Re: Havamal

Got my answer from someone off-list. I feel better now. I had figured out the case on my own, but the spelling was bothering me and I needed verification that it was indeed spelled correctly as it is.

I'll let others answer it anyway, without interruption. Just to make sure that my other source and myself are in agreement with experts on this list.

-Laz

----- Original Message -----

From: Lazarus

To: norse_course@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2002 6:28 PM

Subject: [norse_course] Havamal

Okay, here's a REAL Old Norse literary question about translation.

I've been staring and staring at the Konungsbok Eddukvaeda (Codedx Regius) and in the passage commonly referred to as stanza 138 (page 6v), the word 'oðni' is used where translators usually use 'Odin' and it's driving me crazy.

Here's the sentance:

Ueit ec at ec hecc vinðga meiði a netr allar nío.

geiri vnðaþr oc gefin oðni, sialfr sialfum mer, a þeim meiþi er mangi veit

huerf han af rótom ren.

So how does 'oðni' turn into Oðinn? Since we know that Oðinn is less a name than a word used as a proper noun, what is it in the sentance structure that tells us that it's supposed to be read as the god Oðinn and not simply a variation of a word like 'oddr' meaning "the furthest tip of a spear"?

(Happy now, Haukur? I've finally got a meaty question for you.)

-Laz

Sumir hafa kvæði... ...aðrir spakmæli. - Keth Homepage: http://www.hi.is/~haukurth/norse/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: norse_course-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

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