The Poetic Edda on Svanhild
The > part in a few of the Eddic poems. > Notes
relationship: Svanhild, daughter of Sigurth and Guthrun, marries Jormunrek (Ermanarich)
"The daughter of Sigurth and Guthrun, Svanhild, marries Jormunrek (Ermanarich)."
attestation: Svanhild ('Swan-Maiden-Warrior') was originally part of a separate tradition before being incorporated into the Jormunrek (Ermanarich) story as his unhappy wife
"Svanhild: the figure of Svanhild is exceedingly old. The name means "Swan-Maiden-Warrior," applying to just such mixtures of swan-maiden and Valkyrie as appear in the Völundarkvitha. Originally part of a separate tradition, Svanhild appears first to have been incorporated in the Jormunrek (Ermanarich) story as the unhappy wife of that monarch"
attestation: Svanhild was identified as daughter of Sigurth and Guthrun at a late stage, linking the Jormunrek and Sigurth legend cycles
"and much later to have been identified as the daughter of Sigurth and Guthrun, thus linking the two sets of legends."
attestation: Svanhild was trampled to death at the gate of Jormunrek's town
"Ill way: very likely the road leading through the gate of Jormunrek's town at which Svanhild was trampled to death."
The > part in a few of the Eddic poems. > Introductory Note
attestation: Svanhild is characterized by beauty in the verse.
"54. "A maid shall then | the mother bear; Brighter far | than the fairest day Svanhild shall be, | or the beams of the sun."
attestation: Svanhild is characterized by courage in the verse.
"62. "Sons to him | she soon shall bear, Heirs therewith | of Jonak's wealth; But Svanhild far | away is sent, The child she bore | to Sigurth brave."
attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Svanhild.
"62. "Sons to him | she soon shall bear, Heirs therewith | of Jonak's wealth; But Svanhild far | away is sent, The child she bore | to Sigurth brave."
relationship: Svanhild is the offspring of Sigurth.
"With Sigurth and Brynhild both dead, the story turns to the slaying of the sons of Gjuki by Atli, Guthrun's second husband, and to a few subsequent incidents, mostly late incorporations from other narrative cycles, including the tragic death of Svanhild, daughter of Sigurth and Guthrun and wife of Jormunrek (Ermanarich), and the exploits of Hamther, son of Guthrun and her third husband, Jonak."
attestation: The stanza describes death or destruction involving Svanhild.
"8. Then Hamther spake, | the high of heart: "Homeward no more | his mother to see Comes the spear-god, fallen | mid Gothic folk; One death-draught thou | for us all shalt drink,"
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Svanhild, Hamther.
"8. Then Hamther spake, | the high of heart: "Homeward no more | his mother to see Comes the spear-god, fallen | mid Gothic folk; One death-draught thou | for us all shalt drink,"
attestation: Svanhild is characterized by beauty in the verse.
"16. "Gold I gave her | and garments bright, Ere I let her go | to the Gothic folk; Of my heavy woes | the hardest it was When Svanhild's tresses | fair were trodden In the mire by hoofs | of horses wild."
attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Svanhild.
"16. "Gold I gave her | and garments bright, Ere I let her go | to the Gothic folk; Of my heavy woes | the hardest it was When Svanhild's tresses | fair were trodden In the mire by hoofs | of horses wild."
attestation: The stanza describes cosmological elements involving Svanhild.
"15. "But round Svanhild | handmaidens sat, She was dearest ever | of all my children; So did Svanhild | seem in my hall As the ray of the sun | is fair to see."
attestation: Svanhild is characterized by youth in the verse.
"2. Not now, nor yet | of yesterday was it, Long the time | that since hath lapsed, So that little there is | that is half as old, Since Guthrun, daughter | of Gjuki, whetted"
The > part in a few of the Eddic poems. > Pronouncing Index
- relationship: Svanhild is the daughter of Sigurth
"Svan′-hild, daughter of Sigurth"