Heimskringla Prophetic and Magical Powers

A great mountain range runs from the north-east to the south-west. It divides
Svíþjóð in mikla from other realms. To the south of the mountains it is not far
to Tyrkland (Land of Turks, Asia Minor). There Óðinn had large possessions.
At that time the rulers of the Rúmverjar (Romans) travelled widely around
the world and conquered all nations, and many rulers fled their lands because
of this aggression. And because Óðinn had prophetic and magical powers,
he knew that his descendants would inhabit the northern region of the world.
Then he appointed his brothers, Vé and Vílir, to rule Ásgarðr, while he, and
all the gods with him and many other people, left. He went first west into
Garðaríki (Russia) and then south to Saxland (Germany). He had many sons.
He made himself king over large parts of Saxland and established his sons
there to guard the land. Then he went north to the sea and took up residence
on a certain island. That place is now called Óðinsey (‘Óðinn’s sanctuary’;
Odense) on Fjón (Fyn). Then he sent Gefjun north over the sound in search
of lands. She came to Gylfi, and he gave her one ‘plough-land’. Then
she went into Jǫtunheimar (world of giants) and had four sons with a certain
giant. She changed them into the form of oxen and put them to the plough
and hauled the land out into the sea and west next to Óðinsey, and that is
called Selund (Sjælland). There she lived afterwards. Skjǫldr, son of Óðinn,
married her. They lived at Hleiðra (Lejre). A lake was left behind. It is called
Lǫgrinn (Mälaren). The fiords in Lǫgrinn correspond to the headlands in
Selund. So said Bragi inn gamli (the Old):

1. Gefjun dragged from Gylfi,
gladly, a sea-ring homeland,
Denmark’s addition, so that
the draught-beasts were steaming.
With eight orbs of the forehead
the oxen, in front of
the plundered isle, wide-pastured,
paced; and four heads also.

But when Óðinn heard that good land was available from Gylfi to
the east, he went there, and he and Gylfi came to terms, because Gylfi did
not think he had the power to withstand the Æsir. Óðinn and Gylfi often
competed in tricks and illusions, and the Æsir were always superior. Óðinn
established his dwelling by Lǫgrinn at the place now called Old Sigtúnir,
and built a large temple there and performed sacrifices according to the
custom of the Æsir. He took possession of lands over the whole area that he
gave the name Sigtúnir to. He gave dwelling places to the temple priests.
Njǫrðr lived at Nóatún, Freyr at Uppsalir, Heimdallr at Himinbjǫrg, Þórr at
Þrúðvangr, Baldr at Breiðablik. He provided them all with good residences.


- Heimskringla, Ynglinga Saga, Chapter 5