The Poetic Edda in the Light of Archaeology

104 Pages·1931·13.905 MB·English

by  Birger Nerman

THE POETIC EDDA
IN THE LIGHT OF
ARCHÆOLOGY
W ith S ix ty =one Illustrations
Viking Society for Northern Research
Extra Scries
VOL. IV.
VIKING SOCIETY FOR NORTHERN RESEARCH
(Founded in 1892 as the Orkney, Shetland and Northern
Society, or Viking Clubj.
—
\
....... _
PresidentR. Farquharson Sharp, M.A.
Vice-Presidents: —(Members of Council) Professor R. W. Chambers, M.A., D.Lit.,
F.B.A., Past President-, A. W. Johnston, K. St.O., K.I.F., Past President;
Allen Mawer, M.A., Litt.D.. F.B.A. ; Erling Monsen ; Dame Bertha S.
Phillpotts, D.B.E., M.A., Litt.D. ; Rt. Hon. Lord Salvesen ; Miss N.
Smith-Dampier, F. R.G.S., Past President.
Honorary Vice-Presidents:—The Most Hon. The Marquess of Zetland * Arthur
W. W. Brown, M.A ; N. O. M. Cameron; Prof. H. M. Chadwick, M.A. ;
J. W. Cursiter, F.S.A Scot. ; Sir Gregory Foster, Bt. ; Prof. E. V. Gordon,
M.A.; Miss Cornelia Horsford ; J. Jorgensen ; Sir Karl Knudsen, K.B.E.;
W. R.-L. Lowe ; A. Shaw Mellor, M.A., M.B., Cantab.; Dr. Sophus Müller ;
Mrs. Jessie M. E. Saxby; Jón Stefánsson, Ph.D.
Councillors:—Miss Edith C. Batho, M A. ; Colonel N. T. Belaiew, C.B.; Miss
Helen T. McM. Buckhukst, M.A. ; F. W. Dowson, B.A.; Miss S. Edmonds;
W. W. Grantham, K.C.; C. F. Grundtvig; I. C.Gröndahl, M.A. ; W. Lloyd-
Willey ; Ernest Payne, M A. ; R. Dahl Prag; Professor J. G. Robertson,
M.A., Ph.D. ; A. Rugg-Gunn, M.B., F.R.C.S. ; W. Barnes Steveni, M.J.I.;
Ernest Woolley, F.S.A.
Hon. Treasurer:—Edward W. Lynam, M.R.I.A.
Hon. Secretary :—A. W. Johnston, F.S.A.Scot.
Trustees:—Major Sir Archibald H. M. Sinclair, Bt., C.M.G., M.P.; Sir
Robert W. Hamilton, M.P.
Hon. Auditor and Solicitor:—T. Davies Jones,
Bankers:—Lloyds Bank, Limited, 38a, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W. i.
Accountants :—Messrs. Cassleton Elliott & Co.
Object:—The Society is founded for all interested in Northern or Scandinavian
Research.
Subscription:—(a) For Saga-Book and Year Book, Annual 10s. 6d., Life £10.
(b) For Old-Lore Series and Year Book, Annual 10s. 6d., Life £10. (c) For
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PUBLICATIONS.
Saga-Book, Year Book and Old-Lore Series, gratis to members at above
subscription rates.
Translation Series:—Vol I., Cormac Saga, 6s. 6d. (pub. 7s. 6d.).
Vol. II-, Elder Edda, 10s. 6d. (pub. 15s.).
Extra Series:—Vol. I., Birds of Omen in Shetland (out of print).
Vol. II., Ruins of Saga-time in Iceland, 12s. 6d.
Vol. III., Essays on Beowulf, 15s. (pub. 21s.).
Vol. IV., Poetic Edda in the Light of Archaeology, 6s. (pub. 7s. 6d.).
Prospectus may be had on application to the Hon. Secretary, Viking Society,
Westfield College, Hampstead, London, N.W. 3.
The Poetic Edda in the
light of Archaeology
Bv
•r
BIRGER NERMAN
COVENTRY
Published for 'the V iking Society for Northern Research
W estfield C ollege (University of L ondon)
by C urtis and Beamish, L td.
50 Hertford Street
1931

CONTENTS
PAGE
PREFACE ... ... ... ... ... ... vii.
CHAPTER
I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 1
II. EARLY AND MORE MODERN OPINIONS ON
THE AGE AND HOME OF THE EDDIC
POEMS AND THE EDDA TALES.. ... 2
III. GOLD AND SILVER IN SCANDINAVIA DURING
THE IRON A G E ................... 12
IV. THE ÉDDIC POEMS, SEVERALLY ... ... 18
V. CHRONOLOGICAL CONCLUSIONS ... ... 59
DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ......................... 64
ILLUSTRATIONS 69

Vil.
PREFACE.
paper was sent to the Viking Society in September,
T his
1924, and read before the Society on April 21st, 1925.
For this reason the author has not dealt with researches
subsequent to that time. He does not, however, think
any new researches have appeared to alter his opinions.
Mr. A. W. Johnston, Professor Dr. R. W. Chambers
and Dr. J. Stefánsson have given the author much help
in editing the paper, and he wishes to express his
warmest gratitude to them.
The paper has been translated from the author’s
Swedish manuscript by Mr. Grenville Grove, Secretary
of the British Legation, Stockholm, to whom the author
desires to express his best thanks.
Most of the blocks have been kindly lent by Kgl.
Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien in
Stockholm. For this the author begs to express his
respectful gratitude to the Academy and its Secretarv,
the King’s Custodian of - Antiquities, Professor Dr.
Sigurd Curman.
That most of the objects reproduced are Swedish has
been largely caused by the fact that a supply of blocks
of these has been accessible in Stockholm.
T he A uthor.
Stockholm, October, 1930.