Quote:
Originally Posted by Ea
Are you sure it was an Icelander? I'm kidding a little bit, but I would assume an Icelander would talk about their own ancient literature rather than Danish - their feelings toward Denmark are less warm than toward the other Scandinavian countries.
You shouldn't worry about Danish language as Gesta Danorum is written in medieval latin  I'm afraid I only know Danish translations - and I don't read Latin. One of the stories is the first known source for the story of Shakespeare's Hamlet; Amled. I don't know any English translations - and given what I've seen of public-domain, English translations of other old Scandinavian texts, such as the Icelandic sagas, I'm not even sure I'd recommend looking for it. The style of those late 19th century texts are a bit over the top, it sounds silly IMO.
Equivalent Icelandic works are Snorre Sturlason's Poetic edda and Prose edda. Some of the same stories are recounted in both - but Saxo's history focus more on Denmark and it's more thoroughly Christianised. There's a curious bit of etymology; Saxo had to explain the old gods in some other way than gods, and since they were called the "Aesir" or "Asa" gods, well, they must obviously have been a powerful family immigrating from Asia  |
Thank you oh valiant Dane dame! If you allow me the expression.
He was an Islander for sure, son of a bishop and believer in magical intuitions (quite common to my knowledge among those inhabitants of the land of cold and heat). It is the book that now I doubt being the same. May be it is my Latin sudden enthusiasm of being able to tie a loose thread...
Well, your indications are both interesting and useful as i am always fascinated by myths and legends. Our blood and bones.