The Poetic Edda on Nithuth
The > Volume Ii > Introductory Note
attestation: The passage references narrative tradition concerning Nithuth.
"The main one, however, the story of the laming of the smith by King Nithuth (or by some other enemy) and of Weland's terrible revenge, forms the basis of the Völundarkvitha."
attestation: Nithuth is characterized by wisdom in the verse.
"17. Without stood the wife | of Nithuth wise, And in she came | from the end of the hall; On the floor she stood, | and softly spoke: "Not kind does he look | who comes from the wood." "
attestation: Nithuth is characterized by cunning in the verse.
"19. "At Nithuth's girdle | gleams the sword That I sharpened keen | with cunningest craft, (And hardened the steel | with highest skill;) The bright blade far | forever is borne,"
relationship: The stanza references a son of Nithuth.
"20. He sat, nor slept, | and smote with his hammer, Fast for Nithuth | wonders he fashioned; Two boys did go | in his door to gaze, Nithuth's sons, | into Sævarstath."
attestation: The stanza describes an act of creation involving Nithuth.
"20. He sat, nor slept, | and smote with his hammer, Fast for Nithuth | wonders he fashioned; Two boys did go | in his door to gaze, Nithuth's sons, | into Sævarstath."
relationship: The stanza references a wife of Nithuth.
"25. Their skulls, once hid | by their hair, he took, Set them in silver | and sent them to Nithuth; Gems full fair | from their eyes he fashioned, To Nithuth's wife | so wise he gave them."
attestation: Nithuth is characterized by wisdom in the verse.
"25. Their skulls, once hid | by their hair, he took, Set them in silver | and sent them to Nithuth; Gems full fair | from their eyes he fashioned, To Nithuth's wife | so wise he gave them."
attestation: Nithuth is characterized by beauty in the verse.
"25. Their skulls, once hid | by their hair, he took, Set them in silver | and sent them to Nithuth; Gems full fair | from their eyes he fashioned, To Nithuth's wife | so wise he gave them."
attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Nithuth.
"25. Their skulls, once hid | by their hair, he took, Set them in silver | and sent them to Nithuth; Gems full fair | from their eyes he fashioned, To Nithuth's wife | so wise he gave them."
attribution: Nithuth delivers a speech in the verse.
"32. Without stood the wife | of Nithuth wise, And in she came | from the end of the hall; But he by the wall | in weariness sat: "Wakest thou, Nithuth, | lord of the Njars?"
Nithuth spake:"
- attestation: The stanza references rulership or authority involving Nithuth.
"32. Without stood the wife | of Nithuth wise, And in she came | from the end of the hall; But he by the wall | in weariness sat: "Wakest thou, Nithuth, | lord of the Njars?"
Nithuth spake:"
relationship: The stanza references a wife of Nithuth.
"37. "Their skulls, once hid | by their hair, I took, Set them in silver | and sent them to Nithuth; Gems full fair | from their eyes I fashioned, To Nithuth's wife | so wise I gave them."
attestation: The stanza describes an act of creation involving Nithuth.
"37. "Their skulls, once hid | by their hair, I took, Set them in silver | and sent them to Nithuth; Gems full fair | from their eyes I fashioned, To Nithuth's wife | so wise I gave them."
attestation: Nithuth is characterized by wisdom in the verse.
"37. "Their skulls, once hid | by their hair, I took, Set them in silver | and sent them to Nithuth; Gems full fair | from their eyes I fashioned, To Nithuth's wife | so wise I gave them."
attestation: Nithuth is characterized by beauty in the verse.
"37. "Their skulls, once hid | by their hair, I took, Set them in silver | and sent them to Nithuth; Gems full fair | from their eyes I fashioned, To Nithuth's wife | so wise I gave them."
attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Nithuth.
"37. "Their skulls, once hid | by their hair, I took, Set them in silver | and sent them to Nithuth; Gems full fair | from their eyes I fashioned, To Nithuth's wife | so wise I gave them."
attribution: Nithuth delivers a speech in the verse.
"38. "And from the teeth | of the twain I wrought A brooch for the breast, | to Bothvild I gave it; Now big with child | does Bothvild go, The only daughter | ye two had ever."
Nithuth spake:"
The > Volume Ii > Notes
attestation: Nithuth ('Bitter Hater') is identified as a king of Sweden and lord of the Njars
"Nithuth ("Bitter Hater"): here identified as a king of Sweden, is in the poem (stanzas 9, 15 and 32) called lord of the Njars"
attestation: Nithuth came with his men to capture Volund, charging him with having stolen treasure
"Nithuth, of course, has come with his men to capture Völund, and now charges him with having stolen his treasure"
attestation: The one ring that Nithuth's men steal from Volund is given to Bothvild and proves the cause of her undoing
"The one ring which Nithuth's men steal is given to Bothvild, and proves the cause of her undoing"
attestation: It is Nithuth's wife who drives the plot against Volund, entering while Volund is noted as a hunter
"Certainly it is Nithuth's wife who utters line 4. Who comes from the wood: Völund, noted as a hunter"
attestation: In the Thithrekssaga, Nithuth compelled Egil to shoot at his brother Volund, who had hidden a blood-filled bladder under his arm
"In the Thithrekssaga Nithuth actually compels Egil, Völund's brother, to shoot at Völund. The latter has concealed a bladder full of blood under his left arm, and when his brother's arrow pierces this, Nithuth assumes that his enemy has been killed"
The > part in a few of the Eddic poems. > Pronouncing Index
- attestation: Nithuth is the king of the Njars
"Nīth′-uth, king of the Njars"