Skögul

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In Norse mythology, Skögul or Geirskögul is one of the valkyries. She is mentioned in Völuspá and occurs as a minor character in Hákonarmál. Her name is commonly found in kennings. Aside from this the character is unknown, but her mention on a 13th century runic inscription from Bergen indicates that she may have once been a major character in Norse mythology.

[edit] Völuspá

In Völuspá both the names Skögul and Geirskögul (Spear-Skögul) occur in a list of valkyrie names, apparently for separate beings.

Sá hon valkyrjur vítt um komnar görvar at ríða til Goðþjóðar. Skuld helt skildi, en Skögul önnur, Gunnr, Hildr, Göndul ok Geirskögul. Nú eru talðar nönnur Herjans, görvar at ríða grund, valkyrjur. [1]

She saw valkyries come from far and wide, ready to ride to the ranks of the gods; Skuld held a shield, and Skögul was another, Gunnr, Hildr, Göndul, and Geirskögul. Now Herjann’s (i.e. Odin's) maidens have been counted, valkyries ready to ride over the land.

[edit] Hákonarmál

In the Hákonarmál we are told that Odin sent forth Göndul and Skögul to choose which king should be taken to Odin's halls. In this poem the names Skögul and Geir-Skögul refer to the same being.

1. Göndul ok Skögul sendi Gauta-týr at kjósa of konunga, hverr Yngva ættar skyldi með Óðni fara ok í Valhöll vesa. ... 10. Göndul þat mælti, studdisk geirskapti: vex nú gengi goða, es Hákoni hafa með her mikinn heim bönd of boðit. 11. Vísi þat heyrði, hvat valkyrjur mæltu mærar af mars baki, hyggiliga létu ok hjalmaðar sátu ok höfðusk hlífar fyrir. 12. Hví þú svá gunni skiptir, Geir-Skögul, órum þó verðir gagns frá goðum? Vér því völdum. es velli helt en þínir fíandr flugu. 13. Ríða vit skulum, kvað en ríkja Skögul, grœnna heima goða, Óðni at segja, at nú mun allvaldr koma á hann sjalfan at séa. [2]

1. Göndul and Skögul were sent by Gauta-Týr (i.e. Odin) to chose among kings who of the House of Yngling, should go to Odin and dwell in Valhalla. ... 10. Göndul spoke this supported by the shaft of a spear: "Now the power of the gods grows since the bonds (i.e. gods) have invited Hákon to their home with a great army." 11. The king heard what the noble valkyries spoke from horseback. They seemed wise and sat with helmets and had shields before them. 12. "Why did you, Spear-Skögul, decide the battle like that? Weren't we worthy of victory from the gods?" "We have caused that you held the field and your enemies ran." 13. "We shall ride," said the powerful Skögul, "to the green lands of the gods, to tell Odin that now a king will come to look at him."

[edit] Kennings

The name Skögul is common as a valkyrie name in kennings. Examples follow.

borð Sköglar "board of Skögul" (shield)

dynr Sköglar "din of Skögul" (battle)

eldr Sköglar "fire of Skögul" (sword)

gagl Sköglar "gosling of Skögul" (raven)

kápa Sköglar "cape of Skögul" (byrnie) [3]

The name Geirskögul does not appear in kennings, perhaps because trisyllabic names are somewhat difficult to handle in the dróttkvætt meter.

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