The Poetic Edda

The
Catalog of Dwarves

THE CATALOG OF DWARVES

This was originally part of the Prophecy of the Seeress and is therefore told in the first person.

1. The Aesir* of that time gathered at the place of the Debate-Chair,
The Holy Leaders, and gave their concern there,
who would the skilled dwarves many to create
of Brimir's blood and of Bláin's** bones.

*aesir translates as "gods" from Old Norse, keep in mind that it does not mean "all" of the gods in all cases. In this instance it means the Aesir, i.e. the gods whom dwell in Asgard; see Skapamal 17, and Aesir Saga.
**Two giants. Giants are descended from Ymir who is the embodiment of primal matter. Alternate sources claim that the dwarves were created from maggots. I believe this is only a comparison in that the dwarves live *as* maggots would, only in this case the flesh is earth, and the body is Ymir; some of the names refer to death, please refer to my works on The Dead In The Mountains. For reference to the lineage of Ymir's offspring see Skapamal.

2. They made Mótsognir, a master by reputation
amongst dwarves, but Durinn second;
they made several manlike bodies,
Dwarves of earth, as Durinn is called.

3. Nýi and Niði,* Norðri and Suðri,
Austri and Vestri,** Alþjófur, Dvalinn,
Bívör, Bávör, Bömbur, Nóri,
Án and Ánar, Ái, Mjöðvitnir.

* Waxing and Waning Moon.
** North, South, East, and West.

4. Veigur and Gandálfur, Vindálfur, Þráinn,
Þekkur and Þorinn, Þrár, Vitur and Litur,
Nár and Nýráður, Reginn and Ráðsviður,
the dwarves being correctly named.

5. Fíli, Kíli, Fundinn, Náli,
Hefti, Víli, Hannar, Svíur,
Frár, Hornbori, Frægur and Lóni,
Aurvangur, Jari, Eikinskjaldi.

6. I speak of the dwarves in Dvalins gild,
the group to lead from Lofar onwards,
they from rock and fissure, from stone halls
Aurvanga's seat in Jöruvalla*.

*Earth-Field

7. There Was Draupnir and Dólgþrasir,
Hár, Haugspori, Hlévangur, Glói,
Skirvir, Virvir, Skáfiður, Ái.

8. Álfur and Yngvi, Eikinskjaldi,
Fjalar and Frosti, Finnur and Ginnar;
that I ever remember as age exists,
I speak of Lofars companions.

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