Skuld
Skuld ("debt" or "obligation"; sharing etymology with the English "should") is a Norn in Norse mythology. Along with Urðr (Old Norse "fate"[1] ) and Verðandi (possibly "happening" or "present"[2] ), Skuld makes up a trio of Norns that are described as deciding the fates of people. Skuld appears in at least two poems as a Valkyrie.
Poetic Edda
[edit ]Skuld is mentioned in Völuspá , a poem collected in the 13th century Poetic Edda :
- Sá hon valkyrjur
- vítt um komnar,
- görvar at ríða
- til Goðþjóðar.
- Skuld helt skildi,
- en Skögul önnur,
- Gunnr, Hildr, Göndul
- ok Geirskögul.
- She saw valkyries
- come from far and wide,
- ready to ride
- to Goðþjóð.
- Skuld held a shield,
- and Skögul was another,
- Gunnr, Hildr, Göndul
- and Geirskögul.
Prose Edda
[edit ]Gylfaginning
[edit ]In the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning , Snorri informs the reader that the youngest Norn, Skuld, is in effect also a valkyrie, taking part in the selection of warriors from the slain:
Nafnaþulur
[edit ]In the Nafnaþulur addition to Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda the following sections reference Skuld:
- Mank valkyrjur
- Viðris nefna.
- Hrist, Mist, Herja,
- Hlökk, Geiravör,
- Göll, Hjörþrimul,
- Gunnr, Herfjötur,
- Skuld, Geirönul,
- Skögul ok Randgníð.
- Ráðgríðr, Göndul,
- Svipul, Geirskögul,
- Hildr ok Skeggöld,
- Hrund, Geirdriful,
- Randgríðr ok Þrúðr,
- Reginleif ok Sveið,
- Þögn, Hjalmþrimul,
- Þrima ok Skalmöld.
- I will recite the names
- of the valkyries of Viðrir (Odin).
- Hrist, Mist, Herja,
- Hlökk, Geiravör
- Göll, Hjörþrimul
- Gunnr, Herfjötur
- Skuld, Geirönul
- Skögul and Randgníð.
- Ráðgríðr, Göndul,
- Svipul, Geirskögul,
- Hildr and Skeggöld,
- Hrund, Geirdriful,
- Randgríðr and Þrúðr,
- Reginleif and Sveið,
- Þögn, Hjalmþrimul,
- Þrima and Skalmöld.
See also
[edit ]Notes
[edit ]- ^ Orchard (1997:169).
- ^ Orchard (1997:174).
- ^ Gylfaginning in translation by Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur (1916), at Sacred Texts.
References
[edit ]- Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-34520-2
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