Der rätselhafte Gott : Heimdallr im Licht altnordischer Vorstellungen von Ahnen und Ordnung

Sammanfattning: This dissertation aims at a deeper understanding of the character of the Old West Norse god Heimdallr and of his function in the mythological traditions. The need for a new study of this god is indicated by the fact that the more than a century old description of him in the secondary literature as “the enigmatic god” is still standing. In contrast to much of the earlier research, the previous study attempts to examine the god primarily through the society in which the traditions pertaining to him were handed down. The category guiding the comparisons of the study is Heimdallr’s relatively early documented quality as an ancestor. The study shows that Heimdallr in pre-Christian time probably represented a more clearly definable and eminent figure than is often believed. In the traditions pertaining to him are, among other things, ideas on descent and order reflected.