Elder Edda (Vsp, Vkv, Ls, Skm, Rg) - Ursula Dronke, vol. 2, 1997
Chronology of Events in the Elder Edda
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Transcript of Chronology of Events in the Elder Edda
![Page 1: Chronology of Events in the Elder Edda](https://reader037.fdocuments.in/reader037/viewer/2022100310/577cc7311a28aba711a04174/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS IN THE ELDER EDDA HEROIC LAYS
[Blue/red fonts indicate conflicting variants of events]
OF HELGI HUNDINGSBANE & SIGRÚN THE VALKYRIE
Helgi goes in disguise as Hamal to spy on the Hundings’ hall [Helgakviða II 1-4]
Hunding goes in search of Helgi, who hides as a bondswoman [Helgakviða II P1b]
Helgi slays King Hunding at age 15 [Helgakviða I 10 / II P1c]
The Valkyrie Sigrún reveals herself to Helgi on the next day [Helgakviða II P2, 5-12]
Hunding’s sons seek weregild, but Helgi refuses them [Helgakviða I 11-12]
Hothbrod is promised Sigrún by her father Hogni [Helgakviða II P3]
Helgi slays four of Hunding’s sons at Logafjoll [Helgakviða I 13-14]
Valkyries appear at the battle, among whom is Sigrún [Helgakviða I 15ff]
Sigrún professes her love for Helgi [Helgakviða II P3,13ff]
Sigrún urges Helgi to fight Hothbrod [Helgakviða I 19-20 / II 15]
Helgi goes to war with Hothbrod, sailing with a mighty fleet [Helgakviða I 22ff]
A great storm arises, but the Valkyries protect the fleet [Helgakviða II P4a]
Sinfjötli taunts Gothmund before the battle [Helgakviða I 33ff / II 22ff]
At the Battle of Freka Stone Helgi defeats Hothbrod [Helgakviða I 55ff / II P4b]
Sigrún gloats over Hothbrod & Helgi consoles her after the battle [Helgakviða II 17ff]
Sigrún and Helgi wed and have sons (not named or numbered) [Helgakviða II P6a]
Dag, brother to Sigrún and only surviving son of Hogni, slays Helgi [Helgakviða II P6a]
Sigrún laments and curses Dag [Helgakviða II 29ff]
Helgi, in Valhalla, curses Hunding [Helgakviða II 38]
Helgi rises from his burial mound to visit Sigrún one last time [Helgakviða II P8a, 39ff]
Sigrún dies of grief and sorrow [Helgakviða II P8c]
OF SINFJOTLI’S DEATH
Sinfjötli slays Gunnar over their courting of the same woman [Frá Dauða Sinfjötla]
Sigmund pays Gunnar’s weregild, but Borghild poisons Sinfjötli [Frá Dauða Sinfjötla]
OF SIGURD’S BIRTH & SIGMUND’S DEATH
Sigmund leaves Borghild in Denmark, traveling south to Frankland [Frá Dauða Sinfjötla]
Sigmund marries Hjordís, who then gives birth to Sigurd [Frá Dauða Sinfjötla]
Sigmund falls in battle with the sons of Hunding [Frá Dauða Sinfjötla; cf. the Helgi lays]
OF SIGURD’S YOUTH
Hjordis, taken captive by Álf, later becomes his wife [Frá Dauða Sinfjötla]
Sigurd is raised in Hjálprek’s hall [Frá Dauða Sinfjötla]
Sigurd visits his uncle Grípir’s hall, where his future is foretold [Grípisspá 1ff]
Sigurd choses Grani from among Hjálprek’s studs [Reginsmál P1]
OF ANDVARI’S GOLD
Odin, Honir and Loki come to Andvari’s Falls [Reginsmál P1]
Loki kills Otr with a stone, making a bag from its skin [Reginsmál P1]
Odin, Honir and Loki seek lodging at Hreithmar’s hall that evening [Reginsmál P1]
Hreithmar demands ransom for their lives (as weregild for Otr) [Reginsmál P1]
Loki sent to acquire Andvari’s gold [Reginsmál P1]
Loki captures Andvari (in Pike’s form) using Rán’s net [Reginsmál P1]
Loki takes Andvari’s gold, including the ring Andvaranuat [Reginsmál P2]
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Andvari curses the gold [Reginsmál 5]
The cursed gold given to Hreithmar [Reginsmál P3]
Loki prophecies ill fate from the gold [Reginsmál 6,8]
Fáfnir slays Hreithmar for the gold [Reginsmál P4]
Hreithmar demands vengeance of his daughters [Reginsmál 10-11]
Fáfnir refuses Regin his share of the gold [Reginsmál P5]
Fáfnir retires to Gnitaheith and transforms into a dragon (has Fear-Helm) [Reginsmál P7]
OF REGIN & SIGURD
Regin comes to Hjálprek’s hall, where Sigurd is [Reginsmál P1]
Regin undertakes Sigurd’s fosterage [Reginsmál P1]
Regin tells Sigurd of his ancestry [Reginsmál P1] and of Andvari’s gold [Reginsmál P6] Regin forges Gram,
with which Sigurd cleaves Regin’s anvil [Reginsmál P7]
Regin urges Sigurd to slay Fáfnir, but Sigurd demurs [Reginsmál P7,15]
SIGURD & THE SONS OF HUNDING
Hjalprek gives Sigurd a fleet with which to avenge his father’s death [Reginsmál P8]
A (magic-induced) storm rages up against them [Reginsmál P8]
Odin in the guise of Hnikar questions them and calms the storm [Reginsmál P9]
Sigurd slays Lyngvi, Hunding’s son, and his brothers (either 2 or 3) [Reginsmál P10]
Sigurd returns to Hjálprek’s hall [Reginsmál P11]
THE DEATH OF FÁFNIR
Regin again urges Sigurd to slay Fáfnir [Reginsmál P11]
Sigurd and Regin travel to Gnitaheath [Fáfnismál P1]
There they find the path Fáfnir takes to get water [Fáfnismál P1]
Sigurd digs a trench across the path and hides therein [Fáfnismál P1]
As Fáfnir emerges he spews out venom, which drips on Sigurd’s head [Fáfnismál P1]
Sigurd thrusts his sword into Fáfnir’s heart as he crawls over the trench [Fáfnismál P1]
Sigurd and Fáfnir converse for some time before the dragon dies [Fáfnismál 2-15]
Regin returns from hiding, claiming partial credit for the kill [Fáfnismál P3, 23ff]
Regin cuts out Fáfnir’s heart and drinks his blood [Fáfnismál P4]
Regin directs Sigurd to roast the dragon’s heart [Fáfnismál 31]
Sigurd burns his finger on the roasting meat and puts it in his mouth [Fáfnismál [P5]
Sigurd comprehends the speech of the birds nearby [Fáfnismál P5]
The birds advise Sigurd to slay Regin and eat the heart himself [Fáfnismál 32ff]
Sigurd does as the birds’ advised, also drinking down their blood [Fáfnismál P6]
Some birds advise Sigurd to seek out Guthrún, others Brynhild [Fáfnismál 40ff]
Sigurd rides to Fáfnir’s lair, taking the Fear-Helm and many treasures [Fáfnismál P7]
Sigurd rides to Gjúki’s hall (before meeting Brynhild) [Grípisspá 13-14]
SIGURD & BRYNHILD
Sigurd rides to Hindarfjoll, where a tower stands surrounded by fire [Sigrdrifumál P1]
Sigurd enters and wakes the sleeping Brynhild by removing her armor [Sigrdrifumál P1]
Brynhild gives her name as Sigrdrifa (“Victory-Bringer”) [Sigrdrifumál P3]
Brynhild tells how she was punished by Odin, and of her vow [Sigrdrifumál P3]
Brynhild teaches Sigurd magic Runes [Sigrdrifumál 6ff/22ff]
Brynhild warns Sigurd of the perils of choosing her [Sigrdrifumál 20]
Sigurd plights his troth to Brynhild [Sigrdrifumál 21]
Sigurd rides to the hall of Heimir, foster-father to Brynhild [Grípisspá 19]
Sigurd pays Brynhild’s marriage price [Grípisspá 27-31]
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SIGURD & THE GJÚKINGS
Sigurd seeks out Gjúki, taking oaths with his two sons [Sigurðarkviða hin Skamma 1]
Sigurd beguilded by Grimhild to forget Brynhild [Grípisspá 31-33]
Sigurd plighted to Guthrún [Sigurðarkviða hin Skamma 2]
Sigurd rides with the Gjúkungs to Atli’s court to win Brynhild [Sigurðarkviða hin Skamma 35ff]
Gunnar and Hogni with Sigurd successfully besiege Atli’s city [Oddrúnargrátr 16-17]
Brynhild given to Gunnar by Atli, she accepts thinking he is Sigurd [Sigurðarkviða hin Skamma 35-39]
Sigurd woos Brynhild in Gunnar’s form at Hindarfjoll [Grípisspá 35-39]
Sigurd sleeps with Brynhild three nights [Grípisspá 41; Sigurðarkviða hin Skamma 4]
A dual wedding of Sigurd-Guthrún & Gunnar-Brynhild is held [Grípisspá 43]
Sigurd remembers his former oaths to Brynhild [Grípisspá 45a]
BRYNHILD’S REVENGE & SIGURD’S DEATH
Brynhild plots revenge for her betrayal [Grípisspá 45b-50]
Brynhild vows to have Sigurd no matter the cost [Sigurðarkviða hin Skamma 6-7]
Gunnar incited to murder by Brynhild [Brot af Sigurðarkviðu 1-3; Sigurðarkviða hin Skamma 10-12]
Gunnar and Hogni grow jealous of Sigurd’s wealth and fame [Guðrúnarkviða II 3]
Gunnar consults Hogni, the Rhinegold discussed, Brynhild blamed [Sigurðarkviða hin Skamma 14ff]
Guthorm prompted to the task [Sigurðarkviða hin Skamma 20]
Guthorm slays Sigurd in his bed [Sigurðarkviða hin Skamma 21ff]
Sigurd pulls the sword from his heart and slays Guthorm with it [Sigurðarkviða hin Skamma 22-23]
Sigurd comforts Guthrún with his final words [Sigurðarkviða hin Skamma 24-28]
Guthorm slays Sigurd in the forest [Brot af Sigurðarkviðu 5; Guðrúnarkviða II 3]
Sigurd slays Guthorm in return [Guðrúnarkviða II 7]
Birds prophecy the Gjúkings’ doom [Brot af Sigurðarkviðu 5]
Grani runs to Guthrún, by which she knows Sigurd is dead [Guðrúnarkviða II 4-5]
Guthrún confronts her brothers; Hogni repents and confesses the crime [Guðrúnarkviða II 7-8]
Guthrún goes to Sigurd’s body in the woods, but will not weep [Guðrúnarkviða II 11]
GUTHRÚN’S SORROW & BRYNHILD’S DEATH
Guthrún is consoled by relatives until she breaks down weeping [Guðrúnarkviða I 1-15]
Guthrún curses her brothers [Guðrúnarkviða I 17-21; Guðrúnarkviða II 9]
Brynhild blamed, but she in turn blames Atli [Guðrúnarkviða I 22-24]
Brynhild mocks at Sigurd’s death while Guthrún laments [Brot af Sigurðarkviða 8-11; hin Skamma 30ff]
Gunnar sleeps poorly, wracked by guilt [Brot af Sigurðarkviðu 12-13]
Brynhild laments and curses the Gjúkungs [Brot af Sigurðarkviðu 14ff; Sigurðarkviða hin Skamma 33ff]
Brynhild stabs herself to death [Sigurðarkviða hin Skamma 38ff]
With her dying words, Brynhild prophecies the downfall of the Gjúkings [Sigurðarkviða hin Skamma 52ff]
Brynhild requests to be burnt together with Sigurd on the same funeral pyre [Sigurðarkviða hin Skamma 64-69]
Sigurd and Brynhild are burned on two separate funeral pyres [Helreið Brynhildar P1]
Brynhild fares to Hel in a wagon, where she is questioned by a giantess [Helreið Brynhildar]
OF GUTHRÚN AND ATLI
Guthrún travels to Denmark, staying 3½ years with Sigurd’s stepfather Hálf [Guðrúnarkviða II 14]
Gunnar and Hogni take Sigurd’s gold hoard [Dráp Niflunga]
Gunnar marries Glaumvor and Hogni weds Kostbera [Dráp Niflunga; Atlamál 6]
Atli holds the Gjúkings responsible for Brynhild’s death [Dráp Niflunga]
The Gjúkungs offer untold riches to Atli as weregild, but he won’t accept it [Oddrúnargrátr 19]
Grímhild fetches Guthrún from Denmark to be given as recompense to Atli [Guðrúnarkviða II 17-19]
Atli sends emissaries to the Gjúkings with bridal gifts for Guthrún [Guðrúnarkviða II 20ff]
Grímhild gives Guthrún a potion of forgetfulness before she’ll consent to wed Atli [Guðrúnarkviða II 22ff]
Guthrún given her bridal dowry (and Sigurd’s wealth?) [Guðrúnarkviða II 26]
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Guthrún betrothed to Atli as reconciliation for the death of Brynhild [Dráp Niflunga]
Guthrún bears two children to Atli, these being Erp and Eitil [Dráp Niflunga]
Atli wakes with bad dreams, which Gudrún interprets cryptically [Guðrúnarkviða II 38ff]
Atli’s first wife Herkja accuses Gudrún of adultery [Guðrúnarkviða III P1,2]
Gudrún pleads innocence and undertakes the ordeal by boiling water [Guðrúnarkviða III 3ff]
Herkja fails the ordeal and is tossed in a bog [Guðrúnarkviða III 9-10]
THE FALL OF THE GJÚKINGS & GUTHRÚN’S REVENGE
Gunnar seeks Oddrún’s hand, but Atli denies him [Dráp Niflunga; Oddrúnargrátr 19ff]
Gunnar and Oddrún initiate an illicit affair [Oddrúnargrátr 21ff]
Atli’s spies report the affair, refusing Gunnar’s offered bribes [Oddrúnargrátr 23-24]
Atli invites Gunner and Hogni to his hall [Dráp Niflunga; Atlakviða 1ff; Atlamál 2, 5-8]
Guthrún sends Andvari’s ring as warning to Hogni [Dráp Niflunga; Atlakviða 8]
Guthrún sends a message in runes as warning to Hogni [Atlamál 9-12]
Gunnar and Hogni accept Atli’s invitation to visit [Dráp Niflunga; Atlakviða 9ff]
Guthrún asks her sons to intercede on her brothers’ behalf, but they refuse [Dráp Niflunga]
The Gjúkings are attacked as they arrive at Atli’s hall; Hogni slays Vingi [Atlamál 35ff]
Guthrún, seeing their plight, draws sword and joins the fray [Atlamál 46ff]
Gunnar and Hogni are captured [Atlakviða 14ff]
Gunnar refuses to give up the Rhinegold [Atlakviða 28-29]
Atli cuts out Hogni’s heart and casts Gunnar into a dungeon [Dráp Niflung; Oddrúnargrátr 26; Atlakviða 22ff]
Vilmund is said to be Hogni’s slayer [Oddrúnargrátr 7]
Gunnar lulls the serpents with a harp, but is stung by one in the liver [Dráp Niflunga]
Gunnar plays a harp to summon Oddrún, but Atli’s serpent-mother bites him [Oddrúnargrátr 27ff]
Guthrún prepares a feast for Atli of their children’s flesh [Atlakviða 36ff; Atlamál 70ff]
Atli slain by Guthrún and his hall set ablaze [Atlakviða 44-45]
Atli slain by Guthrún and Hniflung [Atlamál 98]
THE DEATH OF SVANHILD
Guthrún casts herself into the sea, washing up in the realm of Jónakr [Guðrúnarhvöt P1,13]
Guthrún weds Jónakr and bears him three sons [Guðrúnarhvöt P1,14]
Svanhild weds Jormunrek [Guðrúnarhvöt P1]
Bikki entices Randver and Svanhild into an illicit affair, then informs Jormunrek [Guðrúnarhvöt P1]
Randver is hanged and Svanhild torn asunder by horses [Guðrúnarhvöt P1,2,16]
Guthrún incites her sons to vengeance [Guðrúnarhvöt 2; Hamðismál 3ff]
Hamthir protests, but gives in and with Sörli makes the attempt [Guðrúnarhvöt 3-8; Hamðismál 6ff]
Hamthir and Sorli meet and slay their half-brother Erp on the road [Hamðismál 25ff]
Hamthir and Sorli wound Jormunrek, but are slain in the process [Hamðismál 25ff]