[6] Hermóðr: A son of Óðinn whose name translates as ‘war-spirit’ (from her- ‘war’ and the noun móðr m. ‘spirit, wrath, passion’). In Gylf (SnE 2005, 46) he is called Hermóðr inn hvati, sveinn Óðins ‘Hermóðr the Bold, Óðinn’s boy’. After Baldr’s death, Hermóðr acted as the messenger of the gods who rode Óðinn’s horse Sleipnir to the realm of death in an attempt to ransom his brother and bring him home to Ásgarðr. In Eyv Hák 14I Hermóðr and Bragi are sent to welcome King Hákon Haraldsson to Valhǫll. Hermóðr is the name of a legendary hero in Hyndl 2/5; cf. also Heremóð in the Prologue to SnE (2005, 5) and OE Heremōd, the name of a king of the Danes in Beowulf (ll. 901, 1709). See also Note to Anon Mhkv 9/3.
References
- Bibliography
- SnE 2005 = Snorri Sturluson. 2005. Edda: Prologue and Gylfaginning. Ed. Anthony Faulkes. 2nd edn. University College London: Viking Society for Northern Research.
- Internal references
- 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].
- (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 28 March 2024)
- Roberta Frank (ed.) 2017, ‘Anonymous Poems, Málsháttakvæði 9’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 1223.
- Not published: do not cite ()
- R. D. Fulk (ed.) 2012, ‘Eyvindr skáldaspillir Finnsson, Hákonarmál 14’ in Diana Whaley (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 1: From Mythical Times to c. 1035. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 1. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 188.
- Not published: do not cite ()