Up till now the only talk of the gods has mostly been in the creation myth. Instead of talking about the individual gods first, I'm going to talk about the first war between the two clans of gods. I do this because it follows the logic I've been presenting; traveling from the most general to the most specific. The war gets into the mythology and interacts with the gods more than anything I've talked about thus far. For some of you, a war between the gods or multiple gods in general seems strange, but keep in mind that these gods are like you and I, just grander and more powerful. Again, I will be referencing the Prose Edda translated by Byock, and the Poetic Edda translated by Bellows, as well as the Wisdom Library's version of the Heimskringla translated by Samuel Laing, which can be found here. For the first bit of this, the beginning of the war, I am going to include the stanzas from the Poetic Edda then "interrupt" for explanation. Bellows does something like this in his translation in the form of footnotes, which I rely on for some of the information along with my other studies on the topic.
*Note: I have found an online version of the Poetic Edda I am referencing, found here.*
The Beginning
21. The war I remember, | the first in the world,
When the gods with spears | had smitten Gollveig,
And in the hall | of Hor had burned her,
Three times burned, | and three times born,
Oft and again, | yet ever she lives.
22. Heith they named her | who sought their home,
The wide-seeing witch, | in magic wise;
Minds she bewitched | that were moved by her magic,
To evil women | a joy she was.
(Bellows 10)
The war begins when Gollveig (Gold-Might), another name for Freyja, interacts with the Aesir. Being the first of her tribe to interact with the Aesir, there's already some mistrust between the two peoples. The conflict arises when Freyja/Gollveig is accused of corrupting the Aesir with her magic. They then burn her three times in Hor's hall, another name for Odin. Each time they burn her she is then reborn in the ashes. The Aesir then name her Heith (Bright One or Shining One), a name that denotes her power in magic and brands her a seeress. Bellows, and others, mention that the "magic" Gollveig is working might have to do with gold and the seductive nature of it; after all, her name is "Gold-Might". The mistreatment of Freyja is what is assumed begins the war.
The War
23. On the host his spear | did Othin hurl,
Then in the world | did war first come;
The wall that girdled | the gods was broken,
And the field by the warlike | Wanes was trodden.
24. Then sought the gods | their assembly-seats
The holy ones, | and council held,
Whether the gods | should tribute give,
Or to all alike | should worship belong.
(Bellows 11)
For clarity, Othin is another spelling of Odin, and Wanes is referring to the Vanir. Odin strikes first against the Vanir, but he soon realizes this is a mistake. The Aesir, though powerful and strong physically, are not experienced with magic like the Vanir are. Thus, when the Aesir fought the Vanir, the Vanir were "well prepared, and defended their land; so that victory was changeable, and they ravaged the lands of each other, and did great damage" (Laing 1.4). And so the gods gathered in a council to end the war. They decided to exchange hostages; this is the tribute talked of above. The hostages were "Njord the Rich, and his son Frey" from the Vanir, along with Freyja who was to stay with them too. And "the people of Asaland sent a man called Hone, whom they thought well suited to be a chief, as he was a stout and very handsome man; and with him they sent a man of great understanding called Mime" (Laing 1.4).
Problems Arise
The Vanir immediately made Hone a chief. Hone or Hoenir was always wise when around Mime (more commonly called Mimir), but practically daft when Mimir wasn't around. When in councils and meetings together, Hone and Mimir gave excellent advice, but without him, Hone always answered questions of advice with "Let others decide". This caused mistrust between them and the Vanir, and "the Vanaland people got a suspicion that the Asaland people had deceived them in the exchange of men. They took Mime, therefore, and beheaded him, and sent his head to the Asaland people" (Laing 1.4). Odin then took his head, embalmed and worked runes and magic over it, so that it would never die. Mimir's head gives invaluable advice to the All-Father now and again.
With the Aesir, Njord, Freyr, and Freyja are all made priests/priestesses of the sacrifices and "they became Diar of the Asaland people"; officially gods (Liang 1.4). Freyja even "taught the Asaland people the magic art, as it was in use and fashion among the Vanaland people" (Liang 1.4).
Reconciliation
As a final act of peace the Aesir and Vanir gathered, and "both sides went to a vat and spat into it" (Byock 84). From this vat of spittle they created Kvasir, who was "so wise that no one could ask him a question that he could not answer" (Byock 84). As a living testament to their truce, the Aesir and Vanir tribes were finally reconciled.
Kvasir's story does not end there, though. I will elaborate more on him when I talk about Odin, since his blood is what makes the mead of poetry, a source of Odin's great knowledge.
But for now, keep the peace, my friends.
