Gripir’s Prophecy: Asking Fate to Its End

Chapters

1. 01

   Sigurth Comes to Gripir’s Hall

   Sigurth rides alone to Gripir’s hall; the serving man Geitir only announces him and is not expanded into a continuing character.

   SigurdGripir
2. 02

   Addressed as His Mother’s Brother

   When they meet, Sigurth calls Gripir his mother’s brother and asks how his life will unfold.

   SigurdGripirHjordis
3. 03

   First Comes the Promise of Fame

   Gripir first says Sigurth will surpass other heroes in fame; Sigurth asks him not to stop at praise.

   SigurdGripir
4. 04

   Vengeance, Dragon, and Hoard Are Foretold

   Gripir says Sigurth will avenge himself on Hunding’s sons, kill Fafnir and Regin, and take the hoard.

   GripirSigurdFafnirReginSons of HundingCursed Gold
5. 05

   A Woman in Firelight, and an Unsettled Name

   He then foretells a sleeping woman, fire, and wisdom; this summary does not flatten her name into one identity from the other lays.

   GripirSigurdBrynhild
6. 06

   Gripir Wants to Stop; Sigurth Will Not

   Gripir says his sight has ended; Sigurth hears that more remains and demands that he continue.

   GripirSigurd
7. 07

   A Forgetting Draught and Wooing for Another

   Gripir foretells Gjuki’s house, a drink that makes Sigurth forget, and his going to Brynhild for Gunnar.

   GripirSigurdGunnarBrynhildGudrun
8. 08

   The Worst Part Is Spoken Too

   Sigurth keeps asking. Gripir finally reaches anger, betrayal, and death; the poem stops at farewell without staging the death itself.

   GripirSigurdGunnarBrynhild

Ancient sources

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

• Anonymous; translated by Henry Adams Bellows, The Poetic Edda: Gripisspo, Opening prose and stanzas 1–6: Sigurth reaches Gripir’s hall, Geitir announces him, and the two meet.
• Anonymous; translated by Henry Adams Bellows, The Poetic Edda: Gripisspo, Introduction and notes: the poem follows Fra Dautha Sinfjotla in Codex Regius, is a late epitome of Sigurth’s career, and may make Gripir and Geitir poetic inventions.
• Anonymous; translated by Henry Adams Bellows, The Poetic Edda: Gripisspo, Stanzas 7–19: Gripir foretells vengeance on Hunding’s sons, Fafnir and Regin, the hoard, a sleeping woman, and Heimir.
• Anonymous; translated by Henry Adams Bellows, The Poetic Edda: Gripisspo, Stanzas 20–53: Sigurth presses for what remains; Gripir foretells the forgetting draught, wooing for Gunnar, Brynhild’s anger, and death.