The Prose Edda on Gudrun

The Younger Edda: > Chapter Iv. > The Niflungs And Gjukungs.

• attribution: Gudrun revealed to Brynhild that Sigurd, not Gunnar, rode through the Vafurloge flame

  "Do you think it was Gunnar who rode through the bickering flame? Then I think you shared the bed with him who gave me this gold ring."

• attestation: Gudrun made goblets from her own sons' skulls, roasted their hearts for Atle to eat, and served blood-mixed mead

  "Gudrun slew her two sons and made from their skulls goblets trimmed with gold, and thereupon the funeral ceremonies took place. At the feast, Gudrun poured for King Atle in these goblets mead that was mixed with the blood of the youths. Their hearts she roasted and gave to the king to eat."

• attestation: Gudrun and her son Hogne slew the sleeping King Atle, then set fire to the hall burning everyone inside

  "she went to the king when he had fallen asleep, and had with her her son Hogne. They slew him, and thus he ended his life. Then they set fire to the hall, and with it all the people who were in it were burned."

• attestation: Gudrun tried to drown herself in the sea but was carried across to King Jonaker's land, where she became his wife

  "she went to the sea and sprang into the water to drown herself; but she was carried across the fjord, and came to the land which belonged to King Jonaker. When he saw her he took her home and made her his wife."

• relationship: Gudrun and Jonaker had three raven-black-haired children: Sorle, Hamder, and Erp

  "They had three children, whose names were Sorle, Hamder and Erp. They all had hair as black as ravens, like Gunnar and Hogne and the other Niflungs."

• attestation: Gudrun urged her sons Sorle and Hamder to avenge Swanhild, giving them byrnies and helmets that iron could not penetrate

  "When Gudrun heard of this, she begged her sons to avenge Swanhild. While they were busking themselves for the journey, she brought them byrnies and helmets, so strong that iron could not scathe them."

• attestation: Gudrun planned for Sorle and Hamder to attack Jormunrek at night and cut off his hands and feet while Erp was to cut off his head

  "She laid the plan for them, that when they came to King Jormunrek, they should attack him in the night whilst he was sleeping. Sorle and Hamder should cut off his hands and feet, and"