Hávamál B: A Poem of Sexual Intrigue

McKinnell, John

Abstract

The collection of mythological and gnomic verse in the Poetic Edda which is known as Hávamál is shown to be made up of four major elements, of which the second is a witty poem about sexual intrigue, probably composed in the 12th century under the influence of Ovid's Ars Amatoria, but also embodying two older fragments of Old Norse mythological verse. Each of these uses the experience of the god Óðinn to demonstrate how women betray men and vice versa. The article also includes an edition and translation of the poem as now reconstructed.

Citation

McKinnell, J. (2005). Hávamál B: A Poem of Sexual Intrigue. Saga-book, 29(2005), 83-114

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2005-10
• Journal: Saga book.
• Print ISSN: 0305-9219
• Publisher: Viking Society for Northern Research
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 2005
• Pages: 83-114
• Keywords: Hávamál, Poetic Edda, Old Norse poetry