Part 5

In the mythology we read that elves smithied splendid treasures for Frey (Grímnismál 42; Gylfaginning 43, Skáldskaparmál 14, 43). Among these treasures were the remarkable ship Skiðblaðnir and the gold-glittering boar Slíðrugtanni, also called Gullinbursti (Gylfaginning 49, Skáldskaparmál 14), both clearly symbols of vegetation. The elves that smithied these treasures are called Ivaldi's sons, and constitute the same group of brothers whose gifts to the gods, at the instigation of Loki, are subjected to a public examination by the Asas and by them found wanting as compared with Sindri's products. It would be most surprising, nay, quite incredible, if, when other artists made useful presents to Frey, the elf-prince Volund and his brothers did not do likewise, inasmuch as he is the chief smith of them all, and inasmuch as he, with his brother Orvandil-Egil, has taken upon himself the duties of a foster-father toward the young harvest-god, among which duties one was certainly to care for his good and enable him to perform the important task devolving on him in the administration of the world.

From this standpoint already it is more than probable that the same artist who in the heroic saga of the Teutonic tribes, under the name Volund, Wieland, Weland, by the side of Mimir, plays the part of the foremost smith that antiquity knew is the same one as in the mythology was the most excellent smith; that is, the most skilful one among Ivaldi's sons. This view is perfectly confirmed as to its correctness by the proofs which I shall now present.

Of Ivaldi, Forspjallsljóð says that he had two groups of children, and that Idun, the goddess of vegetation, belonged to one of these groups:

Álfa ættar
Iðunni hétu
Ívalds eldri
yngsta barna.

Idun is, therefore, a sister of the celebrated artists, the sons of Ivaldi. In Völundarkviða, Volund and Slagfin are brothers or half-brothers of the dises of vegetation, who are together with them in the Wolfdales (Völundarkviða 2). According to Forspjallsljóð, Idun was for a time absent from Asgard, and stayed in a winter-cold land near Narfi-Mimir's daughter Nott, and in company with persons whose names and epithets indicate that they were smiths, primeval artists (Rögnir and Reginn; see Nos. 113, 115, and the epithet viggiar, a synonym of smiðir - Younger Edda, i. 587). Thus we read precisely the same of Idun as of the swan-maids and vegetation-dises who dwelt for a time in the Wolfdales with Volund and his brothers. Further on it shall be demonstrated that the name of Volund's father in the introduction of Völundarkviða and the name given to the father of Volund's and Slagfin's swan-maids are synonyms, and refer to one and the same person. But if we for the present leave this proof out, and confine ourselves to the evidences already presented, then the question concerning the identity of the Ivaldi sons with the group of brothers Volund, Egil, and Slagfin assumes the following form:

1. (a) There is in the mythology a group of brothers, the Ivaldi sons, from whose hands the most wonderful works proceeded, works which were presented to the gods, and by the latter were compared with those of the primeval artist Sindri.

1. (b) In the heroic saga there is a group of brothers, to whom Volund belongs, the most celebrated of the smiths handed down from the mythology.

2. (a) Ivaldi is an elf and his sons elves.

2. (b) Volund, Egil, and Slagfin are elves (Völundarkviða 32).

3. (a) Ivaldi's sons are brothers or half-brothers of the goddess of vegetatinn, Idun.

3. (b) Volund, Egil, and Slagfin are brothers or half-brothers of swan-maids and dises of vegetation.

4. (a) Of Idun, the sister of Ivaldi's sons, it is stated that she was for a time absent from the gods, and dwelt with the primeval artists in a winter-cold land, near Nott, the daughter of Narfi-Mimir.

4. (b) Volund and his brothers' swan-maids dwell for a time in a winter-cold land, which, as my researches have already shown, is situated fyr nágrindur neðan, consequently in the lower world, near the realm of Nott.

5. (a) Ivaldi's sons were intimately associated with Frey and gave him precious treasures.

5. (b) Volund and Egil were intimately associated with Frey, and were his fosterers and wards.

6. (a) Ivaldi's sons were most deeply insulted by the gods.

6. (b) Volund has been most deeply insulted by the Asas. He and Egil become their foes, and ally themselves with the powers of frost.

7. (a) The insult given to Ivaldi's sons consisted in the fact that their works were judged inferior as compared with the hammer Mjolnir made by Sindri.

7. (b) The best smith-work produced by Volund is a sword of such a quality that it is to prove itself superior to Mjolnir in battle.

These circumstances alone force us to assume the identity of Ivaldi's sons with Volund and his brothers. We must either admit the identity, or we are obliged to assume that the epic of the mythology contained two such groups of brothers, and made them identical in descent, functions, and fortunes. Besides, it must then have made the one group avenge not an insult offered to itself, but an insult to the other. I have abstained from the latter assumption, because it is in conflict with the best rules for a logical investigation - causæ non sunt præter necessitatem multiplicandæ. And the identity gains confirmation from all sides as the investigation progresses.