Háleygjatal

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Háleygjatal is a skaldic poem by Eyvindr skáldaspillir made in honour of Haakon Sigurdsson and his ancestors, in the end of the 10th century.

The poem is only partially preserved in disjoint parts quoted in Skáldskaparmál, Heimskringla and two other manuscripts of kings' sagas. It appears to be a lesser imitation of Ynglingatal. Just like Ynglingatal it contains 27 generations (3 x 3 x 3), and some expressions appear to be borrowed from Ynglingatal. Moreover, it is composed in the same meter, kviðuháttr, and the theme seems to be to trace the lineage of the poet's patron to the gods.

A part of the poem quoted in Ynglinga saga mentions Odin and Skaði.

Þann, skaldblœtr!
skattfœri gat
ása niðr
vit járnviðju,
þá er þau meir
í Manheimum
skatna vinr
ok Skaði bygðu;
sævar beins
ok sonu marga
öndurdís
við Óðni gat. — Schultz's edition
To Asa's son Queen Skade bore
Saeming, who dyed his shield in gore, --
The giant-queen of rock and snow,
Who loves to dwell on earth below,
The iron pine-tree's daughter, she
Sprung from the rocks that rib the sea,
To Odin bore full many a son,
Heroes of many a battle won. — Laing's adaptation

[edit] References

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