Háleygjatal

Háleygjatal is a skaldic poem by Eyvindr Skáldaspillir written towards the end of the 10th century to establish the Hlaðir dynasty as the social equals of the Hárfagri dynasty[1]

The poem is only partially preserved in disjoint parts quoted in Skáldskaparmál, Heimskringla and two other manuscripts of kings' sagas. It appears to be a lesser imitation of Ynglingatal. Just like Ynglingatal it contains 27 generations (3 x 3 x 3), and some expressions appear to be borrowed from Ynglingatal. Moreover, 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.[2]

An early part of the poem quoted in Ynglinga saga mentions Odin and Skaði as the ancestors of Sæmingr.

Þann skjaldblœtr
skattfœri gat
Ása niðr
við járnviðju,
þás þau mær
í manheimum
skatna vinr
ok Skaði byggðu,
sævar beins,
ok sunu marga
ǫndurdís
við Óðni gat. — Russell Poole 2012
‘The shield-worshipped kinsman of the Æsir <gods> [= Óðinn] begat that tribute-bringer [JARL = Sæmingr] with the female from Járnviðr, when those renowned ones, the friend of warriors [= Óðinn] and Skaði [giantess], lived in the lands of the maiden of the bone of the sea [(lit. ‘maiden-lands of the bone of the sea’) ROCK > GIANTESS > = Jǫtunheimar ‘Giant-lands’], and the ski-goddess [= Skaði] bore many sons with Óðinn.’ — Russell Poole 2012

References

  1. ^ Steinsland, Gro (21 April 2011). "Origin Myths and Rulership. From the Viking Age Ruler to the Ruler of Medieval Historiography: Continuity, Transformations and Innovations". In Steinsland, Gro; Sigurðsson, Jón Viðar; Rekdal, Jan Erik; Beuermann, Ian (eds.). Ideology and Power in the Viking and Middle Ages: Scandinavia, Iceland, Ireland, Orkney and the Faeroes. Leiden: Brill Publishers. p. 33. ISBN 978-9004205062. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  2. ^ Poole, Russell (2012). "(introduction to) Eyvindr skáldaspillir Finnsson, Háleygjatál". Poetry from the Kings' Sagas I: From Mythical Times to c. 1035. Turnhout: Brepols. p. 195. ISBN 978-2-503-51896-1.
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