Watchman of the gods who guards the rainbow bridge Bifrost connecting Asgard and Midgard. Possesses incredible hearing and eyesight, and will blow his horn Gjallarhorn to signal the onset of Ragnarok.
Heimdall is the ever-vigilant guardian of the Bifrost, the rainbow bridge. He requires less sleep than a bird and can hear the grass growing.
The Horn of Doom
He possesses the Gjallarhorn, which he will sound at the beginning of Ragnarok to summon the gods to battle. He is destined to kill and be killed by Loki during the final conflict.
Origin Story
Heimdall's birth is one of the most mysterious in Norse mythology. According to the Eddas, he was born of nine mothers simultaneously - the nine daughters of the sea giant Aegir, who are the waves of the ocean. These nine giantesses nourished the infant god with the strength of the earth, the moisture of the sea, and the heat of the sun. This unique origin gave Heimdall his extraordinary senses and his connection to all the realms. He is sometimes called the White God due to his shining appearance. Under the name Rig, he is credited with creating the three classes of Norse society - thralls, karls, and jarls - during a journey through Midgard.
Primary Sources
Historical texts and references
“Heimdal is the name of one. He is also called the white-asa. He is great and holy; born of nine maidens, all of whom were sisters.”
“He hears the grass grow and the wool on the backs of the sheep, and of course all things that sound louder than these.”
