THE POETIC EDDA IN THE LIGHT OF ARCHÆOLOGY W ith S ix ty =one Illustrations Viking Society for Northern Research Extra Scries VOL. IV. VIKING SOCIETY FOR NORTHERN RESEARCH (Founded in 1892 as the Orkney, Shetland and Northern Society, or Viking Clubj. — \ ....... _ PresidentR. Farquharson Sharp, M.A. Vice-Presidents: —(Members of Council) Professor R. W. Chambers, M.A., D.Lit., F.B.A., Past President-, A. W. Johnston, K. St.O., K.I.F., Past President; Allen Mawer, M.A., Litt.D.. F.B.A. ; Erling Monsen ; Dame Bertha S. Phillpotts, D.B.E., M.A., Litt.D. ; Rt. Hon. Lord Salvesen ; Miss N. Smith-Dampier, F. R.G.S., Past President. Honorary Vice-Presidents:—The Most Hon. The Marquess of Zetland * Arthur W. W. Brown, M.A ; N. O. M. Cameron; Prof. H. M. Chadwick, M.A. ; J. W. Cursiter, F.S.A Scot. ; Sir Gregory Foster, Bt. ; Prof. E. V. Gordon, M.A.; Miss Cornelia Horsford ; J. Jorgensen ; Sir Karl Knudsen, K.B.E.; W. R.-L. Lowe ; A. Shaw Mellor, M.A., M.B., Cantab.; Dr. Sophus Müller ; Mrs. Jessie M. E. Saxby; Jón Stefánsson, Ph.D. Councillors:—Miss Edith C. Batho, M A. ; Colonel N. T. Belaiew, C.B.; Miss Helen T. McM. Buckhukst, M.A. ; F. W. Dowson, B.A.; Miss S. Edmonds; W. W. Grantham, K.C.; C. F. Grundtvig; I. C.Gröndahl, M.A. ; W. Lloyd- Willey ; Ernest Payne, M A. ; R. Dahl Prag; Professor J. G. Robertson, M.A., Ph.D. ; A. Rugg-Gunn, M.B., F.R.C.S. ; W. Barnes Steveni, M.J.I.; Ernest Woolley, F.S.A. Hon. Treasurer:—Edward W. Lynam, M.R.I.A. Hon. Secretary :—A. W. Johnston, F.S.A.Scot. Trustees:—Major Sir Archibald H. M. Sinclair, Bt., C.M.G., M.P.; Sir Robert W. Hamilton, M.P. Hon. Auditor and Solicitor:—T. Davies Jones, Bankers:—Lloyds Bank, Limited, 38a, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W. i. Accountants :—Messrs. Cassleton Elliott & Co. Object:—The Society is founded for all interested in Northern or Scandinavian Research. Subscription:—(a) For Saga-Book and Year Book, Annual 10s. 6d., Life £10. (b) For Old-Lore Series and Year Book, Annual 10s. 6d., Life £10. (c) For Saga-Book, Year Book and Old-Lore Series, Annual £1, Life £20. PUBLICATIONS. Saga-Book, Year Book and Old-Lore Series, gratis to members at above subscription rates. Translation Series:—Vol I., Cormac Saga, 6s. 6d. (pub. 7s. 6d.). Vol. II-, Elder Edda, 10s. 6d. (pub. 15s.). Extra Series:—Vol. I., Birds of Omen in Shetland (out of print). Vol. II., Ruins of Saga-time in Iceland, 12s. 6d. Vol. III., Essays on Beowulf, 15s. (pub. 21s.). Vol. IV., Poetic Edda in the Light of Archaeology, 6s. (pub. 7s. 6d.). Prospectus may be had on application to the Hon. Secretary, Viking Society, Westfield College, Hampstead, London, N.W. 3. The Poetic Edda in the light of Archaeology Bv •r BIRGER NERMAN COVENTRY Published for 'the V iking Society for Northern Research W estfield C ollege (University of L ondon) by C urtis and Beamish, L td. 50 Hertford Street 1931 CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE ... ... ... ... ... ... vii. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 1 II. EARLY AND MORE MODERN OPINIONS ON THE AGE AND HOME OF THE EDDIC POEMS AND THE EDDA TALES.. ... 2 III. GOLD AND SILVER IN SCANDINAVIA DURING THE IRON A G E ................... 12 IV. THE ÉDDIC POEMS, SEVERALLY ... ... 18 V. CHRONOLOGICAL CONCLUSIONS ... ... 59 DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ......................... 64 ILLUSTRATIONS 69 Vil. PREFACE. paper was sent to the Viking Society in September, T his 1924, and read before the Society on April 21st, 1925. For this reason the author has not dealt with researches subsequent to that time. He does not, however, think any new researches have appeared to alter his opinions. Mr. A. W. Johnston, Professor Dr. R. W. Chambers and Dr. J. Stefánsson have given the author much help in editing the paper, and he wishes to express his warmest gratitude to them. The paper has been translated from the author’s Swedish manuscript by Mr. Grenville Grove, Secretary of the British Legation, Stockholm, to whom the author desires to express his best thanks. Most of the blocks have been kindly lent by Kgl. Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien in Stockholm. For this the author begs to express his respectful gratitude to the Academy and its Secretarv, the King’s Custodian of - Antiquities, Professor Dr. Sigurd Curman. That most of the objects reproduced are Swedish has been largely caused by the fact that a supply of blocks of these has been accessible in Stockholm. T he A uthor. Stockholm, October, 1930.