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 ^[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, , and the theme seems to be to trace the lineage of the poet's patron to the gods.^[2]

A part of the poem quoted in Ynglinga saga mentions Odin and Skaði.

Þann, skaldblœtr!

skattfœri gat

ása niðr

vit járnviðju,

þá er þau meir

í Manheimum

skatna vinr

ok Skaði bygðu;

sævar beins

ok sonu marga

öndurdís

við Óðni gat. — Schultz's edition

To Asa's son Queen Skade bore

Saeming, who dyed his shield in gore, --

The giant-queen of rock and snow,

Who loves to dwell on earth below,

The iron pine-tree's daughter, she

Sprung from the rocks that rib the sea,

To Odin bore full many a son,

Heroes of many a battle won. — Laing's adaptation

References[]

^ 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.
^ 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.

Háleygjatal in Old Norse from heimskringla.no
Lindow, John (2001). Handbook of Norse mythology. Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio. ISBN 1-57607-217-7.
Two editions of the poem in the original language
Hans Hägerdal: Ynglingatal. Nya perspektiv på en kanske gammal text
Háleygjatal Old Norse edition and English translation at The Skaldic Project

[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.

[Poole-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.

[1]

[2]