Dwarfs

Then spoke Gangleri: ‘What did All-father do then, when
Asgard was built?’

High spoke: ‘In the beginning he established rulers and bade
them decide with him the destinies of men and be in charge of the
government of the city. This was in the place called Idavoll in the
centre of the city. It was their first act to build the temple that their
thrones stand in, twelve in addition to the throne that belongs to
All-father. This building is the best that is built on earth and the
biggest. Outside and inside it seems like nothing but gold. This
place is called Gladsheim. They built another hall, this was the
sanctuary that belonged to the goddesses, and it was very beautiful.
This building is called Vingolf. The next thing they did was lay
forges and for them they made hammer and tongs and anvil, and
with these they made all other tools. After that they worked metal
and stone and wood, using so copiously the metal known as gold
that they had all their furniture and utensils of gold, and that age is
known as the golden age, until it was spoiled by the arrival of the
women. They came from Giantland. Next the gods took their
places on their thrones and instituted their courts and discussed
where the dwarfs had been generated from in the soil and down in
the earth like maggots in flesh. The dwarfs had taken shape first
and acquired life in the flesh of Ymir and were then maggots, but
by decision of the gods they became conscious with intelligence
and had the shape of men though they live in the earth and in
rocks. Modsognir was a dwarf and the second was Durin. Thus it
says in Voluspa:

Then went all the powers to their judgment seats, most holy
gods, and deliberated upon this, that a troop of dwarfs
should be created from bloody surf and from Blain’s bones.
There man-forms many were made, dwarfs in the earth as
Durin said.

And the names of these dwarfs, says the prophetess, are these:

Nyi, Nidi, Nordri, Sudri, Austri, Vestri, Althiolf, Dvalin,
Nar, Nain, Niping, Dain, Bifur, Bafur, Bombor, Nori, Ori,
Onar, Oin, Modvitnir, Vig and Gandalf, Vindalf, Thorin,
Fili, Kili, Fundin, Vali, Thror, Throin, Thekk, Lit, Vitr, Nyr,
Nyrad, Rekk, Radsvinn.

But these are also dwarfs and live in rocks, whereas the previous
ones lived in soil:

Draupnir, Dolgthvari, Hor, Hugstari, Hlediolf, Gloin,
Dori, On, Duf, Andvari, Heptifili, Har, Siar.

But these came from Svarinshaug to Aurvangar on Ioruvellir, and
from them is descended Lofar; these are their names:

Skirpir, Virpir, Skafinn, Ai, Alf, Ingi, Eikinskialdi, Fal,
Frosti, Finn, Ginnar.’

Then spoke Gangleri: ‘Where is the chief centre or holy place of
the gods?’


- Prologue, Gylfaginning