Tyrfing and Other Magic Swords

A look at magic swords in Norse myths and sagas, especially Tyrfingr (Tyrfing).
Jackson Crawford, Ph.D.: Sharing real expertise in Norse language and myth with people hungry to learn, free of both ivory tower elitism and the agendas of self-appointed gurus. Visit jacksonwcrawfo... (includes bio and linked list of all videos).
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[@lakrids-pibe]

In Hal Foster's classic comic strip *Prince Valiant* the hero has a named sword: "The singing sword". This is satirised in "Hagar the horrible" as a sword literally singing sea shanties (And it won't shut up!)

[@Grubnar]

In SMAX, by Alan Moore, there is a "Singing sword" that learns a bunch of modern songs while it is left in a closet, next to a radio. So in a hilarious scene, when the hero stands face to face to a dragon, it starts singing "Dancing Queen" by ABBA!!

[@Greendalewitch]

Dont forget Lævateinn, a magic sword that is referenced in Stanza 25 - 26 of Svipdagsmál, and is guarded by Sinmara in a chest that is locked with nine locks, and was originally made by Loptr ( Loki ) in Niflhel, and decorated with magic runes. Its said to be the only sword cabable of killing the rooster Víðópnir, which sits in Mímameiðrs branches.

[@beajoh]

I thought that was more of a sickle? I need to go back and reread.

[@Zippythewondersquirrel]

I always saw it as more of a magic wand. It translates as danger twig I think.

[@shadowthehedgehog181]

Laevateinn's actual form was never detailed, but I'm more inclined to think its a wand, because it's in the name, meaning "damage or danger twig"

[@paulhood7316]

ahh... to be able to get into the mind of those attributed to the original kenning ..... "foot biter" could mean children in southern and western US colloquialisms today...

[@k.v.delchev6022]

@@shadowthehedgehog181 An arrow will also fit

[@procrastinator99]

Thank you for the white outline and black lettering on the words and names you put on the screen, it really makes sure that no matter what the background is, they're perfectly legible.

[@mattbaker7305]

And another Jackson Crawford video to enhance my day. Currently visiting my friends in Tucson, AZ, permenantly at a residence in Sacramento, CA, but soon to be visiting Monterey, CA. I'm wishing you... all the best.

[@lawnerddownunder3461]

15:10 "Awkward situation. We've all been there." 😂😂😂😂😂

[@mkultraification]

That flaw of Tyrfing is interesting. There are legends in Asian Cultures about swords that cannot be sheathed without drawing blood. Most famously, that's one of the myths around the Muramasa swords.

[@wulfgreyhame6857]

Gurkhas must draw blood if they unsheathe their knives for any reason. That includes cleaning or sharpening it. They don't have to kill anyone though; they'll nick a finger or thumb.

[@travisdowdy3362]

It may result from the simple statement by wise elders. Never pull a weapon you are not going to use. Basic advice worded as mythical reasons. Fools tend to get themselves in trouble by brandishing weapons to intimidate or bolster their lack of courage. It comes down to if you pull that weapon someone is going to get hurt. So THINK about your actions.

[@redoak3069]

@@travisdowdy3362 happens every weekend on the south side of Chicago

[@BecciBuck]

If these Norse myths aren’t based on truth, then the authors sure had a good sense of humor and appreciation for the ridiculous! Germander (sp?) gets stuck in the harbor while trying to abandon his wife and child?! 😂 I swear, who thinks of that as a plot point? I love it!

[@andrewstephens8790]

no doubt if something like that really happened its easy to see people finding it good gossip haha. "did you hear what happened to _____? you should have seen how red his face got!" etc

[@SolidSioux1987]

It's very interesting how close the descriptions of Tyrfing are to the Muramasa blades, both needing to draw blood before being sheathed.

[@SwordTune]

I do love me some magic swords.

[@j3tztbassman123]

I must say, that angle and lighting give you, good doctor, an Odinic look.

[@beajoh]

Nice. Thanks. I've "used" two of these swords previously in D&D campaigns. Always nice to hear more about them, though. I am currently listening to your audiobook version of The Poetic Edda. Also nice.

[@Thebukkaking]

Your videos always seem to find me at the right time. Fascinating stuff, and very well done. Thank you for your content.

[@buhbuhbacon8204]

I love your videos, I’ve been trying to learn of old Norse but it’s been a bit difficult. Thankfully I found your videos.

[@paulaunger3061]

Sign up for the Patreon - all the hardcore stuff is in there :)

[@eldridgebrown3907]

This is an AMAZING lecture. Thank you!

[@krissyk72]

Thank you Professor Crawford

[@michaelmyers3044]

Great, will be looking for the new book!

[@paulaunger3061]

Lovely video - really gorgeous scenery! The play of light was really nice - looks like late afternoon. So beautiful. And I always love the hat tipping at the end *wibble* Fascinating subject. The thing that struck me most in reading about Sigurd and Gram is that Gram is so completely the Sword in the Stone from the Arthurian myth! Which then doesn't really feature much beyond proving Arthur's legitimacy as king - Arthur's sword is Excalibur. So it's like one myth getting superimposed on a later one.

[@darkmoonmiracle]

This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for. Thank you.

[@isty4491]

Fascinating as always and thanl *you* for *your* time

[@andycoppes]

Sorry i have this ocd quality of cheapness and i have to wait til Sunday to restart your patreon...

[@Alcander_arts]

Me: 😡🤬💀😭💔 "I'm old Norse specialist Jackson Crawford." Me: 🤗🥰💞💘

[@ericraymond3734]

Dr Crawford: Speaking of Hrolf Kraki's saga, have you read Poul Anderson's novelization of it? That book had a lot to do with getting me interested in reading saga literature. I thought it was excellent as a work of fantasy; I'm interested in your opinion about how well and sensitively he used his sources.

[@teucer915]

I would love a video on Vatnsdæla saga

[@ferric6796]

I'd be very interested in knowing the dating of the saga that involves Tyrfingr, when it was written and for how long it was in the oral tradition before recording (if at all). The notion that the name Tyrfingr may be related to the Norse name for the Goths is intriguing to me. Given the vague and mythological account of its making, it's possible that the story may be a post-hoc explanation of a trade good. Knowing that the later Ulfbert was most likely of central European Frankish or Saxon make, it seems like the Norse have no qualms about ascribing magical properties and origins to high-quality trade goods or loot, and it's possible that this is another example of such. I mention the age of the saga because the Nordic Bronze Age ends in the sixth century, which overlaps with the continued existence of the Roman empire. Rome had access to relatively advanced metalworking techniques such as crucible steel via their control of the Levant. Roman Spatha seem to have been prized by Gallic and Germanic warriors, and if Tyrfingr made its way to Sweden via the Goths during or immediately after the Norse's Bronze Age, such a sword may well have seemed quite magical indeed. Also, the description of having a golden hilt, while common to many high-status swords from many cultures, certainly does not excluded a Spatha; I believe I read somewhere that Spatha with golden hilts have been recovered, and many of the Roman swords made for museum displays by smiths such as Patrick Barta certainly feature such adornment.

[@GenZComicReviewer]

As a Fire Emblem fan, I had to click on this video.

[@sanecanadian2351]

Need to build a .338 battle rifle named Tryfing. It will go through what ever you use it on and the curse is it will feel like your shoulder is broken

[@saifernandez8622]

Awesome video. Dr Crawford, have you ever read Poul Anderson´s version of Hrolf Kraki Saga? What is your opinion on it?

[@EldhjaertaZ]

Another interesting fact about Tyrfingr: it appears on the coat of arms of Bolmsö municipality (now defunct), Småland, Sweden. In the modern day the arms belong to Bolmsö parish and are used with permission by the local community association. For other heraldry nerds the blazon goes as follows: "I blått fält ett fornnordiskt svärd med fäste av guld och klinga av silver, från vilken utstråla lågor av guld." Eng.: "Azure, an old Norse sword argent, hilted or from which emanate flames, or"

[@trondsi]

Have you read "The Broken Sword" by Poul Anderson? I think you might like it, and the author had a good understanding of the sagas (albeit not like yourself of course). He also wrote about Hrolf Kraki, and other Norse stories.

[@hyakinthoskouros4650]

Similar to Freyrs sword, Somarbrandr, which was sentient and fought of it's own accord

[@casthedemon]

Not sure if you could say it has sentience.

[@hyakinthoskouros4650]

@@casthedemon It fights on its own and being wise and worthy is a requirement to use it, implying the sword itself chooses

[@casthedemon]

@@hyakinthoskouros4650 not really. It implies that it is enchanted. That's like saying because an IPhone only unlocks because it recognizes your face means it's sentient.

[@simplelife1886]

i hope that you will answer my request sir jackson maybe the language student will become interested in old norse language

[@Xandros999]

I think either Dr. Crawford switched the modern and old norse pronounciation of Samsø, or the modern danish name aligns much more closely with the old norse. (As a point of interest, according to english wikipedia, the "ø" in Samsø is not etymologically related to danish "ø", island. Seeing how so many danish islands end i ø, how many of them are actually named ...~island and how many, like Samsø, aren't?)

[@STEAM.MAKER80]

Any back stories about Hrunting

[@ErikHolten]

According to Jacob Grimm in his _Teutonic Mythology_ (2005:p.41), Snorri in _Skaldskaparmál_ also alludes to king Hogni’s sword *Dáinsleif,* made by dwarfs, which kills a person every time it is drawn, never fails in its stroke, and causes wounds that cannot be healed. But what is the most probable interpretation of that sword name?

[@hotspurre]

I was going to ask if there was a connection between this sword and Tyrfingr - the attributes that Hogni ascribes to it are so very close to Tyrfingr's it seems as if they should be the same sword. Another possiblity is that Tyrfingr's attributes are considered so "classic" that other swords are given the same attributes. My translation of _Edda_ (Anthony Faulkes) indicates it means "Dain's Legacy." Dain is the name of a dwarf, so that makes sense.

[@ErikHolten]

@@hotspurre They're very classic attributes indeed. Almost like the "+1", if you get the reference. Rollant the paladin's sword *Dýrumdala* as it's called in _Karlamagnús saga_ shares many of these attributes, too. As part of an ongoing comparison between _Hervarar saga ok Heidreks_ and _La Chanson de Roland_ , German linguist and philologist professor dr. Franz Settegast spends a couple of pages in his _Quellenstudien zur Galloromanischen Epik_ (1904:78) directly comparing the attributes of Durendale and Tyrfingr. His conclusions, which to me as a layperson seem quite spurious, are that Tyrfingr may have served as the base for Durendale, even the name of the latter being evolved from the former. He offers as evidence some etymological hoop-jumping based on linguistic laws I'm not familiar with. I'd just as soon choose to believe that its original name has been Dúrinn- something or other.

[@henningrasmussen8225]

have you ever been to JELLING in denmark to see the rune stones ??

[@xq-gk5ve]

can you do a video about elfdalian?

[@adamboquist4178]

Hi Jackson i want to get "Viking Runes" tattooed where can i find a good scource of their meanings and right Runes. Much love from Sweden.

[@Velothi]

the best source could very well be yourself, if you have an idea of what you have in mind such as the meaning or purpose of the runes, a few days or weeks worth of study would work well, not to mention the sense of your personal belonging and ownership of your tattoo. it'll be with to even after death, build it and craft it yourself and wear it with pride!

[@lakrids-pibe]

These days Samsø is famous for growing potatoes in early summer. "New" (young) potatoes is a delicacy around here.

[@briancool7557]

Can anyone tell me where exactly Hervor's grandpa the Jarl Bjarmar lived? Thanks in advance.

[@dkironworks4037]

Would this sword be related to Tyr at all? Just curious.

[@beyondthecamera333]

Is Tyrfing more known than Gram?

[@zarquondam]

If swords were high-status objects, why does a thrall have one in Gísla-saga?

[@darraghchapman]

That Grimfrost sword's grip looks very long for a viking era sword, doesn't it?

[@lmartell8412]

Dr Crawford just did a Patreon Crowdcast with William Short. His new book, that is coming out in a month, is about viking fighting and their weapons. Keep your eye out on YT. Dr Short addresses this question directly.

[@darraghchapman]

@@lmartell8412 Will do!

[@thedondeluxe6941]

Fun fact: The local track & field team where I grew up is called "Tyrving". It's decent, but not as impressive as the mythical sword!

[@tylersouza]

11:00 oh my god other humans. you damn liar, I always thought you lived in the middle of the mountains away from all civilization??!!

[@bullvinetheband7260]

Why do people screw with dwarfs

[@BabydollnHearts]

who disliked this?!

[@heidifarstadkvalheim4952]

Oh ! so the experts on old norse is in US ...the worls biggest expert in old norse offcourse....

[@cwmyr]

Yes.

[@bruderschweigen6889]

Is that a problem?

[@cmcapps1963]

I'm sorry. I don't buy it. Dr. Jackson always wears a hat. You, sir, are an imposter!

[@sketchjennings3878]

You are full of yourself.

[@clanDeCo]

Because you did not respond on the original video. "weit and war are not correct at all, if you have found it written it is strictly orthographical. Pronounciation wise /w/ only comes from old norse hv (and specifically in kalix, from old norse vr), and /v/ [w] only occurs after consonants. The source you are using, isof's dialect recordings are VERY BAD. They do not reflect genuine dialects and the spellings/transcriptions are horribly done. If you would like, I could hook you up with tons and tons of scanned resources for Bondska/Västerbottniska/Norrbottniska. It really pains me to see my region misrepresented especially since the dialects here are moribund and heavily endangered."

[@darkwaveatheist]

I was wondering when the Kalevala was going to be be mentioned. That's one seriously messed up collection of sagas. Well played sir.

[@paulaunger3061]

It is a bit, isn't it? I was disappointed to learn that the title and the collection were created in the 19th century - rather than being a mediaeval collection like the Eddas. And Vainamoinen is an annoying drip.