Völuspá

Völuspá, meaning the Prophecy of the Völva (seeress), is the opening poem of the Poetic Edda, a medieval Icelandic compilation of Norse myth and heroic lays. The author is unknown, and the composition is generally dated to the early medieval period, with the surviving text preserved in late medieval manuscripts. The poem is framed as a völva recounting the beginnings and endings of the world to Odin, and it serves as a compact overview of Norse cosmology, mythic history, and eschatology.

Content and structure: The poem presents a chronological arc from creation to destruction and renewal. It introduces the nine worlds, the tree Yggdrasil, the gods of the Æsir, and the beginnings of divine rule. A central thread is the presaging of catastrophe and Ragnarok, including the fates of key figures such as Baldr and Loki, the great battles, the sinking and rising of worlds, and the foretold rebirth of the world. The völva’s verses blend prophecy with mythic memory, weaving together mythological events with moral and cosmic lessons.

Meter and transmission: Völuspá is composed in traditional Old Norse alliterative verse, primarily in fornyrðislag, with occasional uses of other metrical patterns. It survives primarily in the Codex Regius (GKS 2365 4to, Iceland, circa 13th century) and is preserved in other medieval manuscripts such as later Icelandic compilations. The poem’s language and imagery have made it a foundational source for reconstructing Norse mythology and pre-Christian belief.

Significance: As one of the best-known sources on Norse myth, Völuspá has profoundly influenced scholarly understandings of creation, divine lineage, destiny, and Ragnarök, and it has had a lasting impact on literature, art, and modern interpretations of Viking Age spirituality.