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ian riddle difficult to solve (‘mörgum’ is altered to ‘fáum’, f. 6r), and later
(10 and 11) where Björn expresses bewilderment at the construction of the
angelica and dead horse on ice-floe riddles, yet ólafur Gíslason adds that
both riddles are actually ‘vel (úr) ráðin’ (ff. 6r and 6v).
While the commentary for the most part looks at the riddles as atom-
ised units for evaluation or explication, Björn does spare a few words for
the narrative frame and dynamics of the contest, such that they cannot be
relegated to purely formal structuring devices. Heiðrekur himself is said
to be ‘einn frábærlega vitur maður með yfirburða skilning, svo trautt hefur
verið hans líki’ [an extremely wise man with the utmost perspicuity, such
that his equal has scarcely existed], and we are told that those riddles which
were easy for him to solve would seem extremely complex to most people
(e.g. riddle 8). In the commentary to riddle 26 on the pregnant sow we
are told of Heiðrekur’s suspicions about the identity of his opponent (as
in the riddles proper), and on a couple of occasions we are also informed
that the complexities being explained are the result of Gestumblindi’s
desire to flummox Heiðrekur (e.g. 25 ‘til að villa fyrir honum hvort hann
heldur tali um menn eður dýr’). In the conclusion to the commentary we
are also informed of Heiðrekur’s historical existence: he was apparently
a known king of reiðgótaland (here meaning Jutland), as can be corrobo-
rated by danish regnal lists. While no more precise source is given on
that occasion, a number of intertextual references are made in the course
of Björn’s comments which emphasise the historical groundedness of his
analysis. snorri sturluson’s Edda is referred to on more than one occasion
(5, 25), and quotations are presented from Hávamál, Víga-Glúms saga and
Bjarkamál hin fornu as recited by Þormóður kolbrúnarskáld in Ólafs saga
hins helga.27 the insertion of these latter excerpts stresses the discursive
continuity between the riddles and events and circumstances which are
said, in the referenced narratives, to have taken place in the pre-settlement,
post-settlement and conversion periods: Víga-glúmur in the tenth century,
27 the verse from Hávamál (verse 90) appears in riddle 25; cf. david A. H. evans ed., Hávamál
(London: Viking Society for northern research, 1986), 57. the verse from Víga-Glúms saga
appears in riddle 5; cf. Víga-Glúms saga, ed. g. turville-Petre (oxford: oxford university
Press, 1960), 47. the lines from the verse from Ólafs saga hins helga appear in riddle 25; cf.
Saga Ólafs konungs hins helga: Den store saga om Olav den hellige; Efter pergamenthåndskrift i
Kungliga biblioteket i Stockholm nr. 2 4to med varianter fra andre håndskrifter, ed. Oscar Albert
Johnsen and Jón Helgason, 2 vols. (oslo: Jacob Dybwad, 1933–41), 1:547.
O E D I P U S I N D U S T R I U S A E N I G M A T U M I S L A N D I C O R U M
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