Helreið Brynhildar

Brynhildr's Ride to Hel

Brynhilds färd till Hel

14 stanzas

Summary

A

Helreið Brynhildar depicts Brynhildr's journey to the realm of the dead after her death on Sigurðr's pyre. On the way she passes a giantess who accuses her of bloodguilt.

Brynhildr defends herself by retelling her story: the valkyrie origins, Odin's punishment, Sigurðr's betrayal, and her justified vengeance. She claims she and Sigurðr should never have been parted.

The poem ends with Brynhildr's declaration that they shall never be separated in Hel. The monologue presents Brynhildr's perspective on the Sigurðr cycle's tragedy.

The story

Reið Brynhildrá helveg,keyrði hon vagnmed gullnom reinom;svá fór til hallarhinnar steinbyggðoer í vegivíssi þurs kona.
Brynhildr rodethe road to Hel,she drove her wagonwith golden reins;so she traveled toward the hallbuilt of stonethat a giantess womanpointed to along the way.

English translation: own translation.

Skaltu í gegnomganga eigisteina garðamína stíga;þér sœmði heldrat hefja vefen at vitjaannars vers.
You shall notpass throughthe stone-fenced pathsof my steading;it would better befit youto raise the loomthan to visitanother man's dwelling.

English translation: own translation.

Hvat viltu í gegnomgrjóti faraok freista mínarfeiknar stíga?Þú hefr, Brynhildr,Buðla dóttir,illt um unnityfir alla men.
Why do you wishto press through stoneand try mytreacherous paths?You have, Brynhildr,daughter of Buðli,done illagainst all people.

English translation: own translation.

Berðu þik eigi,brynju þurs kona,at sannendumsonar Grímnis;þó hefi ek yðvartyfir alla menkonungr minnat kenna látit.
Do not boast, giantessin your byrnie,with truthsabout Grimnir's son;yet I have madeall of youknow what my kingtruly is.

English translation: own translation.

Ek sá þanner sigraðr varallt í gullí Grana sali;þar var oss beztat þykkja,þar er ek vannviktoría frœkna.
I saw himwho was victoriousall in goldin Grani's halls;there it was bestfor us bothwhere I wonthe bold victory.

English translation: own translation.

Vann ek þat ávígregin mörk,er hér í öðlaskallir vilja;gaf ek Hjálm-Gunnarí Hel síðan,gaf ek Auðuyngvan sigr.
I accomplished thatin the battle-field forest,what all desireto win in here;I sent Hjálm-Gunnarrto Hel thereafter,I gave Auðrthe young man's victory.

English translation: own translation.

Þá reiddisk mérÓðinn þess,er hann sá mikskjaldmeyjar veltu;svaf ek síðansvefni lönguer mik Sigurðrsveipaðisk ramma.
Then Óðinn was angrywith me for this,when he saw meoverthrowing shield-maidens;I slept thereafterin long sleepuntil Sigurðrunwound my bonds.

English translation: own translation.

Bjó unni mérbeztr allraSigurðr suðraf Seklings niðjum;þangat skalltuþínar rekkjurfá, en hér munfótr minn standa.
Of all men he loved mebestSigurðr southwardamong the sons of the Säklings;there shall youfetch your bedsbut here shallmy foot remain.

English translation: own translation.

Knáttu Göndulok Geirskögulþér ráðaríðu til vígs;þú lézk at eigaAtla bróðuren vilt viðSigurð sofa.
Göndul and Geirskögulprevailed uponyou to rideto the battle;you said you belonged toAtli's brotherbut wished to sleepwith Sigurðr.

English translation: own translation.

Strengðak þat heitá hlíðom Hinar:mundi ek þeim eigaer eldi hleypi,ok þann einner yfir Sigurð erá sér vitisáran hugskotr.
I swore that vowon the slopes of Hindarfjall:I would belong to himwho rides through fire,and only himwho surpasses Sigurðrif such a mancan be found in his mind.

English translation: own translation.

Þat er hann gerðier mik grenjuðuer hann af björgumbrúðr um bar;þá nam hannnær mér standa,svá er minnminni mér forn.
That was what he didthat made me weep:when he carried the brideaway from the mountain;then he stoodclose to me,so is my memoryold to me.

English translation: own translation.

Átti ek séreinn Sigurðþann er ek þatþjóðmegum þáka;eigi mun ekof þat þreyjaþótt mér þykkiþungt at bera.
I had for myselfSigurðr alone,him whom I thankamong the sons of men;I will notgrieve over thatthough it seems to meheavy to bear.

English translation: own translation.

Ok þat munaldregi veraþótt hér knáttikonur þrykkja,at ek þolaþetta lengr:hann bar mikbrúðr of daga.
And that shallnever come to passthat women herecan press me down,that I endurethis any longer:he carried meas bride through life.

English translation: own translation.

Sjá mun Sigurðrsœkja bæok ek þangatþjóðans rekkjur;ok vit aldriaðskildir verðumeptir dróttinsdóm it forna.
Sigurðr shall seekthat dwellingand I therethe king's beds;and we shall neverbe partedafter the lords'ancient decree.

English translation: own translation.

Key concepts

  • Brynhildr , the dead valkyrie riding to Hel and defending her actions
  • Hel , the realm of the dead to which Brynhildr travels; the giantess's border-guarding reflects mythic topography

Interpretive traditions

A What we know

Helreið Brynhildar is preserved in Codex Regius, placed after Sigurðarkviða hin skamma.

The poem's form, a dialogue between the dead and a border-guardian on the way to the underworld, has parallels in Sumerian and Greek tradition (Inanna's descent, the Odyssey's nekuia).

B What we think we know

Whether the poem originally belonged to the Sigurðr cycle or is an independent composition inserted into it is debated. Its short scope and self-contained tone distinguish it from the surrounding poems.

The giantess's identity is unclear; she has been interpreted as a death-guard, a völva, or Hel's gatekeeper.

C What we do not know

Whether Brynhildr's claim to be united with Sigurðr in Hel reflects an actual belief about love beyond death cannot be determined with current evidence.

Sources and further reading

Primary sources

  • Neckel, Gustav, och Hans Kuhn. 1983. Edda: Die Lieder des Codex Regius nebst verwandten Denkmälern. 5. uppl. Heidelberg: Winter.

Translations

  • Bellows, Henry Adams (trans.). 1923. The Poetic Edda. New York: The American-Scandinavian Foundation. (PD)
  • Larrington, Carolyne (trans.). 2014. The Poetic Edda. Rev. ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Scholarly works

  • Lindow, John. 2001. Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Simek, Rudolf. 1993. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. Translated by Angela Hall. Cambridge: D. S. Brewer.
  • de Vries, Jan. 1956–1957. Altgermanische Religionsgeschichte. 2 vols. Berlin: de Gruyter.
  • Turville-Petre, E. O. G. 1964. Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.