Sæmundr

Sæmundr is a figure from Old Norse literature, primarily known as the supposed compiler of the Poetic Edda. While historical evidence for his life is scant, tradition holds that he was an Icelandic priest and scholar. He is often identified with Sæmundr fróði (Sæmundr the Wise), a prominent Icelandic figure from the 11th and 12th centuries.

The Poetic Edda, a collection of Old Norse poems, is the most significant legacy attributed to Sæmundr. These poems contain mythological and heroic tales that are crucial for understanding Norse cosmology, the lives of gods like Odin and Thor, and the deeds of legendary heroes. The poems themselves were likely composed over several centuries, and Sæmundr's role is believed to have been that of an editor or collector who gathered and preserved these oral traditions in written form.

His name also appears in sagas and legends, often depicting him as a learned magician or a learned man who traveled widely and engaged in intellectual pursuits. However, the veracity of these later accounts is debated by scholars. Modern scholarship generally accepts that while Sæmundr was likely a real person and a significant intellectual figure in Iceland, the extent of his direct involvement in compiling the Poetic Edda is based on tradition rather than definitive proof. The collection as we know it today was likely assembled and preserved by various individuals over time.