Northern mythology

182 NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY.
wolf Fenrir is called Hvedrung's (HvcSrungs) son ; in like
manner Hel is called Hvedrung^s daughter ^, the signification
of which is extremely doubtful. As the terrestrial
fire_, he has Farbauti for his father, from far, a ship, and
bauta, to beat, therefore the ship-beater, an appropriate
periphrasis for the wind. For his mother he has Laufey
(leafy isle) or Nal, needle (i. e. the leaflet of the fir "~) ; for
his brothers, Byleist, from bu, a habitation, and lesta, to
lay ivaste ; or from bylr, storm, and sestr, raging ; and Helblindi^,
which is also one of Odin^s names. But Loki
does also some good : it is he who has almost always to
procure what is wanting ; he causes the implements and
ornaments to be made for the gods, both by the sons of
Ivaldi who work '^,
in wood, as well as by those who forge '^,
It is fire that sets all things in activity. Loki visits the
metal king, Geirrod, who causes him to be confined and
nearly starved : both types are in themselves sufficiently
clear.
Thiassi flies with Loki, who hangs fast by the pole^:
this is evidently fire, which by the storm is borne through
the air. Thiassi has been explained as identical ^^-ith
Thiarsi, from ])iarr, violent, impetuous. His mndy nature
is manifest enough, partly as being the father of Skadi^,
and partly from appearing in the form of an eagle, like
Hraesvelg ". It is the storm in the hollows of the mountains
that rushes out, and bears along with it the burning
trunks of trees through the air. Snorri^s Edda ^ gives
two brothers to Thiassi, Idi (I]?i, brightness, splendour) and
Gang (Giingr, the gold diffused in the innermost recesses of
the mountain). In the story of Sindri, who forges, and
Brock, who stirs the fire, and afterwards closes up Loki^s
^ Ynglingas-. 52.
- Trees \vith acicular leaflets, like the fir, cedar, yew and the like, are
lied needle-trees.