Skálld

Skálld is a term originating from Old Norse, referring to a poet in the court of a Scandinavian chieftain or king during the Viking Age. These poets held a significant social status, acting as oral historians, entertainers, and propagandists. Skállds were highly skilled in composing verses, often intricate and metaphorical, known as skaldic poetry. This poetry served to commemorate heroic deeds, eulogize rulers, and recount mythological tales.

The training of a skálld was rigorous, involving memorization of traditional poetic forms, kennings (metaphorical compound expressions), and heiti (poetic synonyms). Their performances were central to feasts and assemblies, where their verses would be recited and often accompanied by music. The content of skaldic poetry provided a valuable, albeit biased, historical record of the period, offering insights into the values, beliefs, and political landscape of Viking society. While the practice declined with the Christianization of Scandinavia and the rise of written literature, the legacy of skállds endures in the surviving body of skaldic poetry, a testament to their artistic and cultural importance.