There are two #Eddas; the Poetic (older) Edda, and the Prose (younger) Edda. They are collections of mythological stories revolving around Viking deities. They were created between the 9th and 13th centuries by Icelandic Christian historians. They are pretty key written records about #Norsemythology, but their reliability is questionable due to the Christian historians' hatred for pagans. They portrayed the #Norsegods and goddesses as foolish, lustful, and uncivilised, but I only think that only makes them sound more far more interesting, don't you?!
#PoeticEdda (#OlderEdda)
This compilation comprises of a collection of anonymous poems, believed to have been passed down through oral tradition before being recorded in writing. The #poems cover a wide range of mythological topics including the creation of the world, the exploits of gods and heroes, and the prophetic visions of seers. Notable poems within the Poetic Edda include the famous #Völuspá (Prophecy of the #Seeress), which details the Norse cosmogony and the eventual destruction of the world in #Ragnarök, as well as #Hávamál (The Sayings of the High One), a collection of wisdom attributed to the god #Odin.
Read here:
#ProseEdda (#YoungerEdda)
This work, attributed to the Icelandic scholar #SnorriSturluson, is divided into three major sections: the #Gylfaginning (The Beguiling of Gylfi), the #Skáldskaparmál (The Language of Poetry), and the #Háttatal (The List of Verse Forms). In the Gylfaginning, Snorri presents a narrative where the Norse gods interact with the human character Gylfi, answering his inquiries about their origin, powers, and future. The Skáldskaparmál focuses on the art of poetry, incorporating mythological stories as examples. Lastly, the Háttatal explores various poetic meters and verse forms.
Read here:
Both the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda complement each other, providing different perspectives and interpretations of Norse mythology. They offer glimpses into the cosmology, pantheon, heroic sagas, and moral values of the Vikings. They are a must read for any scholar or enthusiast (such as myself) interested in Norse Mythology!
Here are some fun facts about the Eddas:
They were only discovered in the #17thcentury! The Codex Regius, containing the Poetic Edda, was found in 1643, while the Prose Edda #manuscripts were uncovered later in the 18th century.
They are skewed by Christianity. The Eddas were written down by Christian scholars and their Christian worldview inevitably influenced the way the stories, interpreting them through a Christian lens.
They inspired J.R.R. Tolkien. The Eddas' themes, characters, and imagery have inspired lots of writers, composers, and visual artists including #Tolkien who drew inspiration from Norse mythology when creating his fictional world of Middle-earth in "The Lord of the Rings."
There are lots of different versions and interpretations. There are various versions of the Edda texts which have differences and inconsistencies. Scholars often argue about the original content and variations in interpretations. But unless you want to join the quest to try and understand and reconstruct the most authentic version of the Eddas, I wouldn't worry about it too much.
We'd be lost without them! The Eddas played a crucial role in preserving Norse mythological knowledge. Without these texts, much of the mythology and #folklore might have been lost to history. The Eddas provide an invaluable glimpse into the worldview, cosmology and moral codes of Norse people.
"Edda" could refer to a place. The term "Edda" most likely refers to Oddi, a place where both Saemund Sigfusson (a cleric who is rumoured author of Older Edda), and Snorri Sturluson (a Christian politician, author of Younger Edda) lived.
Can't be bothered?
If you can't be bothered to read the Edda's and want a quick summary of Norse Mythology, this video gives you the lowdown pretty well in 15 minutes:
If you've read the Edda's or just generally read, listened or watched lots about Norse Mythology, let us know your favourite story below!
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