Mortal
Borghild
The First Lay names Helgi as her son.
Overview
Borghild is named at the opening of Helgakvitha Hundingsbana I as Helgi's mother. The poem places her in the birth scene at Bralund, then shifts attention to the Norns and Sigmund; this profile does not invent further action for her.
Key facts
Mother at Bralund
The opening stanzas name Borghild as bearing Helgi.
Only the lay's identity retained
The lay does not further develop her actions, so other traditions are not used to fill them in.
Relationships
- Helgi Hundingsbanemother of
At Helgi's birth, the poem calls him Borghild's son.
- Sinfjotlidemands that he leave
demands that he leave
- Sigmundoffers atonement-money
offers atonement-money
- Sinfjotlibrings poisoned horns at the funeral feast
brings poisoned horns at the funeral feast
Story appearances
- The First Lay of Helgi HundingsbaneHelgi's mother
Borghild appears in the birth scene at Bralund.
- Fra Dautha Sinfjotla: Three Poisoned Horns and the FjordFigure in Fra Dautha Sinfjotla
The First Lay names Helgi as her son.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.
- Anonymous, Poetic Edda, Helgakvitha Hundingsbana I, Bellows stanzas 1–58: Helgi's birth, Hunding and his sons, Sigrun's pledge, voyage, Hothbrodd, and the battle at Frekastein; stanzas 33–48 flyting are outside this story spine.
- Anonymous; translated by Henry Adams Bellows, The Poetic Edda: Fra Dautha Sinfjotla, Opening prose: the death of Borghild’s unnamed brother, her demand that Sinfjotli leave, and Sigmund’s compensation.
- Anonymous; translated by Henry Adams Bellows, The Poetic Edda: Fra Dautha Sinfjotla, Funeral-feast prose: Borghild brings three poisoned horns; Sigmund drinks the first two, and Sinfjotli dies after the third.