Heorot

Heorot is King Hrothgar's mead-hall, likely located in what is now the modern-day village of Lejre in Denmark. Intended to be a place in which "the sons of men should remember forever," (l. 70) Hrothgar used the hall as a central location for his kingly activities such as giving out rings and treasure as prizes and gifts for his honored subjects (ll. 80-81) and for general festivities and other courtly activities.

The hall is described in l. 82 as "high and horn-gabled", indicating that not only was the mead-hall a functional building, but also that there had been effort put into creating a grand image and was fit for both sleeping and feasting. "The men hastened,""marched together, until they could make out""the timbered hall, splendid and gold-adorned --""the most famous building among men""under the heavens -- where the high king waited;""its light shone over many lands."

Liuzza's translation of the text indicates that Heorot was the primary building in a larger cluster, and was surrounded by smaller buildings that likely served as women's quarters (as indicated by ll. 662-65 and 920-24), whereas Heorot was used to house the soldiers during the night. This would make Heorot the central location for warriors to be stationed in in case of an attack.