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skaldic

Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Note to Anon Nikdr 3III

[All]: Two interpretations of this helmingr are possible.  The first as given here (so also Skj B) understands John the Baptist to bow to Christ while in his own mother, Elizabeth’s, womb.  However, it is also possible to understand the phrase mannvitsfrægrar meyjar ‘of the maiden famous of understanding’ (l. 3) to refer to the Virgin Mary rather than Elizabeth, in which case the kenning í höll hins bjarta sals hjarta ‘in the hall of the bright chamber of the heart [BREAST > WOMB]’ (ll. 1, 2) refers to the Virgin’s womb and to Christ within it. 

References

  1. Bibliography
  2. Skj B = Finnur Jónsson, ed. 1912-15b. Den norsk-islandske skjaldedigtning. B: Rettet tekst. 2 vols. Copenhagen: Villadsen & Christensen. Rpt. 1973. Copenhagen: Rosenkilde & Bagger.

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