Dvalin (dwarf)

Dvalin or Dvalinn in Vieux norrois is a dwarf name of in the Scandinavian Mythologie.

It is one of most widespread in the Eddas and the scaldic Poésie. Its significance is dubious, but several relatively convergent proposals were made: engourdi (R. Boyer), delayed (J. Lindow) or that which was delayed (F. - X. Dillmann), that which is slow or that which sleeps (R. Simek).

This name appears in two Þulur (lists of synonyms and names), in the Gylfaginning (14), where it is specified that Dvalin lives in the ground, and the Völuspá (14).

It appears one second time in this poem when it is question of “the line of the dwarves of Dvalin” (17). In the Fafnismal , it is also question of the descent of Dvalin: Fáfnir explains why some Nornes are Ases, others of the Alfe S, others finally the “girls of Dvalin” , therefore belong to the race of the dwarves.

In the Havamal (143), when the discovery of the Runes is evoked, it is indicated that it was Dvalinn which, the first among the dwarves, engraved them.

In the Alvismal , the sun is described as “toy of Dvalinn” (16). This same Kenning is found twice in the Skaldskaparmal (56, 75). Undoubtedly is necessary it there to see an allusion to the fact that the dwarves are transformed into stone by the rays of the sun.

Dvalin still represents the dwarves in the Kenning “the liquid of Dvalinn” ( Skaldskaparmal , 3) which indicates the poetic Hydromel, that the dwarves Fjalar and Galar brewed.

It appears finally in a late account, the Sörla þáttr ( Dit of Sörli ), in which it is, with Alfrigg , Berling and Grer , one of the craftsmen of the jewel of Freyja, the Collier of Brísingar. To obtain it, the goddess had to spend the night with each one of them.

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