Note to Anon (FoGT) 34III
[All]: This dróttkvætt stanza uses four couplets (fjórðungalok; for the term, see Introduction to sts 18-20) to illustrate four significant events in the earthly life of Christ, all of which had profound significance for humans, according to Christian theology. The first is his birth from the Virgin Mary, the second his circumcision (cf. Luke II.21), which was held to prefigure his crucifixion (see Anon Lil 35/5VII and Notes), the third his baptism in the river Jordan by John the Baptist (cf. Anon Lil 37VII), which foreshadowed the rite of baptism for humans, and the fourth his threefold temptation (cf. Matt. IV.1-11; Luke IV.1-13) by Satan in the wilderness, which presaged the devil’s temptation of mankind (cf. Anon Lil 45VII). Each couplet contains a kenning for God as Christ.
References
- Internal references
- Martin Chase (ed.) 2007, ‘Anonymous Poems, Lilja 35’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry on Christian Subjects. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 7. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 604-5.
- Martin Chase (ed.) 2007, ‘Anonymous Poems, Lilja 37’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry on Christian Subjects. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 7. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 606-7.
- Martin Chase (ed.) 2007, ‘Anonymous Poems, Lilja 45’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry on Christian Subjects. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 7. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 615.