Þjóðólfr of Hvinir

Þjóðólfr ór Hvini (anglicized as Thjódólf of Hvinir or Thiodolf; fl. late 9th–early 10th c. AD),[1] was a Norwegian skald, said to have been one of the court-poets of the semi-legendary Norwegian king Harald Fairhair.[2][3] His name suggests that he was from the region of Hvinir (Kvinesdal).[1] Two skaldic poems, Haustlǫng (Autumn-long) and Ynglingatal (Enumeration of the Ynglingar), are generally attributed to him.[2][3]

Works

Both Haustlǫng and Ynglingatal are ascribed to Þjóðólfr of Hvinir from a relatively early period. They were preserved, along with some other of his verses, by the 13th-century Icelandic writer Snorri Sturluson in the Prose Edda.[2] A third poem, Hrafnsmál, is also attributed to him by Snorri, although scholars rather think that it was composed by another of Harald Fairhair's court-poets named Þórbjǫrn Hornklofi.[2]

Þjóðólfr composed Ynglingatal for Ragnvald Heidumhære, a chieftain from Vestfold (Oslofjord). The poem tells about the lives of the Ynglingar, a dynasty of kings from Uppsala,[3] and forms the basis for Snorri's Ynglinga saga.[4]

What we have preserved of Haustlǫng is centred on two mythological scenes: Loki's betraying of Iðunn, the Æsir's "old-age cure", who was snatched from them by the jǫtunn Þjazi in eagle form; and Thor's victorious combat against the strongest of the jǫtnar, Hrungnir.[3] If as seems likely it was composed in emulation of Bragi inn gamli's Ragnarsdrápa, it will have had two further episodes.[5]

References
  1. Marold, Edith (2012). "Text - Þjóðólfr ór Hvini, Ynglingatal". abdn.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  2. Orchard 1997, p. 160.
  3. Lindow 2001, p. 16.
  4. Lindow 2001, p. 23.
  5. Hollander 1947, p. 39.

Bibliography


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