l Vafthrúdnismá

poem

Also known as: “Vafþrúdnir”

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The Vafthrúðnismál is a Norse poem, part of the Poetic Edda, that takes the form of a contest of wits between the god Odin and a wise giant named Vafthrúðnir. This poem explores various aspects of Norse cosmology, including the creation of the world, the nature of gods and giants, and the eventual end of the world. It also recounts how Odin acquired the knowledge of runes by hanging himself for nine nights. The poem offers a different creation narrative than the Völuspá, suggesting the world was formed from the body of the primal giant Ymir.12

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

2 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.

Germanic religion and mythology
The beginning of the world of giants, gods, and men
…told in the didactic poem “Vafthrúdnismál” (“The Lay of Vafthrúdnir”). The poet ascribes his ancestry to a primal giant, Aurgelmir, who sometimes goes by the name Ymir. The giant grew out of the venom-cold drops spurted by the stormy rivers called Élivágar. One of the giant’s legs begat a six-headed…
Read More
…told in the didactic poem “Vafthrúdnismál” (“The Lay of Vafthrúdnir”). The poet ascribes his ancestry to a primal giant, Aurgelmir, who sometimes goes by the name Ymir. The giant grew out of the venom-cold drops spurted by the stormy rivers called Élivágar. One of the giant’s legs begat a six-headed…
Read More

Icelandic literature
The mythological lays
Another didactic poem, the Vafþrúðnir (“Words of Vafþrúðnir”), relates a contest between Odin and a giant.
Read More
Another didactic poem, the Vafþrúðnir (“Words of Vafþrúðnir”), relates a contest between Odin and a giant.
Read More