Rígsþula - The Lay of Ríg
Rígsþula (The Lay of Ríg) is one of the most intriguing poems in the Poetic Edda - a tale where the god Heimdall, walking the earth as Ríg, visits humankind to shape the order of society. Through his meetings with three families (the thralls, the freemen, and the nobles) the poem reveals the divine origins of class, culture, and ancestry.
It is not a story of war or prophecy, but of creation through connection - a vision of humanity born from the footsteps of a god.
The lay of Rig (Story Form)
The Lay of Ríg tells how the god Heimdall (walking the earth in mortal form as Ríg) shaped the very fabric of human society. Through his visits to three households, he brought into being the ancestors of slaves, freemen, and nobles, binding all people to a shared divine origin.
It is not a tale of war or prophecy, but of creation and connection - a myth that reminds us that strength, skill, and wisdom each have their sacred place in the world.