Heimdal

Heimdal is another of the chief gods; according to report he was
considered great and holy, and bore the appellation of the White God. He
was born in a miraculous manner of nine Giant maidens, on the confines of
the earth, in the morning of time; and he drew his sustenance from the
earth. By some he was called Odin’s son. His teeth are of gold; by night or
day his vision spans a hundred miles of space; he is able to hear the
growing of grass upon the ground and of wool on the backs of sheep;
therefore he is a fit watchman for the gods. He dwells near Bifrost, which
he guards against the Giants. He has an immense horn, the Gjallar-Horn;
when he blows it, the sound is heard in all the worlds. His dwelling at the
brink of heaven is known as the Mount of Heaven (Himinbjorg). For the
rest, report has little to say of Heimdal. He is also called Gullintanni, by
reason of his golden teeth; another of his names is Hallinskidi.

The skalds make frequent mention of him; gold they refer to as “Heimdal’s
Teeth,” and to his sword they give the designation “hofuð (manns),” i.e.,
“(man’s) head,” in allusion to an obscure myth. His horse bears the name of
Goldtop.

Sources:

Peter Andreas Munch: Norse Mythology: Legends of Gods and Heroes. The American-Scandinavian Foundation, New York. 1926, pp. 17-18.
Rasmus B. Anderson (Ed.): The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson. Norræna Society, London-New York. 1906.


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