Edda(s)

   The Eddas, the source books of Nordic myths, have come to us mainly in three texts. The oldest of these is the Elder Edda or Codex Regius, considered to have been drawn up by the Icelandic historian Saemund about the year 1090.

   The next is a Christianized version by Saxo Grammaticus written in 1190 and included in the Gesta Danorum. Unfortunately this version has been so modified in accordance with the existing religious sentiments as to be almost valueless. The third and last version is the Prose Edda drawn up by Snorri Sturlason in 1220. The vast majority of the stories and myths of the

   Scandinavians have come to us from the Elder and the Prose Eddas. The fact that both these codices were discovered in Iceland seems to prove that the disintegrating impact of Christianity only reached that country after the legends had been reduced to writing, and was therefore too late to be fully effective. The stories of the Eddas are independent of the great body of Celtic myth, although there are certain points, particularly in the treasures, where they tend to overlap. They bear the impression of the early struggles of at least four racial groups involved in the development of the Northlands. These were the giants, whom we take to be the first hyperborean inhabitants (the Frost Giants may have been the heroes of the Kalevala and the Hero of Estonia), and the dwarfs, who were eventually dominated by a combination of two invading groups, the Vanir and the Aesir. In a similar manner to the Celts the Norsemen appear to have been incapable of working metals and were forced to rely upon the services of the dwarfs, who may be considered to be a tribe of short, sturdy, Central European stock specializing in metal working and other crafts. An aphabetical list of the works included in the Elder and the Prose Eddas is given below. Details about them will be found under the appropriate headings.

   Aegisdrekka or Lokasenna (Aegir’s Carousal or the Taunting of Loki); Alvis-Mal (The Lay of Alviss); *Braga Raedur (The Conversations of Bragi); *Eptirmati; Fjol Svinnsmal; *Formali; Grimis-Mal (The Lay of Grimnir); The Magic Lay of Groa-Galdur; *Gylfa-Ginning (The Deluding of Gylfi); Harbards-Ljod (Lay of Harbard) *Hattatal; Havamal; Hrafna’ Galdur Odins (Odin’s Raven Spell); Hymiskvida (Lay of Hymir); Hyndlu-Ljod (The Chant of Hyndla); Rigs-Thula (The Lay of Rig); *Skaldskaparmal; Skirnis-For (Skirnir’s Quest); Solar-Ljod; Thryms-Kvida (The Lay of Thrym); Vafthrudnis-Kvida, Vafthrudnismal (The Lay of Vafthrudnir); Vegtams-Kvida (The Lay of Vegtam); Volsung Cycle; Völundar-Kvida (The Lay of Völund); Völuspa.

   The Chant of Hyndla and the shorter version of the Völuspa are in the Flatey Book. The Yngling Saga* and the Ynglingatal are not included in the Eddas.

   N.B. Titles marked * are in the Prose Edda.