The Poetic Edda on Geirröth

The > Volume I > Introductory Note

• attestation: The passage describes violence or death involving Geirröth.

  "Gradually he works up to the great final moment, when he declares his true name, or rather names, to the terrified Geirröth, and the latter falls on his sword and is killed."

• relationship: The stanza references a son of Geirröth.

  "2. 'Twixt the fires now | eight nights have I sat, And no man brought meat to me, Save Agnar alone, | and alone shall rule Geirröth's son o'er the Goths."

• attestation: Geirröth is characterized by grimness in the verse.

  "49. Grimnir they call me | in Geirröth's hall, With Asmund Jalk am I; Kjalar I was | when I went in a sledge, At the council Thror am I called, As Vithur I fare to the fight; Oski, Biflindi, | Jafnhor and Omi,"

• attestation: The stanza describes feasting or drinking involving Geirröth.

  "51. Drunk art thou, Geirröth, | too much didst thou drink, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Much hast thou lost, | for help no more From me or my heroes thou hast."