Lore References to the

House of Mundilfari
Manny Olds, Head Lunatic

Trundholm chariot. Sun-wagon.

(From exhibition at German National Museum)
Gylfaginning 10-13: The complete roster
Young
10. "There was a giant living in Giantland called Nörfi or Narfi. He had a daughter
named Night. She was dark and swarthy, like the family to which she belonged. Her first
marriage was with a man called Naglfari, their son was called Auð. Next she was married to
Annar, their daughter was called Earth. Last, Delling [Shining One] married her and he was
of the family of the gods. Their son was Day, he was bright and beautiful like his father's
side. Then All-father took Night and her son Day, and gave them two horses and two
chariots and put them up in the sky, so that they should ride round the world every twenty-
four hours. Night rode first on a horse called Hrímfaxi [Frosty-mane], and every morning
he bedews the earth with the foam from his bit. Day's horse is called Skinfaxi [Shining-
mane] and the whole earth and sky are illuminated by his mane."
11. Then Gangleri asked: "How does he guide the course of the sun and moon?"
High One replied: "There was a man called Mundilfari who had two children. They
were so fair and beautiful that he called one of the Moon, and the other, a daughter, Sun;
he married her to a man called Glen. The gods, however, were angered at his arrogance
and took the brother and sister and put them up in the sky. They made Sun drive the
horses which drew the chariot of the sun that the gods had made to lights the worlds from a
spark which flew from Muspell. The horses are called Árvak [Early-waker] and Alsvið [All-
swift]. Under the shoulder-blades of the horses, the gods two bellows to cool them, and in
some poems that is called iron-cold. Moon governs the journeying of the moon and decides
the time of its waxing and waning. He took from the earth two children, known as Bil and
Hjúki, as they were coming awa from the spring called Byrgir carrying on their shoulders the
pail called Sœg and the pole Símul. Their father's name is Viðfinn. These children
accompany Moon, as may be seen from Earth."
12. Then Gangleri said: The sun moves fast and almost as if she were afraid; she could
not travel faster if she were in fear for her life."
Then High One answered: "It is not surprising that she goes at a great pace; her
pursuer is close behind her and there is nothing she can do but flee.."
Then Gangleri asked: "Who is it that torments her like this?"
High One replied: "There are two wolves, and the one pursuing who is called Skoll is
the one she fears; he will [ultimately] catch her. The other that runs in front of her,
however, is called Hati Hróðvitnisson, and he wants to catch the moon and will in the end."
Then Gangleri asked: "What family to the wolves come from?"
High One said: "To the east of Miðgard in a forst called Iron Wood lives a giantess.
Troll women known as Ironwoodites live in that forest. The aged giantess gave birth to
many giant sons, all of them in the shape of wolves, and these two wolves have come about
in that way. It is said that the one called Mánagarm [Moon's dog] became the most
powerful member of that family; he gorges on the flesh of all who die, and he will swallow
the moon and bespatter the sky and all the air with blood. Because of this, the sun will lose
its brightness, and the winds will then become wild and rage on every side. As it says in the
Sibyl's Vision:
The ancient one lives in the east and there gives birth
in the Wood of Iron to Fenrir's brood;

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 one of them all He is gorged with the flesh
especially of the death-doomed
in the form of a troll and with red blood he reddens
will seize the sun. the dwellings of the gods;
sunlight of summers to come
will be black
and all weathers bad--
Do you know any more or not?"

Gylfaginning 36: Goddesses

36. Then Gangleri asked: "What goddesses are there?"
High One replied: [Blah, blah, blah] Sól and Bil are reckoned among the goddesses,
but their nature has been described before. [Blah, blah.]

Gylfaginning 55: Sun and Moon at Ragnarok.

55. Then Gangleri said: "What is there to relate about Ragnarök? I have never heard tell
of this before."
High One said: "There are many and great tidings to tell about it." [Bad stuff
happens.] Then will occur what seems a great piece of news, the wolf will swallow the sun
and that will seem a great disaster to men. Then another wolf will seize the moon and that
one too will do great harm. The stars will disappear from heaven. [And then more bad
stuff happens. The world ends. All die. Oh the embarassment.]

Sigrdifa 3, 15: "Hail Day" invocation and Sun.

Terry
3. Hail to the day, hail to the sons of day,
hail to night and its daughter!
Gaze on us gently, grant us sitting here
your blessing on our battles.
4. Hail to the gods, hail to the goddesses,
hail to the all-giving earth!
Wisdom and lore, as long as we live,
grant us, and healing hands!
[On the places where runes are inscribed]
15. On the shield that stands before the shining god,
on Arvakr's ear and Alsvinn's hoof,
on a wheel revolving under Hrungnir's chariot
on Sleipnir's teeth, on the straps of a sled,
[etc.]

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Voluspa 5-6: The gods establish the House of Mundilfari as time-tellers.
Terry
5. The sun climbed; 6. Then all the gods
the moon's companion met to give judgement,
raised its right hand the holy gods
over heaven's rim. took counsel together:
The sun did not know they named night
where its hall would stand, and night's children
the stars did not know gave names
where they would be set, to morning and noon,
the moon did not know afternoon and evening,
what would be its might. ordered time by years.

Grimnir 37-39: Sun's Retinue

Larrington
37. 'Arvak and Alsvid, they must pull wearily
the sun from here;
and under the saddle-bows the cheerful gods,
the Aesir, have hidden the iron bellows.
38 'Svalin is the name of a shield which stands before the sun,
before the shining god;
mountain and sea I know would burn up
if it fell away from in front.
39. 'Skoll a wolf is called who pursues the shining god
to protecting woods;
another is Hati, Hrodvitnir's son,
who chases the bright bride of heaven.

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Alvis 13-16: Sky, Sun, and Moon.
Terry
Thor said:
13. Tell me Alvis --
Dwarf, I think you know
all that has ever happened--
what is the moon called
that men can see
in every one of the worlds?
Alvis said:
14. Men say the Moon,
but gods, False Sun,
in Hel, it's Whirling Wheel;
for giants Speeder
for dwarfs it's Shining One,
the elves call it Counter of Years.

Thor said: Alvis said:

15. Tell me, Alvis,--
dwarf, I think you know
all that has ever happened--
what is the sun called,
which men can see
in every one of the worlds?
16. Men call it Sol,
and gods the Sun,
the dwarfs say Dvalin's Delight;
the giants Ever-Glowing,
the elves Fair Wheel,
the Aesir Shadowless Shining.

Skaldskaparmal 26-27: Ways to refer to Sun.

Faulkes
26. How shall the sun be referred to? By calling it daughter of Mundilfari, sister of Moon,
wife of Glen, fire of sky and air. As Skuli Thorsteinsson said:

God-blithe bedfellow of Glen steps to her divine sanctuary with brightness; then
descends the good light of grey-clad moon.
27. Thus sang Einarr Skólason:

Wherever the world's hall [sky] high wandering flame [sun] hovers above our precious
friend, most cruel to the flame [gold] of Beiti's stronghold [sea; cruel to gold =
generous].

Skaldskaparmal 55: Kennings for the sky figures.

Faulkes
55. The following names for the heavens are written down, but we have not found all these
terms in poems. But these poetical terms like others seem to me not proper to include
in poetry unless one finds similar terms already in the work of major poets: heaven,
twin-lit, cluded-brightness, storm-Mimir, Andlang, light-bringer, sprinkler, rich-wetter,
wide-embracer, winter-Mimir, lightning, coverer, Vidblain. Sun: day-star, ever-glow,
all-bright seen, fair-wheel, grace-shine, Dvalin's toy, elf-disc, doubt-disc, ruddy.
Moon: lune, waxer, waner, year-counter, clipped, shiner, gloam, hastener, gleamer.

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Vafthrudnir 11-14, 22-25: Sun, Moon, Night, and Day.
Terry
Vafthrudnir said:
11. Tell me, Gagnrad!
since on the floor thou wilt
prove thy proficiency,
how the horse is called
that draws each day
forth over human kind?
Vafthrudnir said:
13. Tell me now, Gagnrad!
since on the floor thou wilt
prove thy proficiency,
how that steed is called,
which from the east draws night
o’er the beneficent powers?
...
Gagnrad said:
22. Tell me secondly,
if thy wit suffices,
and thou, Vafthrudnir! knowest,
whence came the moon,
which over mankind passes,
and the sun likewise?
Gagnrad said:
24. Tell me thirdly,
since thou art called wise,
and if thou, Vafthrudnir! knowest,
whence came the day,
which over people passes,
and night with waning moons?
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Gagnrad said:
12. Skinfaxi he is named,
that the bright day draws
forth over human kind.
Of coursers he is best acounted
among the Reid-goths.
Ever sheds light that horse’s mane.
Gagnrad
14. Hrimfaxi he is called,
that each night draws forth
over the beneficent powers.
He from his bit lets fall
drops every morn,
whence in the dales comes dew.
...
Vafthrudnir said:
23. Mundilfoeri hight he,
who the moon’s father is,
and eke the sun’s:
round heaven journey
each day they must,
to count years for men.
Vafthrudnir
25. Delling hight he
who the day’s father is,
but night was of Nörvi born;
the new and waning moons
the beneficent powers created,
to count years for men.
Old Norwegian Rune Poem: Sun.
Northvegr

ice year and sun

Is, ar/, endi sol

Old English Rune Poem: Sun.

Northvegr
se mannum symble biþ on hihte
ðonn hi hine feriaþ ofer fisces beþ
oþ hibrim hengest bringeþ to lande
:.
Sun (sigel = sun; sige = victory) is
feast day and hope for those who
depart on the fishes' bath until the
wave-steed brings them to land.

Second Merseburg Charm: Sunna and Sinthgunt her sister.

Ashliman
2. Phol and Wodan rode into the woods,
There Balder's foal sprained its foot.
It was charmed by Sinthgunt, her sister Sunna;
It was charmed by Frija, her sister Volla;
It was charmed by Wodan, as he well knew how:
Bone-sprain, like blood-sprain,
Like limb-sprain:
Bone to bone; blood to blood;
Limb to limb -- like they were glued.

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Notes

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