Háleygjatal

Encyclopedia : H : HL : HLE : Háleygjatal

Háleygjatal is a skaldic poem by Eyvindr skáldaspillir.

The poem is only partially preserved in disjoint parts quoted in Skáldskaparmál, Heimskringla and two other manuscripts of kings' sagas. It appears to imitate Ynglingatal. It is composed in the same meter, kviðuháttr, and the theme seems to be to trace the lineage of the poet's patron to the gods.

A part of the poem quoted in Ynglinga saga mentions Odin and Skaði.

''Þann, skaldblœtr!

''skattfœri gat

''ása niðr

''vit járnviðju,

''þá er þau meir

''í Manheimum

''skatna vinr

''ok Skaði bygðu;

''sævar beins

''ok sonu marga

''öndurdís

''við Óðni gat. — [Schultz's edition]

To Asa's son Queen Skade bore

Saeming, who dyed his shield in gore, --

The giant-queen of rock and snow,

Who loves to dwell on earth below,

The iron pine-tree's daughter, she

Sprung from the rocks that rib the sea,

To Odin bore full many a son,

Heroes of many a battle won. — [Laing's adaptation]

References

Lindow, John (2001). Handbook of Norse mythology. Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio. ISBN 1576072177.
[Two editions of the poem in the original language]

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.