Spring in Norse mythology
Hvergelmir
(
Old Norse
:
[?xwer??elmez?]
; "bubbling boiling spring"
[1]
or "roaring cauldron"
[2]
) is an important primal wellspring in
Norse mythology
. Hvergelmir is attested in the
Poetic Edda
, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the
Prose Edda
, written in the 13th century by
Snorri Sturluson
. In the
Poetic Edda
, Hvergelmir is mentioned in a single stanza, which details that it is the location where liquid from the antlers of the stag
Eikþyrnir
flow, and that the spring, "whence all waters rise", is the source of numerous rivers.
[3]
The
Prose Edda
repeats this information and adds that the spring is located in
Niflheim
, that it is one of the three major springs at the primary roots of the cosmic tree
Yggdrasil
(the other two are
Urðarbrunnr
and
Mimisbrunnr
), and that within the spring are a vast amount of snakes and the
dragon
Niðhoggr
.
Attestations
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Hvergelmir is attested in the following works:
Poetic Edda
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Hvergelmir receives a single mention in the
Poetic Edda
, found in the poem
Grimnismal
:
- Eikthyrnir the hart is called,
- that stands o'er Odin's hall,
- and bites from Lærad's branches;
- from his horns fall drops into Hvergelmir,
- whence all waters rise:
[3]
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This stanza is followed by three stanzas consisting mainly of the names of 42 rivers. Some of these rivers lead to the dwelling of the gods (such as
Gomul
and
Geirvimul
), while at least two (
Gjoll
and
Leipt
), reach to
Hel
.
[3]
Prose Edda
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Hvergelmir is mentioned several times in the
Prose Edda
. In
Gylfaginning
,
Just-as-High
explains that the spring Hvergelmir is located in the foggy realm of
Niflheim
: "It was many ages before the earth was created that Niflheim was made, and in its midst lies a spring called Hvergelmir, and from it flows the rivers called Svol, Gunnthra, Fiorm, Fimbulthul, Slidr and Hrid, Sylg and Ylg, Vid, Leiptr; Gioll is next to Hell-gates."
[4]
Later in
Gylfaginning
, Just-as-High describes the central tree Yggdrasil. Just-as-High says that three roots of the tree support it and "extend very, very far" and that the third of these three roots extends over Niflheim. Beneath this root, says Just-as-High, is the spring Hvergelmir, and that the base of the root is gnawed on by the
dragon
Niðhoggr
.
[5]
Additionally, High says that Hvergelmir contains not only Niðhoggr but also so many snakes that "no tongue can enumerate them".
[6]
The spring is mentioned a third time in
Gylfaginning
where High recounts its source: the stag
Eikþyrnir
stands on top of the afterlife hall
Valhalla
feeding branches of
Yggdrasil
, and from the stag's antlers drips great amounts of liquid down into Hvergelmir. High tallies 26 rivers here.
[7]
Hvergelmir is mentioned a final time in the
Prose Edda
where Third discusses the unpleasantries of
Nastrond
. Third notes that Hvergelmir yet worse than the venom-filled Nastrond because?by way of quoting a portion of a stanza from the
Poetic Edda
poem
Voluspa
?"There Nidhogg torments the bodies of the dead".
[8]
See also
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Notes
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References
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Inhabitants
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Roots reaching to
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See also
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Locations
| Underworld
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Rivers
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Other locations
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Events
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Sources
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Society
| Religious practice
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Festivals and holy periods
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Other
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See also
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