Another son of Odin was Hermod, his special assistant, a brilliant young god,
was endowed with great speed of movement, and it was known as the
god fast or agile.
Because of this important attribute, Hermod was commonly used by the gods
as a messenger and the slightest sign of Odin, was always willing to take
to any corner of the building to comply with the wishes of his father.
Allfather
gave a magnificent corselet and helmet, which is adorned with often when
preparing for battle Odin sometimes entrusted with the care of the spear
Gungnir, ordering that the throw over the heads of the combatants to fight
point
so that his ardor could be transformed into a murderous rage.
Pray to Odin to come into our minds.
He gives and gives gold
who deserves it,
to Hermod
handed a case and thorax.
(semundo Edda). Hermod
enjoyed the war and was often called "the bravest of the battle"
and confused with the god of the universe, Irmin. It is said that sometimes accompanied the Valkyries
in his travels to Earth and often escorted the warriors to Valhalla
, and it was considered the leader of the heroes killed in combat.
Hermod distinctive attribute, besides his corselet and helmet, was a staff called
Gambantein, the emblem of his office, which carried with him wherever he went.
Hermod and the Magician.
Once, oppressed by the dark fears about the future, and unable to obtain the Norns
satisfactory answers to their questions, Odin ordered to Hermod that
put his armor and saddle to Sleipnir, which only he, as well as Odin,
could assemble and be directed to the frozen wastes of the Finns. These people, who lived
glaciers in polar regions, in addition to being capable of causing cold storms that came North
, bringing lots of ice and snow, had allegedly
great occult powers.
The most famous among magicians was Rossthiof Finns (the horse thief), which
used to attract travelers to their domains using magical arts in order to rob and kill
later. I also had the power to predict the future but always very reluctant
to do so.
Hermod, the Swift, went quickly to the North, intending to seek this
Finnish and instead of his own staff, carried the Runed Odin, which had given him
Allfather to remove any obstacle that could
Rossthiof do appear to contain it. Thus, despite the spooky monsters and traps and
unseen dangers, Hermod reached the abode of the sorcerer unharmed, and when it
attacked him, was able to handle easily, after which bound him hand and foot,
release stating that not until he had said all he wanted to know.
Rossthiof, seeing no possibility of escape, he yielded to the wishes of his captor and
after his release, he began to mutter incantations, to which one sound
the sun hid behind clouds, the earth shook and shuddered and storm winds howled
like a pack of hungry wolves.
Pointing to the horizon, the magician ordered Hermod to look and God might
quick glimpse in the distance a large flow of blood reddening the ground. While watching
perplexed this current, a beautiful woman suddenly appeared and a moment later
a child at his side. To the amazement of God, this child grew up with wonderful rapidity
soon reached adulthood, after which Hermod is realized
furiously wielding a bow and arrows.
Rossthiof then began to explain the prophecies that had evoked spells and
said the river of blood that presaged the murder of one of the sons of Odin, but
that if the father of the gods wooed and won a Rinda, in the land of the Ruthenes
(Russia), she would give a child reach adulthood in a few hours and
avenge the death of his brother. Hermod
listened carefully to the words of Rossthiof and, after returning to Asgard, Odin
informed of everything that he had seen and heard, whose fears were confirmed
and thus, found that he was doomed to lose a
child in a violent death. He consoled himself, however, with the idea that another of his descendants
avenge the crime and therefore get the satisfaction that a true Nordic
always required to get revenge for the blood through the blood.
And the prophecy is over meeting, as predicted the Finnish magician, as the son of Odin
was Balder would be killed and that it would avenge it would Vali.
