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In Norse mythology, Heimdall is said to have nine mothers. Snorri Sturluson relates in the Edda (Gylfaginning, 27):
- Heimdallr heitir einn, hann er kallaðr hvíti áss, hann er mikill ok heilagr.
- Hann báru at syni meyjar níu ok allar systr.
- ...
- Ok enn segir hann sjálfr í Heimdalargaldri
- Níu em ek mœðra mögr,
- níu em ek systra sonr.
- - Text of Codex Regius
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- "Heimdallr is the name of one, he is called the White God.
- He is great and holy; nine maids, all sisters, bore him for a son.
- ...
- And furthermore, he himself says in Heimdalar-galðr
- I am of nine mothers the offspring,
- Of sisters nine am I the son."
- - Brodeur's translation
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Apart from those two lines the poem Heimdalargaldr is lost.
The same myth seems to be referred to in Hyndluljóð.
- Vard einn borin
- i ardaga
- rammaukin miok
- raugna kindar;
- niu baru þann
- naddgaufgann mann
- iotna meyiar
- vid iardar þraum.
- ...
- Hann Gialp vm bar,
- hann Greip vm bar,
- bar hann Eistla
- ok Eyrgiafa,
- hann bar Vlfrun
- ok Angeyia,
- Imdr ok Atla
- ok Iarnsaxa.
- - Bugge's edition.
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- "One was born
- in bygone days,
- with enormous power
- of the sons of men;
- then nine women gave birth to him,
- to the spear-magnificent man,
- daughters of giants,
- at the edge of the Earth.
- ...
- Gialp bore him,
- Greip bore him,
- Eistla bore him
- and Eyrgiafa;
- Ulfrun
- and Angeyja,
- Imd and Atla
- and Iarnsaxa."
- - Larrington's translation
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One theory associates the nine mothers of Heimdall with the nine daughters of Rán and Ægir.
