Rígsþula - A Reading

Rígsþula (The Lay of Rig) | The Poetic Edda
Translated by Henry A. Bellows | Recorded by Folkbuilder Nicholas Rice

Rígsþula recounts the tale of Ríg, a mysterious figure who visits three households and fathers the three social classes: thralls (slaves), karls (freemen or peasants), and jarls (nobles or warriors).

It begins with Ríg wandering through the world and arriving at the dwelling of Ai and Edda, a lower-class couple. Ríg spends the night with them, and in the morning, Edda gives birth to a son named Thrall, symbolizing the birth of the slave class.

Continuing his journey, Ríg comes across the household of Afi and Amma, a middle-class couple. Afi and Amma also welcome Ríg into their home, and after their encounter, Amma gives birth to a son named Karl, representing the birth of the freeman or peasant class.

Ríg's final visit is to the home of Fadir and Móðir, a high-born couple. Similarly, Móðir gives birth to a son named Jarl, symbolizing the birth of the noble or warrior class.

The poem concludes with Jarl, the noble son, growing into a mighty warrior and eventually marrying a woman named Erna. They have many sons, forming the lineage of kings and warriors.

Rígsþula explores the concept of social hierarchy and the origins of the three main classes in Norse society. It reflects the hierarchical structure of medieval Scandinavian society and the belief in predetermined roles based on one's lineage. The divine figure of Ríg serves as a mythic explanation for the establishment of social classes, emphasizing the interconnectedness of gods and humans in shaping the world.

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