Winter and Gjallarhorn
What do the gods do when the horn sounds?
In *The Seeress's Prophecy*, Heimdall raises Gjallarhorn high. Its mighty blast rings out. Odin speaks to Mimir's head. Then Yggdrasil shakes, and the ancient tree groans. All those on the road to the realm of the dead tremble with fear.
Noise echoes throughout the land of the giants. The gods gather to talk together. Before their stone doorways, the dwarfs groan. They know the rocky mountains well.
In *The Deluding of Gylfi*, Heimdall's horn wakes all the gods. Odin rides to Mimir's well to seek advice for himself and his allies. Then Yggdrasil shakes. Nothing in heaven or on earth is without fear.
Sources for this story (2)Winter and Gjallarhorn
The horn sounds in both *The Seeress's Prophecy* and chapter 51 of *The Deluding of Gylfi*. In the former, the horn sounds before the armies arrive; in the latter, the armies break the bridge before the horn sounds. This page follows the order in *The Seeress's Prophecy* to fit the sequence of scenes.
hátt blæss Heimdallr,
horn er á lofti,
Heimdall blows a mighty blast, holding the horn high.
“The Seeress's Prophecy” Stanza 46
“The Seeress's Prophecy”Völuspá
“The Beguiling of Gylfi”Gylfaginning
Image details
Emil Doepler “Heimdall an der Himmelsbrücke by E. Doepler” 1905 Public domain View original image
This SNES-style picture is based on an older artwork. Use the button to see it.