Editing Heimdall (section)

===''Prose Edda''===
[[File:Heimdal (1907) by J. T. Lundbye.jpg|thumb|upright|The cock [[Gullinkambi]] atop his head and the burning rainbow bridge [[Bifröst]] in the background, Heimdall blows into Gjallarhorn while holding a sword with a man's face on it (a reference to the "man's head" [[kenning]]). Illustration (1907) by J. T. Lundbye.]]

In the ''Prose Edda'', Heimdall is mentioned in the books ''[[Gylfaginning]]'', ''[[Skáldskaparmál]]'', and ''[[Háttatal]]''. In ''Gylfaginning'', the enthroned figure of [[High, Just-As-High, and Third|High]] tells the disguised mythical king [[Gylfi|Gangleri]] of various gods, and, in chapter 25, mentions Heimdall. High says that Heimdall is known as "the white [[Æsir|As]]", is "great and holy", and that [[Nine Mothers of Heimdallr|nine maidens]], all sisters, gave birth to him. Heimdall is called ''Hallinskiði'' and ''Gullintanni'', and he has gold teeth. High continues that Heimdall lives in "a place" called [[Himinbjörg]] and that it is near [[Bifröst]]. Heimdall is the watchman of the gods, and he sits on the edge of heaven to guard the Bifröst bridge from the berg [[jötunn|jötnar]]. Heimdall requires less sleep than a bird, can see at night just as well as if it were day, and for over a hundred leagues. Heimdall's hearing is also quite keen; he can hear grass as it grows on the earth, wool as it grows on sheep, and anything louder. Heimdall possesses a trumpet, Gjallarhorn, that, when blown, can be heard in [[Norse cosmology|all worlds]], and "the [[head]] is referred to as [[Hǫfuð|Heimdall's sword]]". High then quotes the above-mentioned ''Grímnismál'' stanza about Himinbjörg and provides two lines from the otherwise lost poem about Heimdall, ''[[Heimdalargaldr]]'', in which he proclaims himself to be the son of [[Nine Mothers of Heimdallr|Nine Mothers]].<ref name="FAULKES25-26">Faulkes (1995:25-26).</ref>

In chapter 49, High tells of the god [[Baldr]]'s funeral procession. Various deities are mentioned as having attended, including Heimdall, who there rode his horse Gulltopr.<ref name="FAULKES50">Faulkes (1995:50). See Faulkes (1995:68) for [[Úlfr Uggason]]'s ''[[Húsdrápa]]'' handling this.</ref>

In chapter 51, High foretells the events of Ragnarök. After the enemies of the gods will gather at the plain [[Vígríðr]], Heimdall will stand and mightily blow into Gjallarhorn. The gods will awake and assemble together at the [[Thing (assembly)|thing]]. At the end of the battle between various gods and their enemies, Heimdall will face Loki and they will kill one another. After, the world will be engulfed in flames. High then quotes the above-mentioned stanza regarding Heimdall raising his horn in ''Völuspá''.<ref name="FAULKES54">Faulkes (1995:54).</ref>

At the beginning of ''Skáldskaparmál'', Heimdall is mentioned as having attended a banquet in [[Asgard]] with various other deities.<ref name="FAULKES59">Faulkes (1995:59).</ref> Later in the book, ''[[Húsdrápa]]'', a poem by 10th century [[skald]] [[Úlfr Uggason]], is cited, during which Heimdall is described as having ridden to Baldr's funeral pyre.<ref name="FAULKES68">Faulkes (1995:68).</ref>

In chapter 8, means of referring to Heimdall are provided; "son of nine mothers", "guardian of the gods", "the white As" (see ''Poetic Edda'' discussion regarding ''hvítastr ása'' above), "Loki's enemy", and "recoverer of [[Brísingamen|Freyja's necklace]]". The section adds that the poem ''[[Heimdalargaldr]]'' is about him, and that, since the poem, "the head has been called Heimdall's doom: man's doom is an expression for sword". Hiemdallr is the owner of [[Gulltoppr]], is also known as Vindhlér, and is a [[sons of Odin|son of Odin]]. Heimdall visits [[Vágasker]] and [[Singasteinn]] and there vied with Loki for [[Brísingamen]]. According to the chapter, the skald Úlfr Uggason composed a large section of his ''Húsdrápa'' about these events and that ''Húsdrápa'' says that the two were in the shape of seals. A few chapters later, ways of referring to Loki are provided, including "wrangler with Heimdall and [[Skaði|Skadi]]", and section of Úlfr Uggason's ''Húsdrápa'' is then provided in reference:

<blockquote>Renowned defender [Heimdall] of the powers' way [Bifrost], kind of counsel, competes with [[Fárbauti|Farbauti]]'s terribly sly son at Singastein. Son of eight mothers plus one, might of mood, is first to get hold of the beautiful sea-kidney [jewel, Brisingamen]. I announce it in strands of praise.</blockquote>

The chapter points out that in the above ''Húsdrápa'' section Heimdall is said to be the son of nine mothers.<ref name="FAULKES75-77">Faulkes (1995:75—77).</ref>

Heimdall is mentioned once in ''[[Háttatal]]''. There, in a composition by [[Snorri Sturluson]], a sword is referred to as "Vindhlér's helmet-filler", meaning "Heimdall's head".<ref>Faulkes (1995:171).</ref>