Þul Jǫtna I 1^III

Ek mun jǫtna         inna heiti:
Ymir, Gangr, Mímir,         Iði ok Þjazi,
Hrungnir, Hrímnir,         Hrauðnir, Grímnir,
Hveðrungr, Hafli,         Hripstoðr, Gymir.

Ek mun inna heiti jǫtna: Ymir, Gangr, Mímir, Iði ok Þjazi, Hrungnir, Hrímnir, Hrauðnir, Grímnir, Hveðrungr, Hafli, Hripstoðr, Gymir.

I shall tell the names of giants: Ymir, Gangr, Mímir, Iði and Þjazi, Hrungnir, Hrímnir, Hrauðnir, Grímnir, Hveðrungr, Hafli, Hripstoðr, Gymir.

Mss: R(42r), Tˣ(43v), C(11r), A(17v), B(8r), 744ˣ(56r-v) (SnE)

Readings: [1] Ek mun: Ek man A, ‘[…]k […]’ B, Ek man 744ˣ;    jǫtna: inna Tˣ, ‘[…]’ B, ‘j́o᷎tna’ 744ˣ    [2] inna: jǫtna Tˣ, ‘[…]’ B, ‘j́nna’ 744ˣ    [3] Ymir: ‘ymmir’ C, ‘[…]’ B, ‘ýmir’ 744ˣ;    Gangr: so C, A, B, gangr ok R, Tˣ    [4] ok: om. Tˣ    [5] Hrungnir: om. C, ‘[…]vnngnir’ B, ‘hrunngnir’ 744ˣ;    Hrímnir: ‘hrim[…]’ B, ‘hrimnir’ 744ˣ    [6] Hrauðnir: ‘[…]’ B, ‘hraudnir’ 744ˣ;    Grímnir: hveðrungr C, ‘[…]’ B, ‘grimnir’ 744ˣ    [7] Hveðrungr: grímnir C, ‘[…]unngr’ B, ‘hveðrunngr’ 744ˣ    [8] Hripstoðr Gymir: hripstuðr gymir Tˣ, gymir ok hripstorðr C, hripstúttr gymir A, 744ˣ, ‘hrip[…]t[…]r gymir’ B

Editions: Skj AI, 654, Skj BI, 658, Skald I, 323; SnE 1848-87, I, 549, II, 470, 553, 614, SnE 1931, 194, SnE 1998, I, 110.

Notes: [3] Ymir: The cosmic giant from whose flesh and blood the earth and the sea were created (Vsp 3/2; Grí 40-1; Gylf, SnE 2005, 11-12, etc.). Ymir is the mythical ancestor of the giants (Vafþr 28/5), and his name therefore comes first in the list. The name may be related to Lat. geminus ‘twin’ (AEW: Ymir; Dronke 1997, 111), but popular etymology relates it to the root of ymr m. ‘humming sound’ and the weak verb ymja ‘whine, cry’ (Finnur Jónsson 1934-5, 298). Cf. the frequently used ‘noise-maker’-pattern in giant-names, e.g. Hrungnir (l. 5), Herkir (st. 2/3), Þrymr (st. 2/7), as well as the other name for Ymir, Aurgelmir (st. 5/5). The name Ymir is used in kennings (LP: Ymir 1; see also ymir ‘clamourer’, Þul Hauks 2/1). — [3] Gangr: Brother of Þjazi and Iði (mentioned in the next line), the sons of Ǫlvaldi (Allvaldi). As told in Skm (SnE 1998, I, 3), the three brothers divided their inheritance by measuring it in mouthfuls of gold, and for that reason ‘gold’ is called ‘the speech of giants’ in kennings (see also Note to Anon Bjark 5/8). Gangr m. means ‘going, walking’ (also ‘rapid, furious walk’, CVC: gangr). Cf. the similar meaning of Iði (l. 4; related to the weak verb iða ‘move to and fro, be restless’). The name appears in kennings (LP: 2. Gangr). — [3] Mímir: The keeper of the well of wisdom (brunnr Mímis ‘the well of Mímir’) in Norse myth. Óðinn pledged his eye to Mímir in return for a drink from that well, and he consulted with Mímir’s head for wisdom (Vsp 28/10-1, 46; Gylf, SnE 2005, 17, 50, etc.). The name occurs as a second element in other heiti, such as Hreggmímir and Vetmímir (names for ‘heaven’; Þul Himins I ll. 6, 15 and Þul Himins II l. 1), as well as the sword-heiti hold-Mímir ‘flesh-Mímir’ (Þul Sverða 5/4). It is also used in kennings. Mímir is cognate with Lat. memor adj. ‘remembering, mindful’, memoria ‘memory’. — [4] Iði: See Note to Gangr (l. 3). — [4] Þjazi: The brother of Gangr and Iði, and his name is used in a kenning for ‘gold’ (Anon Bjark 6/3). Þjazi is the father of Skaði, Njǫrðr’s wife, and the one who compelled Loki to bring him Iðunn and her apples of youth. Þjazi was afterwards killed by Þórr (cf. Þjóð Haustl 1-13; SnE 2005, 23-4; SnE 1998, I, 2, 30-3; Lok 50-1; Hyndl 30/7-10; Hárb 19/1-5, etc.). The origin of the name is unknown. — [5] Hrungnir: The giant who was killed by Þórr in single combat (Þjóð Haustl 14-20; Skm, SnE 1998, I, 20-4; Hárb 14/4, 15/2). References to this myth are found in several skaldic kennings. The name is cognate with hrang n. ‘noise, din’, hence ‘noise-maker’ (Finnur Jónsson 1934-5, 301). — [5] Hrímnir: This giant is mentioned in eddic poems (cf. Skí 28/3; Hyndl 32/6) and in Vǫlsunga saga (FSN I, 118-19). Hrím n. means ‘soot’ or ‘rime’, and the kin of frost-ogres were known as hrímþursar (see also Hrímþurs, st. 2/5). Hrímnir m. means ‘rimy one’ or ‘sooty one’. Another giant of this name, Hrímnir úr Háfjalli ‘from Háfjall’, appears in Gríms saga loðinkinna (FSN II, 145-8, 152). The name occurs in kennings and is frequently used as a second element in compounds that do not designate giants (e.g. Sæhrímnir, valhrímnir, Andhrímnir). It is also recorded as a heiti for ‘boar’, ‘hawk’ and ‘fire’ (Þul Galtar l. 2, Þul Hauks 1/4 and Þul Elds 1/8). — [6] Hrauðnir: Cf. the names of the sea-kings Hrauðnir and Hrauðungr ‘destroyer’ or ‘plunderer’ (see Note to Þul Sækonunga 2/8). Hrauðnir is most likely used in a kenning for ‘poetry’ (Tindr Hákdr 5/5^I). — [6] Grímnir: This giant-name occurs in Hrólfs saga Gautrekssonar (FSN III, 122-6). Grímnir is the second element in other giant-names, such as Hrímgrímnir (st. 2/4), in which Hrím- probably refers to the giant’s origin from the hrímþursar (cf. Hrímnir in l. 5 above), and Aurgrímnir (Þul Jǫtna II 2/4), in which the first element is aurr m. ‘clay, mud, wet soil’. Grímnir means ‘masked one’ (cf. gríma f. ‘mask, hood’), and it is also a name for Óðinn and a heiti for ‘goat’ (Þul Hafrs 1/1; see Note there). The name is repeated in Þul Jǫtna II 1/7 and is also mentioned in Allra flagða þula (see Introduction), but it is not otherwise attested in poetry. — [7] Hveðrungr: Judging from such kennings as mǫgr Hveðrungs ‘son of Hveðrungr’, i.e. the wolf Fenrir (Vsp 55/5; SnE 2005, 52), and mær Hveðrungs ‘daughter of Hveðrungr’, i.e. Hel (Þjóð Yt 24/3^I), Hveðrungr is another name for Loki. The name may mean ‘descendant of Hveðra <giantess>’ (Finnur Jónsson 1934-5, 301; AEW: hveðra). The name is also mentioned in Þul Óðins 5/4. — [7] Hafli: In Saxo (Saxo 2005, I, 1, 5, pp. 104-5), two giants, Uagnhofthus, Uagnophtus (i.e. Vagnhǫfði; see Þul Jǫtna II 1/10) and Haphlius (i.e. Hafli) are said to be protectors of the heroes Guthormr and Haddingr. See also Harthgrepa (i.e. Harðgreip), the daughter of Vagnhǫfði and the giantess foster-mother of Haddingr, whose name is mentioned in Þul Trollkvenna 2/6 (see Saxo 2005, I, 1, 6, 2-6, pp. 104-11). Hafli is probably the weak form of an unattested adj. *hafall ‘greedy’ (Finnur Jónsson 1934-5, 299). The name occurs in a kenning for Þórr (Grett Lv 21/4^V (Gr 38)). — [8] Hripstoðr: Or possibly ‑stuttr ‘short’ (so A and 744ˣ, and adopted in Skj B and Skald). The meaning of the second element of this name, which is a hap. leg., is unclear. The first element is most likely hrip n. ‘box of laths’ or ‘basket to carry sth. in while on horseback’ (CVC: hrip). Finnur Jónsson (1934-5, 301) interprets the name Hripstuttr as den lille med hrip, i.e. ‘the short one with a box’. — [8] Gymir: The father of Gerðr (Skí 6/1, etc.). Gymir is also a name for the sea-giant Ægir (Lok prose, NK 96) and hence a heiti for ‘sea’ (see Þul Sjóvar 2/6). The origin of the name is unclear. Sahlgren (1927-8, II, 241) favours the meaning ‘protector’ (related to the weak verb geyma ‘keep, watch’) while Johansson (1912, 122-3) and Finnur Jónsson (1934-5, 301) argue that, as the name of a chthonic being, Gymir is connected with gum- (gumi m. ‘man’; Lat. homo). For other suggested etymologies, see AEW: gymir 1-2).

References

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19. Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.) 2017, ‘Anonymous Poems, Bjarkamál in fornu 5’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 502.
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21. 2017, ‘ Anonymous, Gríms saga loðinkinna’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry in fornaldarsögur. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 8. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 288. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=76> (accessed 19 April 2024)
22. (forthcoming), ‘ Snorri Sturluson, Skáldskaparmál’ 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=112> (accessed 19 April 2024)
23. (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 19 April 2024)
24. Elena Gurevich (ed.) 2017, ‘Anonymous Þulur, Sækonunga heiti 2’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 680.
25. Elena Gurevich (ed.) 2017, ‘Anonymous Þulur, Hafrs heiti 1’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 893.
26. Elena Gurevich (ed.) 2017, ‘Anonymous Þulur, Trollkvenna heiti 2’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 725.
27. Elena Gurevich (ed.) 2017, ‘Anonymous Þulur, Jǫtna heiti II 1’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 719.
28. Elena Gurevich (ed.) 2017, ‘Anonymous Þulur, Jǫtna heiti II 2’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 721.
29. Elena Gurevich (ed.) 2017, ‘Anonymous Þulur, Óðins nǫfn 5’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 743.
30. Elena Gurevich (ed.) 2017, ‘Anonymous Þulur, Sverða heiti 5’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 798.
31. Elena Gurevich (ed.) 2017, ‘Anonymous Þulur, Elds heiti 1’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 921.
32. Elena Gurevich (ed.) 2017, ‘Anonymous Þulur, Hauks heiti 1’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 941.
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41. Not published: do not cite ()
42. Not published: do not cite ()
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46. Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.) 2017, ‘Þjóðólfr ór Hvini, Haustlǫng 14’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 453.
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48. Russell Poole (ed.) 2012, ‘Tindr Hallkelsson, Hákonardrápa 5’ 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. 347.
49. Not published: do not cite ()
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