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skaldic

Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Note to Þul Hafrs 2III

[1] Heiðrún: The mythical she-goat that stands on the roof of Valhǫll and from whose udder the mead of the gods flows (see Grí 25, Hyndl 46/8, 47/8 and Gylf, SnE 2005, 33). The meaning of the cpd depends on the interpretation of the first element heið- (cf. the adj. heiðr ‘bright’ and the nouns heiðr m. ‘honour’ and heiðr f. ‘heath’). In this cpd name, heið- has been interpreted as a ritual word for mead used during sacrifice, i.e. heið ‘shining mead’ (see Höckert 1926-30, I, 53-4 and ARG II, 384). Cf. also the pers. n. Heiðdraupnir in Sigrdr 13/9. The second element, ‑rún f. ‘secret, hidden lore, mystery’, is frequently found as a part of f. personal names (cf. the Frankish f. pers. n. Chaiderūna). See also haidʀrūnō f. gen pl. ‘of shining runes’ in the Björketorp inscription (Run S Blekinge 1/1VI (KJ97)). Heiðrún does not occur in skaldic verse.

References

  1. Bibliography
  2. SnE 2005 = Snorri Sturluson. 2005. Edda: Prologue and Gylfaginning. Ed. Anthony Faulkes. 2nd edn. University College London: Viking Society for Northern Research.
  3. ARG = Vries, Jan de. 1956-7. Altgermanische Religionsgeschichte. 2 vols. 2nd edn. Berlin: de Gruyter.
  4. Höckert, Robert. 1926-30. Völuspá och Vanakulten. 2 vols. Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell.
  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 26 April 2024)
  7. Not published: do not cite ()
  8. Not published: do not cite ()
  9. Not published: do not cite ()
  10. Not published: do not cite (Run KJ97VI)

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