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Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Note to Þul Ásynja 1III

[6] Gná: One of the Ásynjur, Frigg’s messenger, who is not mentioned in eddic lays. According to Snorri (Gylf, SnE 2005, 30), her name is related to the weak verb gnæfa ‘tower’, but its actual meaning is unclear, possibly ‘abundance’ (for a discussion, see AEW: Gná). Other than as a base-word in kennings for ‘woman’ (see LP: Gnô), this name is frequently used in kennings for ‘valkyrie’. In Þjóð Yt 7/5I, Gná is the base-word in a kenning for ‘Hel’.

References

  1. Bibliography
  2. AEW = Vries, Jan de. 1962. Altnordisches etymologisches Wörterbuch. 2nd rev. edn. Rpt. 1977. Leiden: Brill.
  3. LP = Finnur Jónsson, ed. 1931. Lexicon poeticum antiquæ linguæ septentrionalis: Ordbog over det norsk-islandske skjaldesprog oprindelig forfattet af Sveinbjörn Egilsson. 2nd edn. Copenhagen: Møller.
  4. SnE 2005 = Snorri Sturluson. 2005. Edda: Prologue and Gylfaginning. Ed. Anthony Faulkes. 2nd edn. University College London: Viking Society for Northern Research.
  5. Internal references
  6. (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 3 May 2024)
  7. Edith Marold (ed.) 2012, ‘Þjóðólfr ór Hvini, Ynglingatal 7’ 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. 19.

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