Hyndluljóð

The Lay of Hyndla

Hyndlas sång

51 stanzas

Summary

A

Hyndluljóð depicts Freyja's ride on the boar Hildisvíni to the cave of the giantess Hyndla. Freyja asks Hyndla to recite the genealogy of her protégé Óttarr so he can win a wager about his ancestry.

Hyndla recites a vast genealogical catalogue covering Völsungar, Skjöldungar, Ynglingar, and many more lineages. Embedded within the poem is the 'Völuspá hin skamma' with cosmological and eschatological material.

The poem ends with a quarrel between Hyndla and Freyja. Freyja commands a memory-drink for Óttarr so he can remember the genealogies.

The story

Vakna, mær meyja,vin minn Hyndla,er i bjorgcavibudlungr of biggvir!Nu eru myrkr of orðinmunum riðaat Valhöllok til vigs heilags.
Awaken, maid of maids,my friend Hyndla,you who dwell in the mountain cavedeep within!Now darkness has fallen,we shall rideto Valholland the sacred sacrifice.

English translation: own translation.

Biðr þik Oðinn,at þú vel varirgullhjálminn,er þú á gemlinum riðr;eigum vit þettaat eiga saman,Oðinn ok ek,til Ottar unga.
Odin asks youto guard yourself wellwith the gold helmetas you ride upon the stallion;we two togethershall stand in this matterOdin and Ifor young Ottarr.

English translation: own translation.

Hér er griðungrþar er Hildisvíni,er mér Dáinn ok Nabbidvergar gerðu;þú skalt á gylti ganga,ok gorla hyggja,hvat á Valfoðrsverðr niðjum at gjalda.
Here is the bull,there is Hildisvini,whom Dainn and Nabbithe dwarves made for me;you shall mount the sowand think carefullywhat Valfodrowes to be paid to the lineage.

English translation: own translation.

Þær riðu framof foldvega,ok aftr komuat Asgarði;þá mælti Freyja,friðar beðja,hárbreiðr ulfrhlær at helju.
They rode onwardacross the earth-paths,and came backto Asgard;then spoke Freyja,asking for peace,the broad-necked wolflaughs toward Hel.

English translation: own translation.

Á Hildisvínier Heðinn mærr,sá er Ottarr ungiok Innsteinn gamli,er hann orrostaá ingunn bjó,ok víg at hverjumveitti sér.
Upon Hildisvini ridesthe renowned Heðinn,that is young Ottarrand old Innsteinn,when he struck downat Ingunn,and won every battlefor himself.

English translation: own translation.

Hann gerði mérá heiðum hóumblótstað búinnvarð sa brattr i grjóti;rauð hann optí nýju náðungablóð ok tróðatrúði Freyju.
He built for meon the high heathsa sacred altarfirm it stood of stone;reddened it was oftenwith freshly shed blood,Ottarr placed his faithin Freyja.

English translation: own translation.

Nú skaltu Hyndlahér at hjálpa,ættar hansunga framteljask;hann á einvígivið Angantýrok þarf at vitaforn frændasögu.
Now you must Hyndlahelp me here,his lineagetrace for the young man;he has a duelwith Angantyrand must knowthe old story of his kin.

English translation: own translation.

Þú munt, Hyndla,hyggja nú,hvat sér maðr heitir,ef hann mun heyra;skaltu gangagarðar slofna,bjargit yðr báðarbrúnar meyjar.
You must Hyndlanow think carefullywhat the men are calledif he is to hear it;you shall walkwhile the enclosures weaken,save yourselves boththe dark-haired maidens.

English translation: own translation.

Var Ottarr ungiInnsteins borinn,en Innsteinn varÁlfs ok Göndul;Álfrinn erÚlfs burar borinn,en Úlfr varSæfara sonar.
Ottarr the youngwas born of Innsteinn,and Innsteinn wasof Alfr and Gondul;Alfr isborn of Ulfr's son,and Ulfr wasof Saefari's son.

English translation: own translation.

Ketill ok Fróðikynni hans,Álfi hinn gamlienn Yngva líkr,Hálfi ok Hildigunnrhár konungr borinn,Sölva at sögusigrmeinar konungs.
Ketill and Frodiof his kin,and Alfr the oldlike unto Yngvi,Halfr and Hildigunnarthe high king born,Solvars descendantof the victorious king.

English translation: own translation.

Var Arngrímrok Aðalráðrhans, né þataldri mun týnask;þeir váru miklirok margir af þeimBerserks sonarer best kunnig.
There was Arngrimarand Adalradhis, and thatshall never be lost;they were great menand many came from them,the Berserk's sonis best known.

English translation: own translation.

Var JörmunrekkrJónakrs borinn,þar er Sörliok Erpr hann,ok Hamðirþar es hann vítt um fór,þeir munu ríkirríkis verða.
Jörmunrekkr wasborn of Jonakr,there was Sorliand Erpr his brother,and Hamdirwho rode far abroad,they shall mightyrule a realm.

English translation: own translation.

Var Valdarr Danaok Eylimi,Hálfdanr hinn gamlihvatastr konunga;þeir váru þessþjóðkonungar,er aldri munömurligr þykkja.
There was Valdar of the Danesand Eylimi,Halfdan the oldkeenest of kings;they werefolk-kings,who shall neverseem mean.

English translation: own translation.

Rögnvaldr inn ríkiréð Moera löngum,Hákon gat hannhífa konungsins;Ketill Jarl ok Hranihér hann sagði þat,hlíðar fljóðsHildar konunga.
Rognvaldr the mightyruled More for long,Hakon he gotfrom the queen's womb;Jarl Ketill and Hranehe told of them here,the hill-side womanof Hildir's kings.

English translation: own translation.

Var Auðr in djúpúðga,dóttir hennar,þat var Sigurðrok Sigmundr hinn ungi;þeir váru miklirok margir af þeim,sem bezt kunniat bera saman.
There was Audr the deep-minded,her daughter,there was Sigurdrand young Sigmundr;they were greatand many came from them,who best knewhow to keep together.

English translation: own translation.

Ras Geirþjófssonreð Geirvör Hyrjar,kom Gautr at gistaat Grímnis veðri;Óðinn áttiEistla dóttir,bar hon honumBaldr hinn bezta.
Rasa of Geirthjofrr's sonruled over Geirvör of Hyrjar,Gautr came to dwellin Grimnir's storm;Odin ownedEistla's daughter,she bore himBaldr the best.

English translation: own translation.

Vars Hildr ok Hervörok Hlöðvér þar,Nanna, Nökkvi,Nori ok þeir,Gylfi, Gautr,Geirröðr átti,þangat er þérþjóðkonungar snúa.
There were Hildr and Hervorand Hlodver there,Nanna, Nokkvi,Nori and those others,Gylfi, Gautr,Geirrödr owned,thither turnthe folk-kings.

English translation: own translation.

Dagr ok Þóra,dóttir Hörnis,ok Geirrøðrgat Þorgerðar;Göndul ok Svávaok Geirröður,þær eru dísirþat er dyggvar eru.
Dagr and Thora,Hornir's daughter,and Geirrödrbegot with Thorgerd;Gondul and Svavaand Geirrödr,they are disirwho are steadfast.

English translation: own translation.

Klinga mun Óttarrok óðal þettakunna né skiljakynni sinna;þú skalt þínþjóðan hrósa,en ek þinnþjóðan lysa.
Ottarr shall resoundand this odalknow and understandof his kin;you shall praiseyour lord,and I shall illuminateyour lord.

English translation: own translation.

Var Bragi ok Biliok Eiríkr þar,Agnar ok Hrólfr,ok alt kynssem,Hildir ok Haraldrok hér fleiri,Gunnarr ok Hjörvarðrok þeir Guðmundr.
There were Bragi and Biliand Eirikr there,Agnarr and Hrolfr,and all his kindred,Hildir and Haraldrand more here,Gunnarr and Hjörvardrand Gudmundr with them.

English translation: own translation.

Ýlfingr varÓttarr ungi,Innsteinn varhans faðir frumborinn;þeir munu ríkirráðit hafa,mun sa kunnakonunga ættar.
Young Ottarrwas of the Ylfing line,Innsteinn washis first-born father;they shall mightyhave ruled,that man shall knowthe lineage of kings.

English translation: own translation.

Þórr stóð ok veittiþeira rúnar;hann hefr þessat þakka lífi.Völsungr varí víg at fara,Sigmundr þarsaman við Sinfjötla.
Thor stood and grantedtheir runes;he has thisto thank for his life.Volsung wasto go into battle,Sigmundr theretogether with Sinfjotle.

English translation: own translation.

Var Sigmundrok Sigrún þar,Sigurðr þarok Svanhildr heil;þær eru þverlegarþjóðkonunga dísir,ok þær hafihér at hrósa.
There was Sigmundrand Sigrún there,Sigurdr thereand Svanhildr whole;they are the cross-onesdisir of folk-kings,and they shallbe praised here.

English translation: own translation.

Var Gunnarr ok Hög niok Guðrún var,Atli ok Irpaok Eymóðr þar;þat var Geirsköguler gekk á ván,dóttir Svávaok Sigmundar.
There were Gunnarr and Högniand Guðrún was there,Atli and Irpaand Eymódr there;it was Geirskögulwho went on hope,daughter of Svávaand of Sigmundr.

English translation: own translation.

Var Gautreki ok Glaumvorok Grimhildr þar;Dagr ok Þóra,dóttir Hörnis;Ráðbarðr unniok Randvér þar,Sigmundr sonrok Sigrlinn móðir.
There were Gautrekr and Glaumvörand Grimhildr there;Dagr and Thóra,Hornir's daughter;Ráðbarðr lovedand Randvér there,Sigmundr's sonand Sigrlinn the mother.

English translation: own translation.

Var Hálfr ok Hildibrandrok Heiðrekr þar,Völsungr kominnfrá vígi Sigurðar;þeira ættarmun Óttarr vera,allt þat er sag ðitsaman of höfum.
There were Halfr and Hildibrandand Heiðrekr there,Volsung descendedfrom Sigurdr's battle;of their lineageshall Ottarr be,all that we havetold together.

English translation: own translation.

Hrosskell ok Hrani,Herkjár goðar,Þorsteinn ok Þórólfr,þeir eru þínir frændr;Ketill ok Klakkrkunnigir menn.
Hrosskell and Hrani,Herkjar's chieftains,Thorstein and Thorolf,they are your kinsmen;Ketill and Klakkmen of renown.

English translation: own translation.

Nanna er naestNokkvars dottir;hana skyldi seggrat sinum kyni telja.Starkabr inn sterki,Starins mein;
Nanna is next,Nokkvar's daughter;her should the mancount among his kin.Starkadr the strong,Starin's bane;

English translation: own translation.

Vil ec teljaenn oc sanna,viltu enn lengrvitanda vera?Einn var borinni ardaga,afl mic raesirYmis kindar.
I will reciteyet more and confirm it,do you wish still longerto be in knowledge?One was bornin the earliest age,the mighty one stemsfrom Ymir's kin.

English translation: own translation.

Hann var odroennok ofinnrat brautu bornblotar nidum.Niflfars hollnam hann at byggia,þar er geir-Skeggigingu at leika.
He was unfoundand unrousedat the birth of the road,among the kin of the sacrifice.The hall of Niflhelhe took for his dwelling,there where spear-Skeggiwent about his games.

English translation: own translation.

Var sa borinnburar sonum,af tolf vetrumaldrei foeddr;gatt hann ofsaAsgards goda,nam hann roaof Rindarvoll.
He was bornamong Bur's sons,of twelve wintersnever born;he stirred furyagainst the gods of Asgard,he rowedover Rind's field.

English translation: own translation.

Sa er borinnBaldri at hefna,son mun Odinsvera at hefna.Hann mun Hodtil Hel reka,en Odinn muneiga Rindar son.
He is bornto avenge Baldr,Odin's sonshall be the avenger.He shall drive Hodrto Hel,and Odin shallpossess Rind's son.

English translation: own translation.

Sa er borinnat brautu samanaf dolgir tveimrdrottins sonar;kann vel sœkiaSvipdags minni,klokr madr raeddikunnar drottnar.
He is bornon the road togetherof the lord's sons,two hostile ones;he knows well to seekSvipdagr's memory,the wise man counselledthe known lords.

English translation: own translation.

Hann var borinnburar sonum,af tolf vetrumaldrei foeddr;Loki gat hannvid Laufeyju,Lopt var kalladri lydum fordum.
He was bornamong Bur's sons,of twelve wintersnever born;Loki begat himwith Laufey,Lopt he was calledamong the peoples of old.

English translation: own translation.

Sa gat med Angrboduallar gygjar,en med Sigyngat hann Nara.Er til margsmeinns of farinn,hvat er villulfrinn gleypa.
He begat with Angrbodaall the giantesses,and with Sigynhe begat Nari.He has gone to muchthat is harmful,it is the wolf's willto devour.

English translation: own translation.

Hann gat oc Sleipnivid Svadilfara,ok þat þottiskundr hvern vera.Einn er sa madralls ec hygger var modirmargs vitadr.
He also begat Sleipnirwith Svadilfari,and this seemeda wonder to all.One is that manas I believewho was motherto many a known one.

English translation: own translation.

Hverir eru Aesir,hverir eru Alfar,hverir eru Vaniri Vigridar?Gudar allirmunu þar veraatta hundrudok fimm tigi.
Who are the Aesir,who are the Elves,who are the Vaniron Vigrid's plain?All the godsshall be there,eight hundredand fifty.

English translation: own translation.

Þor sa er Odinn,oc sa er Frigg,Freyr oc Freyja,Fjolnir nefndr;Njordr ok Njorun,Nanna ok Neprok Baldr at heimbrott af bornum.
Thor is he who is Odin,and she who is Frigg,Freyr and Freyja,Fjolnir named;Njord and Njorun,Nanna and Nepand Baldr at homeapart from the children.

English translation: own translation.

Heit manna kindallt of mengi,heita gumargefnum gulli;ser oc silfrisa er skapar gulli,gull er gorrat ganga igull hvat er gullnoganga matti.
Humankind is calledin all its multitude,men are calledgiven gold;himself and silver,he who shapes gold,gold is madeto walk in,gold is all that of goldcould walk.

English translation: own translation.

Einn er sa er munorms beini vaxa,hann mun orms beinivel at vaxa.Sa er borinnblodi stainnsYggdrasils rotaundan nidri.
One is he who shallbe fed on the serpent's bone,he shall be fed on the serpent's bonewell.He is bornstained with bloodfrom Yggdrasil's rootsfrom below.

English translation: own translation.

Einn er sa er manorosiun falla,hann mun framanfalla siust.Sa er borinnBifrost under,sa er heitir Heimdallr,hann er Herjafodr.
One is he who shallsee the rains fall,he shall before all othersfall last.He is bornbeneath Bifrost,he is called Heimdallr,he belongs to the Lord of Hosts.

English translation: own translation.

Sa er nestr at namiMimir i Brunninum,sa er drykkr er dyrrat morgum dyrum.Oc visir veitof Vala bragnar,hvat af gudurn verdrat Gorvelli.
He is next to takefrom Mimir in the well,that drink is costlyto many precious things.And the wise one knowsof Vali's men,what becomes of the godsat Görvöll.

English translation: own translation.

Sa er til allraraldar nefndr,er sa heitirHeimdallr enn hviti.Hann er borinnaf modum nium,sa er systr allrasystrananna meirr.
He is named for allages to come,he is calledHeimdallr the White.He is bornof nine mothers,he is the son of all sisters'sisters and more.

English translation: own translation.

Visa um allaVoluspa minni,nu man ek teljatil Tivi saga.Sa er borinnbrautu i midum,sa er fremst er lagdra fljota kveld.
Knowing allVoluspa's memories,now will I reciteto the tales of Tyr.He is bornin the middle of the road,he is first laidon the evening of the flood.

English translation: own translation.

Kann ek upp rekjaattan tigurkonunga kunnakynkvista god;hefi ec nu taldatil Tivi gudsum Ottarsatta tigir.
I can reciteeightyknown kings'good family branches;I have now countedto Tyr-god'sfor Ottarr's sakeeighty.

English translation: own translation.

Muntu nu Hyndlai helli sofa,ok sa er gofgastrgumna myni.Gefum oss miodat minnis veigi,Ottarr er ungrok orlog fira.
Now you shall Hyndlasleep in your cave,and he who is most honouredamong men shall remember.Give us meadas a memory-drink,Ottarr is youngand subject to men's fates.

English translation: own translation.

Berr pu, Freyja,bralla hedan,erat her lengrat Hyndlu gott;ru pu, Freyja,a rastar leidi,hafi pu lofaLoga brennanda.
Be off, Freyja,quickly away from here,it is no longerwell here with Hyndla;ride, Freyja,on the road of your journey,may you have flamesof burning fire.

English translation: own translation.

Yfir um saeer hon sott hefir,yfir um logsem lid fari,yfir um eldsa er Eyrarland brytr,yfir um hafok hvern veg.
Over the seashe has made her way,over the watersas a host travels,over the firethat breaks Eyrland,over the oceanand every path.

English translation: own translation.

Brenni pu Freyjaeld um kringi,ef ec sva vilat ver moe skilia;ek gef ek Ottariolvir drykki,hleypr hann i eldiok lif of missir.
Burn, Freyja,fire all around you,if I so willthat we should part thus;I give Ottarrworthless drinks,he leaps into the fireand loses his life.

English translation: own translation.

Eigi mun ek nennaolgi drykkiat gefa Ottariinn aldni;hleypr hann i eldi,ef lif of missir,brot af bragnarmun brenna eld.
I will not troubleto give a worthless drinkto Ottarrthe ancient one;he leaps into the fireif life is lost,parts of the manshall burn in fire.

English translation: own translation.

Berr ek af Ottarieldi um hringi,sviptu minomsumar ok vetur;hann mun sigrasonar drykkinn,ok gudna gofgargeymi sitt kyn.
I bore Ottarrfire all around him,with my spellssummer and winter;he shall conquerwith the son's drink,and the gods honourthe one who guards his lineage.

English translation: own translation.

Key concepts

  • Freyja , the goddess who rides her transformed protégé to Hyndla's cave to secure his inheritance
  • Hildisvíni , Freyja's battle-boar, in reality the transformed Óttarr
  • völva , Hyndla as reluctant genealogical authority; parallel to the völva of Völuspá

Interpretive traditions

A What we know

Hyndluljóð is preserved in Flateyjarbók, not in Codex Regius.

The genealogical catalogue is one of the most comprehensive in Old Norse poetry and brings together lineages from different parts of the heroic tradition.

The embedded Völuspá hin skamma (stanzas 29-44) contains cosmological material complementing the great Völuspá.

B What we think we know

Whether the Völuspá hin skamma section originally belonged to Hyndluljóð or is a separate poem inserted into it is debated. Its style and content differ markedly from the frame narrative.

The poem's dating is difficult to assess. Genealogical material may be older than the poem's final form.

C What we do not know

Several of the genealogical names in the catalogue cannot be identified with known figures in Norse tradition. Whether they reflect lost sagas or are poetic constructions 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.