Volund the Smith

[@JacksonCrawford]

Patreon supporter Brad G. points to a discrepancy between my description of Volund and his brothers' first encounter with their Valkyrie wives in Vǫlundarkviða (and the accompanying prose intro.), and the text of that poem (+prose) in the Poetic Edda itself. Here is my response, below: I appreciate that you took the time to point out this discrepancy. Let me look directly at the source texts to make sure that I’m not, myself, conflating different versions of one story or taking inferences that make sense to me and reading them back into the source material (both of these always remain a danger, no matter how long you do this). Vǫlundarkviða, prose intro.: “Snemma of morgin fundu þeir á vatnsstrǫndu konur þrjár, ok spunnu lín. Þar váru hjá þeim álptarhamir þeira. Þat váru valkyrjur. ... (their names are given) … Þeir hǫfðu þær heim til skála með sér. Fekk Egill Ǫlrúnar en Slagfiðr Svanhvítrar en Vǫlundr Alvitrar. Þau bjuggu sjau vetrar. Þá flugu þær at vitja víga ok kómu eigi aptr.” Translation, fairly literal: “Early in the morning they (♂♂) found three women on the lakeshore, and (they) were spinning linen. Near them were their swan-skins. These were valkyries. … (their names are given) … They (♂♂) had them (♀♀) home with them to (their) hut/cabin/small house. Egil married Olrún and Slagfinn married Svanhvít and Volund married Alvitr. They (♂♀) dwelled (there) seven winters. Then they (♀♀) flew to witness battles and did not come back.” I agree that the language here isn’t necessarily violent, but I have usually read “had (the women) home with them” as a forceful action that gives no information about the valkyries’ intent, and then read their flight later without ever returning, as implicit denial of their interest in the match. Vǫlundarkviða, st. 1-3: I won’t transcribe these in their entirety, but it’s clear the prose intro. is written to summarize them. In st. 2 we read “Ein nam þeira / Egil at verja” (“One ♀ of them took Egil in her embrace”). To us this might look like she initiates it, but this is pretty conventional wording for a marriage, basically meaning “She became his wife.” In fact in my published translation I just rendered the men as the subjects in this stanza to elide the suspicion that the valkyries were kidnapping them. I could have worded it closer to the original, I think six years later, but as elsewhere in my published translation I often “unpacked” cultural knowledge into my English so I wouldn’t have to include footnotes or endnotes. In st. 3 we see the valkyries were eager (“fýstusk”) to leave, again reflected in the prose intro. too. I think I’ve always been more willing to read this as a forceful marriage because of what Volund later does to Bođvild, too. But that’s an injustice to the text, itself. To my memory and a search today, I don’t see any mentions of Volund in Snorri’s Prose Edda. His story is told in a highly variant format (with some doubtlessly old elements) in Þiðreks saga af Bern, but to my memory and a search today, I don’t see any mention of his valkyrie-wife in that version either. So you’re right, I might have invented the detail of taking the swan-skins somewhere in the 15-20 years since first reading this story. It’s good, and humbling, to be reminded that no matter how many times we might read these things, it’s always possible for something of our own imagination to creep in, and that same thing’s been happening to other transmitters of the myths and sagas for hundreds and thousands of years.

[@sjoerdpasterkamp9826]

Perseus married Andromeida Cepheus married Cassiopeia Ophiuchus married Virgo

[@colinp2238]

In Oxfordshire, England near Uffington White Horse, there is a Neolithic long barrow and chamber tomb site called Wayland's Smithy. It is easy accessible and you can actually go into it. Next to the tomb is a tree that people tie gifts to the branches such as ribbons, pieces of cloth and small toys for the guardian spirits or fairies.

[@morticiaaddams3613]

I've been there a few times, beautiful place

[@Svvithred]

I live just down the road from there!

[@ronin47-ThorstenFrank]

To make things more complex: I live in a region which is closely related to the German version of the Sigurd sags. We have THREE places claiming where the Dragon was slain.... And folk lore has the position of Weylands smithy too. And I live in a village which is called translated into modern languages (King) Gundahar´s Ridge.

[@JHart06]

@@ronin47-ThorstenFrank Fascinating how local lore flows like that!!!

[@jesseholcombe3347]

Have you ever considered doing a podcast? I play your videos while driving or doing house work. 😂

[@matthewclements6603]

Jesse Holcombe second that, a podcast would be great.

[@morticiaaddams3613]

there is a burial chamber in england called Wayland's smithy. the name volund reminded me right away. Interesting that you mention the name in english is wayland. Fascinating video

[@fenrierulven5723]

An army of Dragons?... will love to hear something about that saga you mentioned at the end. This video was really interesting by the way, never heard the story before.

[@hondaricer8528]

I love the way his voice sounds robotic as soon as he says the word MACHINE

[@myNamesTakin]

This is probably my favorite story from your translation of the edda. Of the hero's sagas that is.

[@KingYiren]

Volund is straight up OG, one of my favourites for sure.

[@daniellebryan3496]

I love learning from your videos, your occasional side commentary is great. I take it you've tried bear before?

[@alitzzy]

This was so useful, thank you. We're trying to put this story in a fire play and this helps a lot.

[@johnr9763]

I will always love Always Beautiful Colorado. And "Rocky Mountain High."

[@tlotus3032]

Valkyries get the seven year itch, eh? Yes please with Thithreks saga. Your videos are so content rich especially for a Germanic/Norse studies neophyte like myself.

[@donkeysaurusrex7881]

I was reading a book where Weland Smith is a character, and I came here to learn more.

[@karcsi-sp]

Wasn't the Winter of The World was it?

[@joetrimble7953]

I want a bear that has feasted on rosemary and ham!

[@asaholcombe3595]

Thanks for the video dr. Crawford

[@hschan5976]

I remember reading a poem written by linguists using reconstructed proto indo european vocabulary. The poem mentions a certain character called Werunos. Since you mentioned the legends about Weyland are extremely old, I wonder if the tradition go all the way to the time before the germanic groups splitt off from the other indo Europe groups

[@TheDKing38]

Great video!

[@Wanderer_of_Sol]

"...Satan... and an army of dragons." I didn't see that coming.

[@sjoerdpasterkamp9826]

Abraha . . and an army of elephants, uhlahlah

[@bob7975]

I'm thinking that there is a connection between these stories and the wonder-smith tales from the Kalevala. They may both be fragments of an older myth cycle that told a more complete story. Ilmarinen's service to Louhi, the evil witch-queen of the underworld, in the forging of the Sampo seems similar to Volund's forced servitude in his captivity, and the names may well be from a common root. The Sampo was supposed to be a source of inexhaustible wealth, like the trove of rings stolen from Volund (the source of the Rhinegold, perhaps?). The island of Volund's imprisonment may be a type of funeral mound, and his captors agents of the netherworld, as the name of the king (Nidud/Nidhad) suggests.

[@sjoerdpasterkamp9826]

nidad is Tiberius the adopt-father, the queen is Livia selling the purple.

[@sjoerdpasterkamp9826]

the island is Pandateria, the prisoners are the boanerges, twin-sons of Drusus germanicus.

[@vp4744]

On that note, happy thanksgiving.

[@_-_-_-_]

+Jackson Crawford For if you ever do an "answering my youtube audience's questions" video, I would like to ask a couple of questions. Do you think that learning more than one language is something that everyone should experience? And relatedly, do you think there are any drawbacks to learning multiple languages? I usually hear people encouraging bi- or multi-lingualism, but then I've always had the feeling that it (bilingualism) would alter my relationship with my initially learned language. And, as with any alteration, I would assume there could be both advantages and disadvantages. Things gained and things lost. Thanks

[@karcsi-sp]

There's a great book series about Wayland The Smith called The Winter of The World (it's 6 books, the first 3 are about Wayland), in these stories his original name is Alv (Elf), then he renames himself Elof meaning The Smith/One Alone (Possible cognate of Aloof?) and then is given the title Valantor (Volundr) which is later shortened to Valant' (Volund -> Velent -> Wayland). I won't spoil anything else about the story but it's the best book series I've ever read, the first one is probably my favourite book of all time.

[@sjoerdpasterkamp9826]

Alpheus, zebedee, elymas, elias, helios, benedictus, zacherias barachai

[@karcsi-sp]

@@sjoerdpasterkamp9826 what?

[@sjoerdpasterkamp9826]

Drusus germanicus, Ophiuchus, grumpy, scrooge, popeye the sailor.

[@sjoerdpasterkamp9826]

valliant, the brave

[@karcsi-sp]

@@sjoerdpasterkamp9826 what's the relevance of all this?

[@stimpsonjcat67]

Woohoo! Big fan of Wayland here.

[@KendraLeeStenberg]

Interesting as always, Dr. Crawford. I wonder if anyone here can answer me this question: who were the ancestors of the Vikings?

[@Tina06019]

Thank you!

[@mewiskowpioni]

I'd like to mention that in Finnish there's a word for lord (or in a more modern meaning mr./mister) which is "herra".

[@Arokfridr]

Volund does not pull his punches... Damn.

[@sjoerdpasterkamp9826]

hij trekt aan zijn kuiten

[@janavanrossum6174]

There are so many tales in Norse myth and sagas about people who do everything to destroy their enemies and take down themselves and their loved ones in the process. But Volund/Weland doesn't do that. He chooses life over honour/retribution. He escapes rather than going down fighting, and he protects Bodvild/Beadohild rather than letting Nidud/Nidhad destroy his own family.

[@ansibarius4633]

I have never liked this character as he is depicted in the Edda, killing the innocent sons in such a gruesome way and raping the innocent daughter. It is almost as if he merely needed an excuse to let the dark side of his personality run free. Strong telling, but terrible story.

[@sjoerdpasterkamp9826]

he is a pied piper

[@ingeborg-anne]

What a lovely story. :D

[@crowsbaneful]

I couldn't help but think of Wayland Smithy (a long barrow in England for those who don't know it) I wonder if there is a connection with the name somehow?

[@Broddrskegg]

That got dark quick.

[@theifking1]

Hey jackson crawford I have a question if you wanted to meet 3 norse gods which ever one you wish which 3 would you meet and why?

[@luizruiz1207]

Plis a want to know the Norse Avengers story

[@alexkk6zly262]

Gods I love these videos so much. But i can't help to point out. maybe its just me? Theres some signifiant voice distortion when you read bodvild part in english. Like super creepy distorted voice.... or it could be just me.

[@garychynne1377]

thank yew gare

[@KlingonKorra]

Have u read about Guðmundur Heljarskinn?

[@Cchogan]

Fascinating! I am writing a fantasy currently where I use the character of Weland the Smith. Really interesting to hear the Norwegian version. In mine he is an elfen called a Svartálfar and is married to Beadohild. In mine he is the baddie (I am twisting things quite a lot). He creates a creature called a Helruna. The giant calls himself Ymir (because he is made of fire and ice - a reference to the 9 worlds). This is set on another world, but eventually, the stories will come to earth in the time of the Ingaevones and eventually feed into our own mythology. I am having far too much fun!

[@WraYth-1776]

Your videos are fantastic. I am very curious about what you think of Rydberg.

[@jelkel25]

I think a human being described as an elf means looks like Leonard Nimoy.

[@t.r.everstone7]

Yeah, we definitely need to hear about the Old Norse Justice League fighting Satan and an army of DRAGONS lol

[@lathernalicewieland9505]

As A Wieland I can say we are elves. We never died the elves dwarves leprechauns norms and everybody all still live on they just don't know who they are anymore they think there's a huge man or another word human when in fact the huge man was over 7 ft tall when in fact their identity has been hidden from them. We're not mythological this will be part of the great Awakening when the people realize who they really are thank you for telling my family History

[@DanCooper404]

This sounds a lot like the Arab tale of Hassan and the Swan Maiden.

[@sorengudmund9035]

Scandinavian Daedalus

[@tompatierno5606]

GRIFFITH!

[@Helvetorment]

Wieland Der Schmied!

[@MS-Melas]

Jawohl mein Lieblingsheld

[@sunshinesilverarrow5292]

Thank you! 🌞