Þorbjörn dísarskáld
Encyclopedia
Þorbjörn dísarskáld is a 10th or 11th century Icelandic skald
. His nickname means "poet of the lady" or "poet of the dís
". It could be an allusion to a now lost poem about Freyja (whom Snorri Sturluson
in the Skáldskaparmál
calls Vanadís, "lady of the Vanir
" or "dís of the Vanir") or one of the dísir.
But only one or two fragments of his poetry have been preserved, in Skáldskaparmál. The first one (two verses and one stanza) comes from a poem about Thor
. The stanza consists of a list of giants and giantesses killed by the god:
The other fragment deals with the christening of an unknown person:
Þorbjörn's authorship of this passage is not certain. If both texts have the same author, then it means, as Anthony Faulkes states, that Þorbjörn became Christian.
Skald
The skald was a member of a group of poets, whose courtly poetry is associated with the courts of Scandinavian and Icelandic leaders during the Viking Age, who composed and performed renditions of aspects of what we now characterise as Old Norse poetry .The most prevalent metre of skaldic poetry is...
. His nickname means "poet of the lady" or "poet of the dís
Dísir
In Norse mythology, a dís is a ghost, spirit or deity associated with fate who can be both benevolent and antagonistic towards mortal people. Dísir may act as protective spirits of Norse clans...
". It could be an allusion to a now lost poem about Freyja (whom Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...
in the Skáldskaparmál
Skáldskaparmál
The second part of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda the Skáldskaparmál or "language of poetry" is effectively a dialogue between the Norse god of the sea, Ægir and Bragi, the god of poetry, in which both Norse mythology and discourse on the nature of poetry are intertwined...
calls Vanadís, "lady of the Vanir
Vanir
In Norse mythology, the Vanir are a group of gods associated with fertility, wisdom and the ability to see the future. The Vanir are one of two groups of gods and are the namesake of the location Vanaheimr . After the Æsir–Vanir War, the Vanir became a subgroup of the Æsir...
" or "dís of the Vanir") or one of the dísir.
But only one or two fragments of his poetry have been preserved, in Skáldskaparmál. The first one (two verses and one stanza) comes from a poem about Thor
Thor
In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
. The stanza consists of a list of giants and giantesses killed by the god:
- Thou didst smite the head of Keila,
- Smash Kjallandi altogether,
- Ere thou slewest Lútr and Leidi,
- Didst spill the blood of Búseyra;
- Didst hold back Hengjankjapta,
- HyrrokkinHyrrokkinIn Norse mythology, Hyrrokkin is a giantess. She appears to be depicted on from the Hunnestad Monument near Marsvinsholm, Sweden called DR 284.- Hyrrokkin at Baldr's funeral :...
died before; - Yet sooner in like fashion
- Svívör from life was taken.
- —Skáldskaparmál (4), Brodeur's translation
The other fragment deals with the christening of an unknown person:
- The Freighter of Wave-Crests' Sea-Wain
- Was in the font of christening,
- Hoard-Scatterer, who was given
- The White Christ's highest favor.
- —Skáldskaparmál (52), Brodeur's translation
Þorbjörn's authorship of this passage is not certain. If both texts have the same author, then it means, as Anthony Faulkes states, that Þorbjörn became Christian.