Heorot

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The first page of the Beowulf manuscript
The first page of the Beowulf manuscript

Heorot (pronounced /hay oh roht/, IPA: [heɪ əʊ rəʊt]) is a mead hall described in the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf as "the foremost of halls under heaven." It was built and presided over by King Hroðgar, a legendary Danish king of the sixth century. Heorot means "Hall of the Hart" (male deer).[1] [2] The Geatish (Swedish) hero Beowulf defends the royal hall and its residents from the demonic Grendel.


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[edit] Description and symbolism

The anonymous author of Beowulf praises Heorot as follows:

Beowulf is challenged by a Danish coast guard, by Evelyn Paul (1911).
Beowulf is challenged by a Danish coast guard, by Evelyn Paul (1911).
Then, as I have heard, the work of constructing a building
Was proclaimed to many a tribe throughout this middle earth.
In time – quickly, as such things happen among men –
It was all ready, the biggest of halls.
He whose word was law
Far and wide gave it the name ‘Heorot’. (lines 74-79)


The men did not dally; they strode inland in a group
Until they were able to discern the timbered hall,
Splendid and ornamented with gold.
The building in which that powerful man held court
Was the foremost of halls under heaven;
Its radiance shone over many lands. (306-11)


The hall was large enough to allow Hroðgar to present Beowulf with a gift of eight horses, each with gold-plate headgear (1035-37). It functions both as a seat of government and as a residence for the king's thanes. Heorot symbolizes human civilization and culture, as well as the power and majesty of the Danish kings. Its brightness, warmth, and joy contrasts with the darkness of the swamp waters inhabited by Grendel.[1][3]

Line 10 of the Beowulf manuscript. It reads ofer hron rade, meaning "over the whale's road [sea]".
Line 10 of the Beowulf manuscript. It reads ofer hron rade, meaning "over the whale's road [sea]".

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The medieval chroniclers Saxo Grammaticus and Sven Aggesen wrote that the village of Lejre, near Roskilde was the chief residence of Hroðgar's Skjöldung clan (called "Scylding" in the poem). The remains of a Viking hall complex was uncovered southwest of Lejre in 1986-88 by Tom Christensen of the Roskilde Museum.[3] Wood from the foundation was radiocarbon-dated to about 880. It was later found that this hall was built over an older hall which has been dated to 680. In 2004-05, Christensen excavated a third hall located just north of the other two. This hall was built in the mid-6th century, exactly the time period of Beowulf.[3] All three halls were about 50 meters long.[3]

In Scandinavian sources, Heorot corresponds to Hleiðargarðr, King Hroðulf's (Hrólfr Kraki) hall mentioned in Hrólf Kraki's saga, and located in Lejre.

[edit] In popular culture

  • In the novel Grendel (1971) by John Gardner, Heorot is referred to as "Hart" (male deer).
  • Heorot is the name of a Finnish folk metal band.

[edit] Science fiction series

The Heorot series by Steven Barnes, Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven is named after the hall. It contains the following books:

Larry Niven's Destiny's Road is also set in the same universe, but mentions the events in Legacy Of Heorot only in passing.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Baldwin, Stanley P., and Elaine Strong Skill. "Heorot", CliffsNotes on Beowulf. Cliffnotes, 2006.
  2. ^ "Kent place names - H", BBC Homepage. See under "Hartlip".
  3. ^ a b c d Niles, John D., "Beowulf’s Great Hall", History Today, October 2006, 56 (10), pp. 40-44

[edit] External links

Baldwin, Stanley P., and Elaine Strong Skill. CliffsNotes on Beowulf. Cliffnotes, 2006.

Kiernan, Kevin, Guide to Electronic Beowulf, 2003.

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