The Poetic Edda

by Jackson Crawford

  Gladsheim, a land in Asgard said to be the location of Valhalla.

  Glaum, the horse of Attila.

  Glaumvor, wife of Gunnar.

  Glitnir, home of Forseti.

  Gnitaheith, the place where the dragon Fafnir dwells with his treasure, until he is killed by Sigurth.

  Gondul, the name of a Valkyrie.

  Good Advisor, name used by Odin in Vafthruthnismal.

  {358} Goth, a Germanic people of late antiquity and the early Middle Ages. Numerous human characters in the Poetic Edda are referred to as Goths, including sometimes people on both sides of a conflict (e.g. in Hamthismal).

  Gotthorm, youngest brother of Guthrun, Gunnar, and Hogni. He is given a magical potion to make him act ferociously and kill Sigurth. He is killed by Sigurth in turn. Curiously, in Voluspa en skamma, Gotthorm is said to be only a half-brother to Gunnar and Hogni, perhaps in an attempt to separate his foul deed of murdering Sigurth from the otherwise heroic reputation of his brothers.

  Gotthorm the Good, unknown figure mentioned in Grottasongr.

  Gram, the sword of Sigurth, forged by Regin.

  Grani, the horse of Sigurth.

  Granmar, father of Hothbrodd.

  Graybeard, pseudonym assumed by Odin in Harbarthsljoth.

  Grimhild, wife of Gjuki and mother of Gunnar, Hogni, Guthrun, and Gotthorm. She is a witch, and she uses magic to disguise Sigurth as Gunnar when he woos Brynhild, to give Gotthorm the blind fury he needs to kill Sigurth, and to make Guthrun forget Sigurth after his death (according to Guthrunarkvitha II).

  Gripir, son of Eylimi, uncle of Sigurth, and brother of Hjordis. He has prophetic powers, which he uses to foresee Sigurth’s future in Gripisspa.

  Grotti, a magical millstone owned by the king Frothi. It will grind out anything that is desired, including abstract concepts such as peace.

  Gullveig, a vaguely described sorceress (goddess? giant?) who precipitates the first war.

  Gunn, the name of a Valkyrie.

  Gunnar, son of Gjuki and Grimhild, oldest brother of Gotthorm, Gunnar, and Hogni. He marries Brynhild after Sigurth courts her in the disguise of Gunnar, and when Brynhild later finds out about this deception, Gunnar is incited by Brynhild to kill Sigurth. Gunnar is killed in a pit full of venomous snakes by Attila, his sister Guthrun’s second husband.

  Gunnloth, otherwise unknown giant woman mentioned in Havamal.

  Guthmund, brother of Hothbrodd, insulted by Sinfjotli.

  Guthrun, sister of Gotthorm, Gunnar, and Hogni. She marries first Sigurth, then Attila, then Jonaker. She avenges the deaths of her brothers on Attila by cooking their children and feeding them to him. Later she incites her sons Hamthir and Sorli to avenge her daughter Svanhild on Jormunrekk.

  {359} Gymir (1), father of Gerth.

  Gymir (2), another name for Aegir.

  Habrok, a hawk.

  Hagal, foster-father of Helgi Sigmundsson, who disguises himself as Hamal while spying on Hunding and again when he first meets Sigrun in Helgakvitha Hundingsbana II.

  Halfdan, a king killed by Frothi.

  Hamal, foster-brother of Helgi Sigmundsson.

  Hamthir, son of Guthrun and Jonaker. Brother of Sorli and half-brother of Erp (2).

  Hamund, a son of Sigmund.

  Hangjaw, the man (Odin in disguise) who gives Grotti to Frothi.

  Hati (1), a wolf that follows the sun, and will swallow it at Ragnarok.

  Hati (2), a giant, father of Hrimgerth.

  Havarth, a son of Hunding.

  Heimdall, watchman of the gods, possibly a member of the Vanir. Under the name Rig, he also slept with human couples of various classes to father his “greater and lesser children” (i.e. humans of higher and lower social classes).

  Heith, a name given to Gullveig in Voluspa. In Voluspa en skamma a Heith (possibly the same woman) is the daughter of a giant named Hrimnir.

  Heithrek, a king, father of Borgny.

  Hel, daughter of Loki, who appears to be half-corpse, half-living, and who rules the underworld realm, which is also called Hel, an abode of the dead. Hel is not necessarily a place of judgment for the evil dead, as in Christian tradition, but rather a repository for souls of those who have not died in battle (the latter go to Valhalla).

  Helgi Hjorvarthsson, a son of Hjorvarth, hero of the poem Helgakvitha Hjorvarthssonar.

  Helgi Sigmundsson, a son of Sigmund (1), hero of the poems Helgakvitha Hundingsbana I and II. He is named for Helgi Hjorvarthsson.

  Heming, a son of Hunding.

  Herkja, a concubine of Attila.

  Hervor, a Valkyrie, wife of Volund.

  Hethin, son of Hjorvarth, half-brother to Helgi Hjorvarthsson. He swears an oath to marry Helgi’s fiancée Svava, and later swears to her that he will avenge Helgi’s death.

  Hild, the name of a Valkyrie, daughter of Hogni (1), who caused her father to fight her lover. Helgi Sigmundsson compares Sigrun to her in Helgakvitha Hundingsbana II (st. 29).

  {360} Hildolf, mentioned by Odin as owner of his ferry in Harbarthsljoth.

  Himinbjorg, hall of Heimdall.

  Hindarfjall, a mountain where the hall of Sigerdrifa is located.

  Hjordis, second wife of Sigmund, mother of Sigurth. She remarries with Alf.

  Hjorleif, a captain or lieutenant under Helgi.

  Hjorvarth (1), husband of Sigerlinn and father of Helgi Hjorvarthsson.

  Hjorvarth (2), a son of Hunding.

  Hlathguth, a Valkyrie, said to be from Mirkwood, married to Slagfinn.

  Hlebarth, a giant deceived and robbed by Odin.

  Hlesey, an island.

  Hlithskjalf, the throne of Odin.

  Hlothver, father of the Valkyries Hlathguth and Hervor.

  Hlymdalir, apparently the ancestral home of Brynhild.

  Hogni (1), father of the Valkyrie Sigrun.

  Hogni (2), brother of Gotthorm, Gunnar, and Guthrun. Hogni is represented as the most reasonable of his brothers, and as a fantastically skilled warrior.

  Honir, a vaguely described god who helps Odin and Loth ensoul humans and who survives Ragnarok.

  Hoth, a blind son of Odin who accidentally kills his brother Balder with a mistletoe bough when he is deceived by Loki into throwing it (a story related in detail in Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda, translated by Faulkes).

  Hothbrodd, Helgi’s rival for the hand of Sigrun.

  Hrauthung, father of Geirroth and Agnar (1).

  Hrimgerth, a giant woman, daughter of Hati. She exchanges insults with Atli and Helgi Hjorvarthsson.

  Hrimgrimnir, a troll.

  Hrothmar, killer of King Svafnir. He is killed by Helgi Hjorvarthsson.

  Hrungnir, a giant killed by Thor.

  Hrym, a giant.

  Hun, an Asian people of late antiquity and the early Middle Ages, whose raids in Europe reached their peak in the fifth century AD and brought them into both conflicts and alliances with the Germanic Goths. Numerous human characters in the Poetic Edda are referred to as Huns (or as King of the Huns), especially Attila (who is distantly based on the historical Attila the Hun) and Sigurth.

  {361} Hunding, a king who is killed by Helgi Sigmundsson. Some of Hunding’s sons kill Sigmund, a killing that is avenged by Sigurth.

  Hymir, a giant, father of Tyr. His daughters are mentioned in Lokasenna.

  Hyndla, a witch.

  Idi, a giant.

  Ithavoll, a valley, apparently on Asgard.

  Ithunn, one of the Aesir, who keeps golden apples that the gods eat to remain young. She is married to Bragi.

  Jalangerheith, unknown location.

  Jonaker, a king, third husband of Guthrun.

  Jormunrekk, a king who is promised the hand of Svanhild in marriage. He has her trampled to death by horses when he learns that his son Randver has had an affair with her while transporting her to the wedding.

  Jotunheim, “giant-home,” the realm of the giants. It is said to be east of Asgard, and Thor is frequently said to be “out east” or “coming back from
the east,” implying he has been in Jotunheim.

  Kjar, father of Olrun.

  Knefroth, messenger of Attila.

  Knui, unknown figure mentioned in Grottasongr.

  Kostbera, wife of Hogni.

  Laufey, mother (not father) of Loki.

  Loddfafnir, an unknown character addressed during part of Havamal. The meaning of the name has not been deciphered.

  Loki, a complicated trickster figure, father of Fenrir and Hel but occasionally friendly to the Aesir. After causing the death of Balder he is imprisoned till Ragnarok (with venom dripping upon him from a serpent that hangs above him), when he will escape and side with the giants.

  Loth, a vaguely described god who helps Odin and Honir ensoul humans.

  Magni, a son of Thor. Thor is often identified as “the father of Magni.”

  Meili, a brother of Thor, not otherwise known.

  Memory, one of Odin’s ravens (Old Norse Muninn).

  Menja, a giant woman, enslaved with her sister Fenja to work on the millstone Grotti.

  Midgard, literally the “middle-enclosure,” the world in which humans live.

  {362} Midgard-serpent, a gigantic dragon or snake said to dwell in the ocean surrounding the land of Midgard. The serpent is Loki’s son by Angerbotha, and brother to Fenrir and Hel.

  Mimir, a famously wise giant who owns Mimir’s well. A drink from his well bestows wisdom, but Odin had to leave one of his eyes in the well in exchange for a drink. Later Mimir is beheaded, but Odin pickles his head and continues to consult him for his wisdom.

  Mirkwood, anglicized name of Old Norse Myrkvithr, a famous forest mentioned in several poems; associated vaguely with “the south.”

  Miskorblindi, an unknown figure, perhaps a giant.

  Mjollnir, the magical hammer of Thor.

  Mother, the mother, with Father, of the noble class of humans.

  Mysing, a “sea-king” summoned by Fenja and Menja to kill Frothi when they turn the magical millstone Grotti to their own purposes.

  Naglfar, “(finger)nail-vessel,” a ship made of the untrimmed nails of corpses, sailed by Loki and the giants at Ragnarok.

  Nari, a son of Loki who is killed by the Aesir and whose intestines are then used to tie up Loki.

  Narvi, a son of Loki who is turned into a wolf after Loki insults the gods in Lokasenna.

  Nithhogg, a huge dragon that constantly chews at the roots of Yggdrasil. It survives Ragnarok.

  Nithuth, a king in Sweden who imprisons Volund.

  Njari, the kingdom of Nithuth, apparently a region of Sweden.

  Njorth, a god of the Vanir family, father of Freyja and Frey.

  Noatun, hall of Njorth, frequently mentioned in association with him.

  Norns, the three sisters who determine the fate of gods and humans. They are Skuld, Urth, and Verthandi.

  Oddrun, sister of Attila and Brynhild. She and Gunnar are lovers after the death of Brynhild, but Attila refuses to let his sister marry Gunnar. She is credited with knowing spells that ease childbirth.

  Odin, god of poetry and war. He is often portrayed as a shrewd figure pursuing his own selfish interests, including the dispatching of human warriors so that they may serve in his army in Valhalla. He is very frequently seen in disguise and takes many names, such as Good Advisor, Graybeard, and Shadowed-Face.

  Olrun, a Valkyrie, said to be from Mirkwood and to be a sorceress. Married to Egil (2).

  Oskopnir, an island where the final battle of Ragnarok will be fought.

  {363} Othrerir, the name of the horn that contains a magical mead, which imparts the ability to compose poetry upon whoever drinks it. The mead itself is also called Othrerir.

  Ottar, a young nobleman who learns of his ancestry from Hyndla in Voluspa en skamma.

  Otter, a dwarf (brother of Fafnir and Regin) who lives most of his life in the form of an otter. He is killed by Loki, which precipitates the action of the bulk of the heroic poems.

  Ragnarok, the foretold end of the world, when most gods and humans will be wiped out.

  Ran, goddess of shipwrecks.

  Randver, son of Jormunrekk, who has an affair with Svanhild while transporting her to her marriage with his father.

  Regin, a dwarven smith (brother of Fafnir and Otter) who raises Sigurth, forges the sword Gram for him, and incites Sigurth to kill his brother, the dragon Fafnir.

  Riddle-Weaver, Old Norse Vafthruthnir, a giant who competes with Odin to determine who knows more mythological lore.

  Rig, alternative name for Heimdall.

  Rind, mother, with Odin, of Vali.

  Rune, a letter of the runic alphabet that was used for writing the Old Norse language before the adoption of the Roman alphabet. (The Roman alphabet is the contemporary alphabet used to write English.) Runes were apparently regarded as bestowing special power on those who knew how to carve them, as evidenced by their mentions in Havamal and Sigrdrifumal.

  Saehrimnir, the boar whose flesh is eaten in Valhalla.

  Saevarstoth, a small island where Volund is imprisoned.

  Saga, a little-known goddess(?), associated with the sea.

  Samsey, an island.

  Saxi, a king mentioned in Guthrunarkvitha III, who knows how to bless a kettle for the trial by ordeal.

  Sefafjoll, home of Sigrun.

  Shadowed-Face, the name taken by Odin in disguise in Grimnismal.

  Sif, wife of Thor. She is said to have hair made of gold.

  Sigerdrifa, a Valkyrie who is imprisoned by Odin inside a ring of fire for her refusal to obey his orders; she cannot be freed till a man who knows no fear rides through the flames. Sigurth frees her, and she gives him advice in Sigrdrifumal. It is unclear if she is the same Valkyrie as Brynhild; she is treated as the same individual in some medieval sources but not in others.

  Sigerlinn, wife of Hjorvarth, mother of Helgi Hjorvarthsson.

  {364} Siggeir, foster-father of Sinfjotli.

  Sigmund (1), father of Sigurth and Sinfjotli.

  Sigmund (2), son of Sigurth and Guthrun, and thus grandson of Sigmund (1).

  Sigrun, a Valkyrie, daughter of Hogni, and lover of Helgi Sigmundsson, who fights for her against Hothbrodd.

  Sigurth, son of Sigmund (1), the slayer of the dragon Fafnir. First husband of Guthrun. He acquires a famous hoard of treasure after killing Fafnir.

  Sigyn, the wife of Loki, who sits beside him in his prison.

  Sindri, probably a dwarf, who owns a hall made of gold.

  Sinfjotli, son of Sigmund (1), half-brother to Sigurth and Helgi Sigmundsson. According to Volsunga saga, he is the son of Sigmund and his sister Signy, and Sinfjotli killed his own half-brothers by Signy and her first husband, Siggeir (these events are alluded to in Helgakvitha Hundingsbana I, st. 36 and 41).

  Skathi, goddess of skis and snowshoes, born a giant, daughter of Thjassi, and wife of Njorth.

  Skirnir, messenger of Frey, sent to woo the giant woman Gerth for Frey in For Skirnis.

  Skjold, ancestor of the Skjoldungs.

  Skjoldungs, a well-known dynasty of Scandinavian kings.

  Skogul, the name of a Valkyrie.

  Skol, a wolf who follows the moon, and who will swallow it at Ragnarok.

  Skuld (1), “ought,” the name of one of the Norns, the three sisters who determine fate.

  Skuld (2), the name of a Valkyrie.

  Slagfinn, a brother of Volund.

  Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse of Odin.

  Slith, a river associated with the giants.

  Sokkvabekk, an (apparently) underwater hall used by Odin and Saga.

  Sorli, son of Guthrun and Jonaker, brother of Hamthir, and half-brother of Erp (2).

  Spellcaster, a king of Sweden (Odin in disguise) who sells Frothi the slaves Fenja and Menja. Grimnismal gives “Spellcaster” (Fjolnir) as one of Odin’s names, and Odin (disguised as Battle-Stirrer) mentions it again as one of his names in Reginsmal.

  Starkath, a son of Granmar.

  Surt, a giant who carries a flamin
g sword.

  Suttung, a giant.

  {365} Svafnir, father of Sigerlinn; he is killed by Hrothmar.

  Svanhild, daughter of Guthrun and Sigurth. She is killed by Jormunrekk. According to Volsunga saga, this is because Randver betrays his trust and has a tryst with her while transporting her to her marriage with Jormunrekk.

  Svarang, a giant.

  Svava, a Valkyrie who guards and eventually becomes engaged to Helgi Hjorvarthsson.

  Sweden, roughly coterminous with the modern country, but much of the southern part of what is now Sweden belonged to Denmark till early modern times.

  Thakkrath, a servant of Nithuth.

  Thjassi, a proverbially strong giant, father of Skathi. It is said that Thor killed him and threw his eyes into the sky, where they became stars.

  Thjothrek, a king who visits Attila. Guthrun tells him her tragic story in Guthrunarkvitha II, and in Guthrunarkvitha III he is falsely accused of having an affair with Guthrun.

  Thor, the god of thunder and protector of humankind. He is the son of Odin and the Earth. His weapon is the hammer Mjollnir.

  Thought, one of Odin’s ravens (Old Norse Huginn).

  Thruthheim, home of Thor.

  Thrym, a giant who steals Mjollnir.

  Thrymheim, a hall of giants.

  Troll, possibly the same type of creature as a giant, though the term troll seems to be always negative and associated with an ugly semi-human monster (whereas giants may be attractive).

  Tyr, one of the Aesir. He is missing one hand, which he lost to the wolf Fenrir when the gods promised Fenrir that a magical chain would not bind him permanently. The wolf demanded that one of the gods place his hand in the wolf’s mouth as a pledge that this was not done in deceit. Only Tyr stepped forward to offer his hand, and the wolf bit it off. The story is told more fully in the Prose Edda (see Faulkes under “Further Reading” in the Introduction).

  Ulfdalir, valley region where Volund makes his home.

  Ulfsja, lake in Ulfdalir.

  Ull, a little-known god. Guthrun claims that Attila swore an oath on Ull’s ring in Atlakvitha.

  Unn, a daughter of Aegir. In Helgakvitha Hundingsbana II, we read that Helgi Sigmundsson and Dag swear oaths to one another on her stone.

  Urth, one of the Norns, the three sisters who determine fate.