Norsery Rhymes from A to Z
Happy Thorsday - Dvalinn, King of the Dwarves, and Bringer of Runes
Well here we are another Thor’s Day and another 20 min sketch of a Norse (and Germanic) mythological characters. This week it’s Dvalinn / Dvalin / Dvalini / Dvalins the Dwarven (Dverg / Dvergr / Dwarf). One of the Dwarves mentioned in the in the Voluspa. As well as in the Hervarar sage, and in the Sörla þáttr, and several other sources. He was a busy fellow.
Known as ‘The Sleepy One’, ‘The Dormant One’, ‘The Slow One’, ‘The Delayer’, ‘The Hesitating’ and ‘The Slumbering One’. The Bringer of Runes, and Master Smith. King of the Dvergr.
His name has been translated to mean ‘drowsy’, ‘sleepy’, ‘unconscious’ or ‘slow’. From the old Swedish ‘Dvala’ for sleep, and slow, or to delay, and Danish ‘Dvale’, words for sleep or unconsciousness.
All of which can either be taken as a way to represent his slow and sleepy demeanor or that like many Dverg names is meant to indicate that he lives underground along with, or like the dead.
He is mentioned as having a huge family with many male descendants. It’s possible to think that he also had daughters as well, which is important as Dvalinn’s daughters are mentioned in several places as being Norns (Fates). Though this is really a reference to there being specific Norns for the Dwarfs, as an aspect of the Norns that appears as Dverg. So the three Norns who governed over the fate of the Dwarves called Dvalin’s Daughters speaks to his prominence more than anything.
He is mentioned as a leader and eventually a great king, who lead his people out the mountains into the wider world leading them past rocky lands, wetlands, to an eventual new kingdom in the sand. Where it’s presumed, he built a sandcastle.
As the Sun is called Dvalinn’s Deceiver for it’s ability to turn some dwarves to stone. No mention of any of them turning to stone is mentioned in the Voluspa where this travel from the mountains is written. But it’s possible that during their journey some were turned to possibly turned to stone, some were not, or they traveled by night to be careful. In the end given where they ended up in the open, and given the poem not mentioning any ill fate, it’s likely these dwarves he journeyed with were not cursed by the sun.
The son of Durinn / Dulinn, who is also his partner in smithing, along with his brothers Berlinger, Alfrigg, and Grerr.
Much like Dainn / Dain for the elves, and Odin for the Aesir and Vanier, Dvalinn is the one who brings the knowledge of runes to the Dvergr.
Dvalinn is also sometimes associated as Dainn in some stories. Not to be confused with the Stag Dainn / Dvalinn that eats the branches and leaves of Yggdrassil the world tree along with his 3 brothers. Or the Elf named Dain mentioned in the Havalmal along with Dvalinn.
Dainn along with Nabbi who is Dain’s brother, and are Durin’s sons, create Freya’s metal Battle Boar Hildisvíni. Dainn is the cutter of the runes to give their creations power.
Dvalin and Durinn are one day captured by the Rus King Svafrlami, who forces them to make a sword, golden hilted and guarded, with a blade that shines like inner fire and light. A sword that will never miss, and will kill with the smallest cut. But as they know that he will kill them once they are finished they curse the sword that it not only cannot harm them, but once unsheathed it must kill, and will kill whoever is most at hand until three great tragedies have been done with it. So that once finished making the sword Tryfing and the King tries to kill them with the sword they make their escape as the sword kills first embeds itself in the stone instead of them, and then kills another that is close to the king.
Mentioned along with Berlinger, Alfrigg and Grerr as one of the Brisingamen. Sons of Durinn who are masters of forge and jewelers who make a necklace with endless intricacy that shines like the sun, but while still being able to see all the swirling details and runes that go on forever. Freyja comes upon the dwarves and their necklace, or torc, the Brising, the Golden Gleaming Collar. In earlier tales there’s nothing implied in Freyja’s purchase of the necklace. In later Christian versions the Dverg infamously ask for each of them to have a night with her in exchange for it. While earlier and later versions suggest Freja keeps them at bay with her wit and charm, in the priest written version Loki claims to have followed Freya and sees her payments. Loki would then tell a different version of how paid to Odin and the other gods.
The mead of Poetry is called “Dvalinn’s Drink” as it was initially created by either Dvalinn or his people.
