Description: This scene is from prose prologue to the poem Grimnismál in the
Viking Society's reprint of Olive Bray's dual
language edition of The Elder Edda (1908).
W. G.
Collingwood's illustration depicts Frigg's servant
Fulla, and
an unnamed companion, on their way to King Geirröðr's
court. Frigg has sent Fulla with a message warning the King that
a dangerous enchanter is coming in disguise to his kingdom.
Source: The Elder or Poetic Edda: Commonly Known As
Sæmund's Edda
Folio or Page: 3
Medium: Wood Engraving
Date: 1908
Dimensions (mm): 125 x 80
Provenance:
This illustration is from The Elder or
Poetic Edda: Commonly Known As Sæmund's Edda from the
collection of P. A. Baer.
Rights:
This illustration from The Elder or Poetic
Edda: Commonly Known As Sæmund's Edda is in the public
domain.
Research notes, early print reviews, etc.:
Excerpt from an early print book review (1908): "Each poem is prefaced
by two designs by Professor Collingwood. These at their best leave little to be
desired. Several of them e.g. Graybeard and Thor, are altogether admirable.
Others are valuable both from the artistic and the antiquarian standpoint, as
the artist has woven into them motives from Pre-Norman crosses or hogbacks
illustrating Eddaic subjects...." pg. 494. Full text of the
review. Folklore Vol. 19, No. 4 (Dec. 30, 1908), pp. 493-496.
Excerpt from an early print book review (1909): "The text is accompanied
by thirty-three excellent illustrations, which have the comparatively rare merit
of really helping the reader to vizualize [sic]the action and of suggesting the
atmosphere of the poems." pg 97. Full text of the review.The Journal of American Folklore Vol. 22, No. 83 (Jan.
- Mar., 1909), pp. 96-98.
Bibliography:
Editions
Elder or Poetic Edda: Commonly Known As Sæmund's
Edda.
Translated by
Olive
Bray
. London: Viking
Club, 1908.
Secondary Sources
Major, Albany
F. Review of The Elder or
Poetic Edda: Commonly Known As Sæmund's Edda, translated by
Olive
Bray. Folklore,
vol. 19, no. 4, 30 Dec. 1908:
493-496. Web. August 2,2021.
Rankin, J.
W.. Review of Elder
or Poetic Edda: Commonly Known As Sæmund's Edda, translated by
Olive
Bray. The Journal of American
Folklore, vol. 22, no. 83, Jan. -
Mar. 1909: 96-98. Web. 26 July
2021.
Dunn-Krahn,
Sage (en.)
b. 13th July 1999
Occupation: Research Assistant
Creatures: animals, birds, monsters etc.
Alsviðr (non.)Alsviðr is one of the two horses that pull Sól´s
chariot across the sky.
Hati (non.)The wolf, a.k.a. Hati Hróðvitnisson, that pursues Sól
and devours her when he catches her.
Sköll (non.)
The wolf who pursues Dagr and his horse Skinfaxi across the heavens.
Árvakr (non.) Árvakr is one of the two horses that pull Sól´s
chariot across the sky.
Gods and Goddesses
Frigg (non.)
Frigg (en.)
The wife of Óðinn and the mother of Baldr.
Fulla (non.)
Fulla is counted as a minor Æsir goddess who Snorri describes as
Frigg´s handmaiden. In Grimnismál, Frigg sends Fulla to warn King
Geirröðr that a dangerous enchanter in disguise is coming as a guest to
his kingdom .
Sol01.xml (non.)
In Norse mythology Sól is a personification of the sun but she is also
counted as being one of the Æsir goddesses. In Vafþrúdnismál, she is the
daughter of a man named Mundilfar who is also the father of her brother
Máni, i.e., Moon. Sól dives a chariot across the sky that is pulled by
the horses Árvakr and Alsviðr. Sól and Máni are pursued by the wolves
Hati Hróðvitnisson and Sköll. In Gylfaginning, Snorri says that Hati
Hróðvitnisson will devour Sól and Sköll will devour her brother
Máni.
Mythological Persons
Geirröðr (non.)
The king in the poem Grímnismál who was the younger son of King
Hraudung and the brother of Agnarr. After their fishing boat was washed
to an island during a storm, the brothers were rescued and given shelter
by an old couple who are actually Óðinn and Frigg. When the brothers set
out on their journey home, Geirröðr follows that whispered advice of the
old man and sets Agnarr adrift. After Geirröðr becomes king, Frigg
tricks him into torturing a mysterious guest who turns out to be Óðinn
in disguise. Geirröðr has a son named Agnarr who takes pity on the
guest. Geirröðr dies by accidentally falling on his sword and Agnarr
becomes king with Óðinn's blessing.
Nouns
Edwardian (en.)The
Edwardian era began with the reign of King Edward VII, 1901 to 1910
(January 22, 1901 - 28 July, 1914). However, the era's end date is
sometimes extended to the beginning of World War 1 (28 July
1914).
Elder or
Poetic Edda (en.)A dual language editon of the Poetic Edda with
illustrations by W. G. Collingwood.
Grímnismál (non.)Grímnir's Sayings (en.)One of the
mythological poems in the Poetic Edda. ThLay of Gre poem is a monologue
spoken by Grímnir, who is actually Óðinn in disguise, to a ten year old
boy named Agnarr, whose fathe King Geirröðrr is torturing Grímnir.
Grímnir gives his blessing to Agnarr for bringing him a drink and then
recounts mythological knowledge to him that the boy should possess in
his future role as king. Grímnir concludes by revealing that he is Óðinn
and by withdrawing his favour from King Geirröðrr. Geirröðrr
subsequently dies when he accidentally falls on his own sword.
Grimnismál is preserved in the late thirteenth-century Codex Regius
manuscript, a.k.a. GKS 2365 4º, and in the AM 748 1 4to
fragment.
Source Persons
Bray,
Olive (en.)
b. June 17, 1878
d. November 15, 1909
Nationality: English
Occupation: scholar, translator and editior
Residence: 17 The Boltons Kensington, London, England
Bray was one of the daughters of the high court judge Sir Reginald
More Bray (1842-1923) and the novelist Emily Octavia Bray, of Shere
Manor near Guildford. Little is known about Olive. She joined the Viking
Society for Northern Research in 1902 and was a Vice-President in 1909.
At the time of her death, she was living in the family home at 17 The
Boltons Kensington. Her grave is in the Shere churchyard.
Collingwood,
W.
G. (en.)
b. 6th August 1854
d. 1st October 1932
Nationality: English
Collingwood was an author, artist, and a professor at University
College Reading.