Norse God Hermod’s Meeting With The Finnish Magician Rostioff Who Revealed The Prophecy Of Vali

Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - Hermod is a lesser-known Norse God not mentioned often in the Sagas. He is nevertheless a fascinating individual whose adventurous journeys lead to encounters with mysterious soothsayers and dangerous beings residing in the darkest realms of the Underworld.

Norse God Hermod's Meeting With The Finnish Magician Rostioff And The Prophecy Of Vali .

To learn the truth about the future, Hermod must travel to a distant land and meet the Finnish magician Rostioff. Credit: Adobe Stock - byerenyerli

In Norse mythology, Hermod is a beautiful, bright young man and one of Odin's sons.

As a courageous warrior God, Hermod was often called 'the valiant in battle,' He was sometimes sighted with the Valkyries on their ride to Valhalla, the gigantic and majestic chamber of the fallen heroes.

Gifted with the rapidity of motion, Hermod is the only one allowed to ride Odin's magnificent steed, Sleipnir. On certain occasions, he is also entrusted to carry and use Odin's precious spear, Gungnir.

Giving Hermod the right and honor to borrow the horse and impressive weapon shows God Odin held his son in high regard and trusted him.

Hermod's Visit To The Finnish Magician And Meeting With Rossthiof

On one occasion, Odin learned his son Balder had horrible nightmares. Determined to learn more, he went to the seers, who told him Balder would be murdered. The soothsayers said that his death would be avenged by an unborn son of Odin, born from Rind's womb.

Worried, dissatisfied, and slightly confused with the Norns' answers to his questions, he decided to get a second opinion from other soothsayers.

Norse God Hermod's Meeting With The Finnish Magician Rostioff And The Prophecy Of Vali

In the cold land of the Finns, Hermod has a frightening vision. Credit: Adobe Stock - byerenyerli

Odin knew that the cold and frozen region of the pole was inhabited by people who possessed great occult power and could foretell the future. It was the land of the Finns, and the most powerful magician there was Rossthiof (the horse thief). Rossthiof was more interested in robbing and killing travelers than revealing the future, but Odin was convinced his bright son Hermod could deal with the Finnish magician. So it happened that one day, Odin ordered Hermod to ride on Sleipinir to the distant, cold land and return with the answers he was seeking.

Rostioff Reveals The Prophecy Of Vali

Equipped with Odin's runic staff capable of dispelling obstacles, Hermod undertook the journey to the dwelling of the wicked wizard, Rostioff. There were many dangers along the road. Phantom monsters, evil creatures, and hidden pitfalls were everywhere, but the supernatural powers of the staff allowed Hermod to pass safely. Everything went fine until a giant suddenly attacked him, but he was no match for Hermod, who tied him up. The giant was none less than Rostioff, who had used a magical trick to shapeshift.

If he freed him from his bounds, Rostioff promised Odin's son to reveal all he wished to know, and Hermod agreed.

Knowing he had no choice, the Finnish magician reluctantly told of future events and the fate of Vali, the youngest of Odin's sons.

Rostioff muttered incantations and pointed to the sky. Hermod saw a vision of a great stream of blood reddening the ground. At a distance, he watched how a woman suddenly appeared. Shortly after, a little boy stood beside her, and to Hermod's astonishment, the child grew with extraordinary rapidity. The child turned into an adult who waved with a bow and arrows in just a few moments. Hermod had never seen anything like this before and realized the significance of the peculiar vision but did not understand it entirely.

The Finnish wizard explained the omens. The blood represented the murder of one of Odin's sons.

The woman was Rind, the daughter of a chieftain in the land of the Ruthenes (Russia). She would bear Odin, a son who would avenge his brother's death.

Hermod listened carefully and then hurried back to Asgard, telling his father about this inevitable fate he must face.

Odin, whose fears were confirmed, was devastated. He now knew with certainty one of his sons would meet a violent and tragic death, and there was nothing he could do to prevent it. His only consolation was that another of his sons would avenge the crime, as tradition required in the land of the Norse people.

As we know, Loki murdered Balder, and Vali avenged his brother's death. The prophecy of Vali, told by the Finnish magician Rostioff, was fulfilled.

Written by - Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com

Updated  on Sep 11, 2023

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