Prose Edda

At a glance

History, context & interpretation

The text and its story

Retells Norse myths in prose, from the creation of the world out of the giant Ymir to Thor's fishing trip for the World Serpent and the death of Baldr.

Traditional attribution

A handbook of the old myths for poets.

Historical scholarship

Written by the Icelandic chieftain and historian Snorri Sturluson.

Context and curiosity

Snorri was murdered in his cellar in 1241 on the orders of the Norwegian king.

Chronology and transmission

This text belongs to Norse, Celtic & Finnish (Medieval Iceland). The catalogue gives its approximate dating as c. 1220 CE and original language or script as Old Norse. The dated manuscript witnesses and traditional claims may not refer to the same historical event.

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Sources and further reading

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prose_Edda

Historical descriptions are educational summaries. Religious traditions, scholarly interpretations and unverified claims are distinguished where possible; imagery may be illustrative rather than an artifact photograph.