Heimdall

**Pantheon**: Norse

**Title**: The Vigilant

**Also known as:** Rig; Rigr

## Information

Odin was walking by the sea when he discovered the Nine Wave Sisters, daughters of Aegir and Ran, sleeping on the sand. They were so beautiful, he fell in love with them all. Somehow, in a miracle of spirit genetics, the Nine Sisters conceived one son, Heimdall, from their joint romantic encounter with Odin. (Another theory suggests that the Nine Sisters managed to conceive their one son entirely independently with no male assistance whatsoever.) They nourished their son with the magic of the sea, the wisdom of the Earth, and the strength of the sun so that he was gifted with second sight, the ability to travel between realms, and amazingly acute vision and hearing.

* He can see to the ends of the world.
* He can hear the grass grow.
* Heimdall is the epitome of vigilance: he requires no sleep.

Heimdall, son of the Nine Daughters of the Sea, is the Divine Watchman. He guards the Rainbow Bridge that connects and divides the realms of people and spirits. He guards against hostile Frost Giants. Heimdall’s own daughters are waves, too. Heimdall is destined to be the last to fall at Ragnarok, where he and Loki will destroy each other.

**Manifestation:** Heimdall is a shape-shifter and can take many forms, most famously a man, ram, and bull seal. Heimdall has shining gold teeth.

**Attributes:** Horn (to blow a warning, raise an alarm, and announce Ragnarok), sword

**Mount:** Horse

**Hall:** Heimdall’s hall is called Himinbjorg, Sky Mountain.

**Runes:** The runes with which Heimdall is associated include Dagaz, Elhaz, Hagalaz, Manaz, and Kaunaz.

**Sacred animals:** Ram, seal

**See Also:** Aegir; Jotun; Loki; Ran

## Smite Lore

All paths have their guardians. And no guardian is more steadfast in their duties than keen-eyed Heimdallr, sentinel of the Bifrost. The watchman of Asgard is a sentry without equal in the Nine Realms and he maintains his eternal watch where the rainbow bridge meets the sky. With sharp eyes and keen hearing, Heimdallr stands guard over the halls of the gods, alert for the approach of any enemy as well as the first stirrings of Ragnarok.

It is said that Heimdallr requires less sleep than a bird, and can see for hundreds of leagues. His hearing is so sharp that he can perceive the soft whisper of growing grass, and the murmur of the dead. His trumpet, Gjallarhorn, can be heard across the Nine Worlds when blown. But it is not only his senses which make Heimdallr a superb sentinel.

He also possesses the gift of foresight, allowing him to predict his opponent's moves before they occur and to sense the approach of inimical forces. As befitting one of the Aesir, he is a masterful combatant, and his foreknowledge gives him an edge over all but the most unpredictable – or skilled – of opponents.

Too, it is whispered that Heimdallr has some connection to Yggdrasil, the World Tree. Some insist he was fashioned whole from a splinter of the great ash tree, while others believe he is bound to it in some fashion, much like Ratatoskr. Whatever the case, it is known that Heimdallr takes a dim view of any who might threaten Yggdrasil.

## Appearance in Modern Media

From SmiteFrom Age of IshtariaFrom Reign of DragonsFrom Shin Megami TenseiFrom Record of RagnarokFrom Monster StrikeFrom Age of MythologyFrom Unison LeagueFrom Dawn of GodsFrom Tower of SaviorsFrom Dislyte
## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes