Elder Edda
The Elder Edda, also known as the "Poetic Edda" is a collection of Norse mythology. It is traditionally attributed to Saemund the Wise. It was presumed lost until 1643 when the then Bishop of Skálholt, Brynjólfur Sveinnson, discovered a manuscript dating back at least to the 13th century containing many verses which had been referenced by Snorri Sturluson in the Younger Edda. Many of the poems in it are written in the ljóðaháttr, a traditional form of alliterative verse.
The document is now stored in the Royal Library in Copenhagen, and is contained within the Codex Regius (R2365).
The poems contained within it are:
- Voluspá (also spelt Voluspo, known also as "The Prophecy of the Vala")
- Hávamál (also spelt Hovomol)
- Vafţruđnismál
- Grímnismál
- Skírnismál
- Hárbarzljóđ (also spelt Harbarzljoð, also known as "The Lay of Harbarth")
- Hymiskviđa (also known as "The Lay of Hymis")
- Lokasenna (also known as "Loki's Mocking")
- Ţrymskviđa (also known as "The Lay of Thrym")
- Alvíssmál (also known as "The Sayings of Alvis")
- Baldrs Draumar (also better known as "Baldur's Dreams")
- Rígsţula (also known as "Rig's Song")
- Hyndluljóđ (known also as "The Lay of Hyndla")
- Svipdagsmál (known also and variously as: "Grógaldr", "Fjolsvinnsmál", "The Sayings of Svipdag", "The Spell of Groa")
- Voluspá hin skamma (known also as "The Short Prophecy of Vala")
It also contains the heroic lays which are considered to predate the mythical lays:
- Volundarkviđa "The Lay of Volund"
- The Helgi Lays :-
- Helgakviđa Hjorvarţssonar
- Helgakviđa Hundisbana
- Frá Dauđa Sinfjotla
- Grípisspa
- Reginsmál
- Fáfnismál
- Sigrdrífumál
- Brot Af Sigurţarikviđu
- Gudrúnarkviđa I
- Sigurţarkviđu hin Skamma
- Helreiđ Brynhildar
- Dráp Niflunga
- Gudrúnarkviđa II, En Forna
- Gudrúnarkviđa III
- Oddrúnargrátr
- Atlakviđa
- Atlamál hin grćnlenzku
- Guđrúnarhvot
- Hamđismál ("The Lay of Hamdir")
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