Poetic Edda

References

Poetic Edda

Icelandic literature

Also known as: “Elder Edda”, “Sæmundar Edda”, Eddaic poetry

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

The Poetic Edda, also known as the Elder Edda, is a collection of mythological and heroic poems from 13th-century Iceland, containing older material composed between 800 and 1100 CE. It is the most comprehensive source for understanding Germanic mythology.1

The poems are typically dramatic dialogues written in a concise, archaic style, contrasting with the more elaborate skaldic poetry. The mythological section includes:1
* Völuspá ("Sibyl's Prophecy"): A cosmogonic myth detailing the history of gods, humans, and dwarfs, from creation to the end of the world.1
* Hávamál ("Sayings of the High One"): Didactic poems attributed to Odin, offering wisdom and magic charms.12
* Thrymskvida ("Lay of Thrym"): A humorous tale about Thor retrieving his stolen hammer.1

The heroic lays focus on the deeds of legendary figures like Sigurd. The Poetic Edda was primarily recorded in the Codex Regius manuscript.13

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

6 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Codex Regius
…designated by scholars as the Poetic Edda, or Elder Edda (see Edda). It is the oldest such collection, the best-known of all Icelandic books, and an Icelandic national treasure.
Read More
…designated by scholars as the Poetic Edda, or Elder Edda (see Edda). It is the oldest such collection, the best-known of all Icelandic books, and an Icelandic national treasure.
Read More

Sophus Bugge
…outstanding critical editions of the Poetic Edda, the 13th-century Icelandic collection of heroic and mythological poetry. His edition of Old Norse folk songs appeared in 1858.
Read More
…outstanding critical editions of the Poetic Edda, the 13th-century Icelandic collection of heroic and mythological poetry. His edition of Old Norse folk songs appeared in 1858.
Read More

Edda
The Poetic Edda.
The Poetic Edda is a later manuscript dating from the second half of the 13th century, but containing older materials (hence its alternative title, the Elder Edda). It is a collection of mythological and heroic poems of unknown authorship, composed over a long…
Read More
The Poetic Edda is a later manuscript dating from the second half of the 13th century, but containing older materials (hence its alternative title, the Elder Edda). It is a collection of mythological and heroic poems of unknown authorship, composed over a long…
Read More

Icelandic literature
The classical period
…designated by scholars as the Poetic Edda, or Elder Edda (see Edda). The poetry is sometimes called Eddaic and falls into two sections: heroic lays, which, broadly speaking, deal with the world of mortals; and mythological lays, which deal with the world of the gods.
Read More
…designated by scholars as the Poetic Edda, or Elder Edda (see Edda). The poetry is sometimes called Eddaic and falls into two sections: heroic lays, which, broadly speaking, deal with the world of mortals; and mythological lays, which deal with the world of the gods.
Read More

Germanic religion and mythology
Scandinavian literary sources
…called the Elder Edda, or Poetic Edda, written in Iceland circa 1270 and containing material centuries older. The meaning of the name Edda is disputed; it was not originally applied to this book but to another mentioned below.
Read More
…called the Elder Edda, or Poetic Edda, written in Iceland circa 1270 and containing material centuries older. The meaning of the name Edda is disputed; it was not originally applied to this book but to another mentioned below.
Read More