest neighbor, not hver, and therefore should be referred to garð, not to hver,
even though both the translations gave an equally satisfactory meaning so far as the facts related are
concerned; but that is not the case.
8 [Rydberg's footnote] I follow the text in most of the manuscripts, of which Bugge has given various
versions. One manuscript has in the text, another in the margin, Lidscialfr, written in one word (instead of
liþsci alfr). Of this, Munch made Lidskjalfr. The dative loki from lok, a gate (cp. lúka, loka, to close,
enclose), has been interpreted as Loki, and thus made the confusion complete.