[3, 4] valdr vagnbrautar ‘the ruler of the wagon-road [SKY/HEAVEN > = God]’: Very similar to other kennings for God as ruler of the heavens (LP: valdr 1). In a number of Christian skaldic poems, heaven is referred to as the road, path, bridge or roof of the wagon, meaning the constellation Ursa Major, called Karlsvagn in Old Norse (ModEngl. Charles’s Wain). Other early examples are ESk Geisl 71/7, 8VII vísa hôs vagnræfrs ‘king of the high wagon-roof’ and Ník Jóndr 3/6VII tyggi vagnbryggju ‘ruler of the wagon-bridge’.
References
- Bibliography
- 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.
- Internal references
- Martin Chase (ed.) 2007, ‘Einarr Skúlason, Geisli 71’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry on Christian Subjects. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 7. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 64-5.
- Beatrice La Farge (ed.) 2007, ‘Níkulás Bergsson, Jónsdrápa postula 3’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry on Christian Subjects. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 7. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 68-9.