Heimdall

Then spoke High, laughing: ‘It nearly led to disaster on one
occasion. I could tell you about that, but first you must hear the
names of some more Æsir.

‘There is one called Heimdall. He is known as the white As. He
is great and holy. Nine maidens bore him as their son, all of them
sisters. He is also called Hallinskidi and Gullintanni: his teeth
were of gold. His horse is called Gulltopp. He lives in a place
called Himinbiorg by Bifrost. He is the gods’ watchman and sits
there at the edge of heaven to guard the bridge against mountain-
giants. He needs less sleep than a bird. He can see, by night just as
well as by day, a distance of a hundred leagues. He can also hear
grass growing on the earth and wool on sheep and everything that
sounds louder than that. He has a trumpet called Giallarhorn and
its blast can be heard in all worlds. The head is referred to as
Heimdall’s sword. Thus it is said here:

There is a place called Himinbiorg, and there they say it is
Heimdall who is ruler of the holy places. There the gods’
watchman drinks in the pleasant hall, merry, the good
mead.

And moreover he says himself in Heimdalargaldr:

“Offspring of nine mothers am I, of nine sisters am I the
son.”

‘Hod is the name of one As. He is blind. Only too strong is he.
And the gods would prefer that this As did not need to be named,
for the work of his hands will long be kept in mind among gods
and men.


- Prose Edda, Gylfaginning