The Younger Edda; Also called Snorre's Edda, or The Prose Edda

THE CREATION OF THE WORLD.

4. Said Ganglere: How came the world into existence, or how did it rise? What was before? Made answer to him Har: Thus is it said in the Vala’s Prophecy:

It was Time’s morning, When there nothing was; Nor sand, nor sea, Nor cooling billows. Earth there was not, Nor heaven above. The Ginungagap was, But grass nowhere.[12]

[Footnote 12: Elder Edda: The Vala’s Prophecy, 6.]

Jafnhar remarked: Many ages before the earth was made, Niflheim had existed, in the midst of which is the well called Hvergelmer, whence flow the following streams: Svol, Gunnthro, Form, Fimbul, Thul, Slid and Hrid, Sylg and Ylg, Vid, Leipt and Gjoll, the last of which is nearest the gate of Hel. Then added Thride: Still there was before a world to the south which hight Muspelheim. It is light and hot, and so bright and dazzling that no stranger, who is not a native there, can stand it. Surt is the name of him who stands on its border guarding it. He has a flaming sword in his hand, and at the end of the world he will come and harry, conquer all the gods, and burn up the whole world with fire. Thus it is said in the Vala’s Prophecy:

Surt from the south fares With blazing flames; From the sword shines The sun of the war-god. Rocks dash together And witches collapse, Men go the way to Hel And the heavens are cleft.[13]

[Footnote 13: Elder Edda: The Vala’s Prophecy, 56.]

5. Said Ganglere: What took place before the races came into existence, and men increased and multiplied? Replied Har, explaining, that as soon as the streams, that are called the Elivogs, had come so far from their source that the venomous yeast which flowed with them hardened, as does dross that runs from the fire, then it turned into ice. And when this ice stopped and flowed no more, then gathered over it the drizzling rain that arose from the venom and froze into rime, and one layer of ice was laid upon the other clear into Ginungagap. Then said Jafnhar: All that part of Ginungagap that turns toward the north was filled with thick and heavy ice and rime, and everywhere within were drizzling rains and gusts. But the south part of Ginungagap was lighted up by the glowing sparks that flew out of Muspelheim. Added Thride: As cold and all things grim proceeded from Niflheim, so that which bordered on Muspelheim was hot and bright, and Ginungagap was as warm and mild as windless air. And when the heated blasts from Muspelheim met the rime, so that it melted into drops, then, by the might of him who sent the heat, the drops quickened into life and took the likeness of a man, who got the name Ymer. But the Frost giants call him Aurgelmer. Thus it is said in the short Prophecy of the Vala (the Lay of Hyndla):

All the valas are From Vidolf descended; All wizards are Of Vilmeide’s race; All enchanters Are sons of Svarthofde; All giants have Come from Ymer.[14]

[Footnote 14: Elder Edda: Hyndla’a Lay, 34.]

And on this point, when Vafthrudner, the giant, was asked by Gangrad:

Whence came Aurgelmer Originally to the sons Of the giants?--thou wise giant![15]

he said

From the Elivogs Sprang drops of venom, And grew till a giant was made. Thence our race Are all descended, Therefore are we all so fierce.[16]

[Footnote 15: Elder Edda: Vafthrudner’s Lay, 30.]

[Footnote 16: Elder Edda: Vafthrudner’s Lay, 31.]