Name: Heimdall / Heimdallr. Also Vindhlér, Hallinskíði, Gullintanni and Rígr.

Area Of Control: light, eyesight, hearing, watch, society, valor and runes.

Symbols: The main symbol of Heimdall was a horn called Gjallar. Heimdall was also noted for his eyesight and hearing and his horse was Gulltopp.

Usual Image: Heimdall was thought of as a tall mature man with armour.

Holy Books: The Edda, as well as poems and sagas.

Place Of Worship: Temples, forests and household altar.

Relatives: Odin (father), Nine Giantesses (mothers), half-brother of Magni (by mother) and of Thor, Balder and Tyr (by father).

Synodeities: Roman (Janus.)

Birth and significance: Heimdallr is another son of Odin, but not a son of Frigg (Frigga). Heimdallr is the son of 9 mothers [feel free to insert joke here]. During one of Odin’s many trips through the realms, he came across 9 frost giantess maidens bathing near a shore. Atypical of Jotun maidens, these 9 were quite attractive, and their beauty overcame Odin, and the maidens were instantly impregnated. As the tale of Heimdallr’s birth continues, there are varying accounts of the next set of events. One variation states that the giantess maidens swam to the shore and presented Odin with one fully formed infant. Another version relates that the maidens shifted form into that of a wave (they are Jotuns, after all) and carried the infant to the shore, so, in essence, the giantess maidens became one entity in this telling.

Heimdallr is also known as Gullintanni, or one with golden teeth. He had several very important abilities that made him a prime choice for guardian of the Bifrost Bridge. Heimdallr can hear the wool growing on the back of a sheep, and can see the grass growing on Miðgarðr. He stands watch for attackers and will blow the Gjallarhorn to signal the coming of Ragnarok.