Svafnir

Overview

Svafnir appears only in the opening prose, yet forms the earlier wound behind Helgi’s vengeance. After Hrothmar’s suit fails, he kills Svafnir and ravages his land; the poem supplies no fuller biography or politics.

Key facts

Relationships

• Sigrlinfather of

  The prose calls Sigrlin Svafnir’s daughter.

• Hrothmarkills

  The prose says Hrothmar kills Svafnir.

Story appearances

• The Lay of Helgi HjorvarthssonSource-scoped figure in this lay

  King of Svavaland and father of Sigrlin.

Ancient sources

MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.

• Anonymous, Poetic Edda, Helgakvitha Hjorvarthssonar, Bellows prose links and stanzas 1–43: Sigrlin, Helgi’s naming, Hrothmar, Hati and Hrimgerth, Svava, Hethin, Alf, and the final vows.