Throughout the lore, Heimdallr figures as a particularly interesting character - not only in the sense that he will ultimately signal the arrival of Ragnarok, but also in his own contributions to mankind. Among his bringing of the gifts of the gods to men, he is also credited for the three primary social classes in Old Norse society - namely the elite, the free-born, and the thralls. What is interesting is the order in which these social classes are sired - the thralls come first, from the eldest of the three children that come forth from Heimdallr laying between couples that took him in for three days before moving on.
An already somewhat accepted interpretation of this among scholars' circles is the place of thralls in society and the afterlife, despite evidence showing that most thralls were non-Scandinavian and not of Norse ancestry. It is interesting to note that thralls could actually become freedmen and gain a higher status more proximal to the free-born farmers and craftsmen of Norse society at the time, making it somewhat difference from the caste system seen in the Indian tradition. It was more metropolitan in nature, and the lore seems to reflect this.
Could there be more, however? Do you think there is a significance in the order in which the three social classes of men were fathered by Lord Heimdallr? Do you reckon there's a lesson or philosophical caveat to be learned from this that we can apply to our lives in light of the Norse tradition today?
An already somewhat accepted interpretation of this among scholars' circles is the place of thralls in society and the afterlife, despite evidence showing that most thralls were non-Scandinavian and not of Norse ancestry. It is interesting to note that thralls could actually become freedmen and gain a higher status more proximal to the free-born farmers and craftsmen of Norse society at the time, making it somewhat difference from the caste system seen in the Indian tradition. It was more metropolitan in nature, and the lore seems to reflect this.
Could there be more, however? Do you think there is a significance in the order in which the three social classes of men were fathered by Lord Heimdallr? Do you reckon there's a lesson or philosophical caveat to be learned from this that we can apply to our lives in light of the Norse tradition today?
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