File:Alvíssmál, from the Poetic Edda, read in Old Norse (with English translation)

Alvíssmál, from the Poetic Edda, the famed story of the encounter between Thor and the dwarf who has come to marry his daughter, read in its original language of Old Norse, with my own English translation.

The text is based on Finnur Jónsson's edition. I've loved the poem since I was a child, and was spellbound then by the cosmic implications of its many names for celestial bodies and other natural phenomena. Only now do I fully appreciate the difficulties in translating and interpreting many of the rare and confounding names contained within it.

It's medieval Norse poetry of the highest order, and the most well-known example of a dwarf being turned to stone by the sunlight.

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The beautiful music in the video is from the immensely talented Scott Buckley, who graciously provides his music free of copyright.

Beautiful Oblivion by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au


 * 1) norsemythology #thor #norse