The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Swipdag

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > "T.M.").

• attestation: Swipdag raised his dead mother to teach him protective spells, then set forth on his quests as the Teutonic Odysseus.

  "Swipdag, helped by the incantations of his dead mother, whom he had raised from the dead to teach him spells of protection, sets forth on his quests. He is the Odusseus of the Teutonic mythology"

• attestation: Swipdag sought a weapon against Halfdan's club; the Moon-god directed him to Thiasse's blade stolen by Mimer in the wilderness.

  "The Moon-god tells him of the blade Thiasse has forged. It has been stolen by Mimer, who has gone out into the cold wilderness on the rim of the world"

• attestation: Swipdag defeated and slew Halfdan, then bought his wife Menglad from the gods by gifting them the sword, which passed to Frey.

  "Swipdag achieves the sword, and defeats and slays Halfdan. He now buys a wife, Menglad, of her kinsmen the gods by the gift of the sword, which thus passes into Frey's hands"

• attestation: On Frey's behalf, Swipdag went under the name Skirnir to woo Gerth, giant Gymer's daughter, paying her bride-price with the sword.

  "he goes under the name of Scirner to woo giant Gymer's daughter Gerth for his brother-in-law, buying her with the sword that he himself had paid to Frey as his sister's bride-price"

• attestation: When Woden returned from exile, Swipdag was banished and took on a sea-monster's shape, eventually being slain by Hadding.

  "Swipdag, whose violence and pride grew horribly upon him, was exiled, possibly by some device of his foes, and took upon him, whether by will or doom, a sea-monster's shape"

The Danish History, > Book One.

• attestation: Swipdag of Norway destroyed Gram when he attempted to avenge the outrage on his sister and daughter.

  "SWIPDAG, King of Norway, destroyed Gram, who was attempting to avenge the outrage on his sister and the attempt on his daughter's chastity"

• attestation: After Swipdag slew Gram, he ruled both Denmark and Sweden, and restored Guthorm as ruler of the Danes at his wife's request.

  "Swipdag, now that he had slain Gram, was enriched with the realms of Denmark and Sweden; and because of the frequent importunities of his wife he brought back from banishment her brother Guthorm"