Óðins nǫfn — Þul Óðins^III

This þula (Þul Óðins), which contains names for the god Óðinn, is transmitted only in mss A (main ms.) and B (and 744ˣ) of Skm (SnE). The chapter headings are Óðins nǫfn ‘Óðinn’s names’ in A (written in red ink) and Óðins heiti in B. In both mss this þula has been inserted into the initial section of the þulur-sequence devoted to the names of various mythical and legendary persons, between Þul Trollkvenna and Þul Ása I (the latter is introduced as Heiti sona Óðins ‘Names of Óðinn’s sons’). In the other mss of the þulur (R, Tˣ and C), Þul Trollkvenna is followed by Þul Þórs (on this difference between the two groups of the mss see also Introduction to the Þulur). The order of the þulur found in A and B is preserved in the present edition, whereas Skj (followed by Skald) places Þul Óðins in the Tillæg, i.e. among the ‘additional’ þulur, between Þul Dverga and Þul Viðar, which does not correspond to the actual position of this list of heiti in any of the extant mss. Although this versified catalogue of Óðinn-heiti is the longest preserved, it is not exhaustive and includes only 113 of his approximately 170 names known from other sources (for the entire list, see Falk 1924). In Gylf (SnE 2005, 21-2), in which we find about fifty Óðinn-names taken from Grí 46-54 (all these heiti are contained in the present þula as well), there is an attempt to explain why this god had so many names. It is said that most names were given to him because, with the many ‘branches of languages’ (greinir tungnanna) in the world, all people need ‘to change his name in accordance with their own language for invocation and prayers’ (at breyta nafni hans til sinnar tungu til ákalls ok bœna). It is further said that some events, which took place during Óðinn’s many travels, led to the formation of these names, and they became material for tales (SnE 2005, 22). But in fact only a few of the names given in the present þula can be traced to other ‘languages’ (cf. the interpretations of Njótr in st. 6/6 and Ýrungr in st. 8/5) or to certain ‘tales’ (see Bǫlverkr in st. 7/1 and Gestumblindi in st. 7/8), and many of the heiti are of obscure origin and not attested elsewhere. Almost all of the heiti contained in the present þula, along with quite a few additional heiti, are listed in alphabetical order in LaufE (LaufE 1979, 255-6, 328-9; mss papp10ˣ(37r-v), 2368ˣ(79-80), 743ˣ(63r-64r)). The variants, which sometimes agree with the readings of A and sometimes with B, show that the list in LaufE is derived from a ms. related to A and B and probably a copy of a ms. higher up the stemma (see also LaufE 1979, 170-1). Variants from LaufE are therefore discussed in the Notes below when pertinent. The list from LaufE was copied in RE 1665(Cc-Cc2), which has no independent value.

References

1. Bibliography
2. Skald = Kock, Ernst Albin, ed. 1946-50. Den norsk-isländska skaldediktningen. 2 vols. Lund: Gleerup.
3. LaufE 1979 = Faulkes, Anthony, ed. 1979. Edda Magnúsar Ólafssonar (Laufás Edda). RSÁM 13. Vol. I of Two Versions of Snorra Edda from the 17th Century. Reykjavík: Stofnun Árna Magnússonar, 1977-9.
4. SnE 2005 = Snorri Sturluson. 2005. Edda: Prologue and Gylfaginning. Ed. Anthony Faulkes. 2nd edn. University College London: Viking Society for Northern Research.
5. Falk, Hjalmar. 1924. Odensheite. Skrifter utg. av Videnskapsselskapet i Kristiania. II. Hist.-filos. kl. 1924, 10. Kristiania (Oslo): Dybwad.
6. Internal references
7. Edith Marold 2017, ‘Snorra Edda (Prologue, Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál)’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols [check printed volume for citation].
8. (forthcoming), ‘ Snorri Sturluson, Skáldskaparmál’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=112> (accessed 21 May 2024)
9. (forthcoming), ‘ Snorri Sturluson, Gylfaginning’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=113> (accessed 21 May 2024)
10. Not published: do not cite ()
11. Elena Gurevich 2017, ‘ Anonymous, Trollkvenna heiti’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 723. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=3185> (accessed 21 May 2024)
12. Elena Gurevich 2017, ‘ Anonymous, Þórs heiti’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 758. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=3186> (accessed 21 May 2024)
13. Elena Gurevich 2017, ‘ Anonymous, Ása heiti I’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 754. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=3187> (accessed 21 May 2024)
14. Elena Gurevich 2017, ‘ Anonymous, Dverga heiti’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 692. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=3227> (accessed 21 May 2024)
15. Elena Gurevich 2017, ‘ Anonymous, Viðar heiti’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 880. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=3229> (accessed 21 May 2024)
16. (forthcoming), ‘ Unattributed, Laufás Edda’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=10928> (accessed 21 May 2024)