Then spoke Gangleri
In the Prose Edda, Gangleri is questioning the triple Odin figures, Third, High and Just as High. He seeks to understand their knowledge of the ancient god/esses and of all things holy and held in high regard. As I read through this part of the Edda I found it very useful to put myself in their position and attempt to answer as best I could Gangleri's questions. So, here below is a summary of the questions posed as well as a few I threw in for good measure.
Then spoke Gangleri:
Who is the highest and most ancient of all gods?
Where is this god, what power has he and what great works has he performed?
What was he doing before heaven and earth were formed?
What was the beginning and how did things start and what was there before?
What did Ymir and Audhumla live on?
What did Bor's sons do after Ymir was slain?
Where did people come from who inhabit the world?
What is the origin of the sun and moon?
What way is there from heaven to earth?
What did the All-father do then, when Asgard was built?
Where is the chief centre or holy place of the gods?
What are the names of the Aesir's horses?
Does fire burn over Bifrost?
What notable things are there to tell about the great ash Yggdrasil?
What chief centres are there in heaven?
Where does the wind come from?
Which are the Aesir that men ought to believe in?
Which are the Asyniur that men ought to believe in?
What is Gleipnir, Fenris' fetter, made of?
Why did the gods not slay Fenris after they bound him?
Does Odin have the same fare as the Einheriar?
Whose is the horse Sleipnir and what are its origins?
What information is there to be given about Ragnarok?
What will happen then after heaven and earth and all the world is burned and all the gods and all the Einheriar and all mankind are dead?
Will there be any gods alive then and will there be any kind of earth and sky?
I won't give any answers to the above questions as they are all answered in the Prose Edda and the point of this exercise is to answer them yourself to the best of your ability and to research the unknown answers further.
This article is © 2004 to Askeladden and may not be reposted in any format without the consent of the author.
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