Hliðskjálf
Odin's high throne
Norse mythology
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Introduction
Hliðskjálf (e. Hlidskjalf or Hlidskialf) is the name of Odin’s throne, the chief of the Æsir gods. It stands in Valaskjálf, one of Odin’s splendid halls, a place so grand the roof is thatched with pure shimmering silver. Hlidskjalf is no ordinary throne. Because upon this high seat, one can survey all the realms of Norse mythology.
The name itself, Hliðskjálf, is a compound word made up of two parts “Hlið” and “skjálf”. The first part “Hlið” means a gate. The “skjálf” part is more uncertain in this context. The Icelandic verb “Skjálfa” means to tremble or shake. [1] Arthur C.B. translated “skjálf” as either seat or shelf [2].
Let’s delve deep into the literary sources and examine what is to be learned about Odin’s mythical throne.
Owner of Hlidskjalf
The sources do mention different gods using Hlidskjalf, however it is made very clear in this piece from the tale Gylfaginning, that Odin is the owner of Valaskjálf, and that includes Hlidskjalf. This is what the source says:
Another great abode is there, which is named Valaskjálf; Odin possesses that dwelling; the gods made it and thatched it with sheer silver, and in this hall is the Hlidskjálf, the high-seat so called. Whenever Allfather sits in that seat, he surveys all lands.
– Gylfaginning, 17th chapter [2]
„Þar er enn mikill staðr, er Valaskjálf heitir. Þann stað á Óðinn. Þann gerðu goðin ok þökðu skíru silfri, ok þar er Hliðskjálfin í þessum sal, þat hásæti, er svá heitir, ok þá er Alföðr sitr í því sæti, þá sér hann of alla heima.“ – Gylfaginning, 17.kafli.
The function and purpose of Hlidskjalf
To understand how this seat functions, let’s take another look at the previous quote here above from Gylfaginning. There it says that Hlidskjalf is inside this spectacular hall, and not out in the open somewhere, perhaps overlooking the world from a mountain top. However, since it is inside a building, one has to assume that when Odin sits on Hlidskjalf, his mind’s eye needs to travel, because his vision is otherwise hindered by the hall itself.
The next example echoes some of what it said in the first quote, however, it does offer new information. For instance, it expands a little on what Odin sees. It becomes increasingly apparent that the main purpose of this seat is to gain information, and knowledge of every little thing that goes on in the realms.
In the 9th chapter of Gylfaginning, it says this:
“There is one place, named Hlidskialf, and when Odin sat there in the high seat, he saw all the worlds and what each man was doing and knew all things, of which he saw.” [3] – Gylfaginning
„Þar er einn staðr, er Hliðskjálf heitir, ok þá er Óðinn settist þar í hásæti, þá sá hann of alla heima ok hvers manns athæfi ok vissi alla hluti, þá er hann sá.” – Gylfaginning
Here Hlidskjalf is said to be a place, in which there is a high seat. This may lead the reader to question, which is it? A seat inside Valaskjálf or a place of its own? The answer to this question remains vague.
Perhaps that does not come as a surprise to those who know Odin. He’s well known for his insatiable thirst for knowledge. Hlidskjalf seems to be one of his tools that serve that purpose. In addition to that, he also has the two ravens Huginn and Muninn, who share the same purpose as the throne, only they fly around the world to gather news for him.
In the surviving stories of Norse mythology, Hlidskjalf plays a role on more than one occasion. From those tales, more information can also be found on how it functions.
The role Hlidskjalf plays in the tales
There are three surviving tales in Norse mythology in which Hlidskjalf plays a part.
The first example we’ll look at is from the Eddic poem Grímnismál (e. Lay of Grímnir). It starts with a prologue which sets the stage for the poem that follows. There it says:
“Odin and Frigg were sitting in Hlidskjalf, looking over all the world. Odin said: “Do you see Agnar, your foster-son, where he is raising children with a giantess in a cave? while Geirröð, my foster-son, is a king residing in his country?” – Grímnismál [4]
„Óðinn ok Frigg sátu í Hliðskjálfu ok sáu um heima alla. Óðinn mælti: „Sér þú Agnar, fóstra þinn, hvar hann elr börn við gýgi í hellinum, en Geirröðr, fóstri minn, er konungr ok sitr nú at landi?“
It is noteworthy here that both Frigg and Odin are sitting in the high seat, and that may alter one’s image of it. Is it made up of two seats, or do they take turns? Is Frigg perhaps sitting in Odin’s lap? The sources are vague on this point.
Another trivia that can be gleaned from this is that Odin does not seem to be the only one who can use Hlidskjalf. That is also supported in our second tale, of when the Vanir god Freyr falls deeply in love with the giantess Gerd, daughter of Gymir. That story is told in the Eddic poem named Skírnismál (e. Lay of Skírnir). In a prologue to the poem, this is said:
„Frey, son of Niörd, had one day seated himself in Hlidskjalf, and was looking over all regions, when turning his eyes to Jötunheim, he there saw a beautiful girl, as she was passing from her father’s dwelling to her bower.“ – Skírnismál [5]
„Freyr, sonr Niarðar, hafði setzk í Hliðskiálf ok sá um heima alla. Hann sá í Iötunheima, ok sá þar mey fagra, þá er hón gekk frá skála föður síns til skemmo.“ – Skírnismál
The same story is told in chapter 37 of Gylfaginning in the Prose-Edda. Where this is told:
“It chanced one day that Freyr had gone to Hlidskjálf, and gazed over all the world; but when he looked over into the northern region, he saw on an estate a house great and fair. And toward this house went a woman; when she raised her hands and opened the door before her, brightness gleamed from her hands, both over sky and sea, and all the worlds were illumined of her. Thus his overweening pride, in having presumed to sit in that holy seat, was avenged upon him, that he went away full of sorrow. When he had come home, he spake not, he slept not, he drank not; no man dared speak to him.” [6]
“Þat var einn dag, at Freyr hafði gengit í Hliðskjálf ok sá of heima alla. En er hann leit í norðrætt, þá sá hann á einum bæ mikit hús ok fagrt, ok til þess húss gekk kona, ok er hon tók upp höndum ok lauk hurð fyrir sér, þá lýsti af höndum hennar bæði í loft ok á lög, ok allir heimar birtust af henni. Ok svá hefnði honum þat mikla mikillæti, er hann hafði setzt í þat it helga sæti, at hann gekk í braut fullr af harmi. Ok er hann kom heim, mælti hann ekki. Ekki svaf hann, ekki drakk hann. Engi þorði ok at krefja hann orða.” – Gylfaginning
For some reason, Freyr does not wield the powers of Hlidskjalf well and falls ill after taking the high seat.
Now, in another tale, the trickster Loki is responsible for the death of the god Baldr. To escape punishment, he runs away and goes into hiding. However, with the aid of Hlidskjalf, Odin locates Loki.
As this quote from Gylfaginning describes:
“Then he saw that the Æsir were close upon him; and Odin had seen from Hlidskjalf where he was.” – Gylfaginning (chapter 50)
“Þá sá hann, at æsir áttu skammt til hans, ok hafði Óðinn sét ór Hliðskjálfinni, hvar hann var.” – Gylfaginning (kafli 50)
Loki is then captured and bound, as a punishment for his crime. That tale is told in greater detail in the Prose-Edda, which We Vikings have available in English in our library section.
Cultural influence of Hlidskjalf
Hlidskjalf is mentioned in Skáldskaparmál (Poesy of Skalds), a manual for students of Norse poetry. There is a stanza by Thoralf is quoted:
Thórálfr sang this:
The Mighty One of Hlidskjálf
Spake his mind unto them
Where the hosts of fearless
Hárekr were slaughtered.
Þat kvað Þórálfr:
Sagði hitt, er hugði,
Hliðskjalfar gramr sjalfum,
hlífar-styggs þar er höggnir
Háreks liðar váru.
-Skáldskaparmál, 22.
Thoralf fills the meter here with a kenning; referring to Odin as Hliðskjalfar gramr, here translated as The Mighty One of Hlidskjalf. Bear in mind that this stanza was created for a Viking age audience. Hence it suggests that people were familiar enough with Hlidskjalf, and how it was associated with Odin; that the skald allowed himself to be somewhat cryptic in his choice of words.
On mentions of Hlidskjalf in the sources
Hlidskjalf is mentioned in two separate Eddic poems. One is Skírnismál (e. Lay of Skírnir) or För Skírnis (e. Skírnir’s journey), where it is mentioned in the prologue. The second is called Grímnismál, where it also happens to be mentioned in a prologue part to the poem.
In addition to the Poetic Edda, it also appears in the Prose-Edda, in the story Gylfaginning (chapters 9, 17, 37 and 50), as well as in the section of Skáldskaparmál.
Final thoughts on Hlidskjalf
After thoroughly examining all the mentions, another thing becomes clear. The sources only ever mention that the seat grants vision, never does it ever mention that it activates any other senses. That is perhaps where Odin’s ravens excel over Hlidskjalf, as they can both act as his eyes and ears out in the world.
It is also interesting to theorize whether there is some deeper meaning behind the throne and what it symbolizes.
It does appear as the perfect throne for a king. One who rules his kingdom from his seat at court. A king has to know what goes on in his realm. A regular king would perhaps trust his advisors or informants. However, a throne that grants him vision overall is quite ideal for that purpose. Odin is in this case the symbol of an all-ruling king who knows everything that goes on in his kingdom. From that perspective, one may imagine how the idea of Hlidskjalf developed in the first place.
Here we conclude our overview. We Vikings hope this has quenched your thirst for knowledge about Hlidskjalf. Below you can continue your journey of learning.
References:
[1] Árni Böðvarsson, 1996, Íslensk orðabók, Mál og menning.
[2, 3, 6] Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur, 1916, Prose-Edda translation.
[4] Benjamin Thorpe, 1865, Grímnismál, The Edda Of Sæmund The Learned
[5] Benjamin Thorpe, 1865, Skírnismál, The Edda Of Sæmund The Learned.
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