Towards the Baldur Myth - Germanic Mythology

the Baldur myth as its basis. It also interpolated the genealogical mythic poem
Hyndluljóð with its verses 18, 19 and may well have made other modifications to it.
Before I present evidence that a mytho-historic connection existed between the
poem about Helgi Hjörvardsson and the narrative about Olaf Geirstadaalf, an account
should be given of the latter‘s substance.
From the story of Olaf the Saint, chapter 106 (Flateyjarbók), one learns that a
great many of his contemporaries believed that he, Olaf Haraldsson, was the ancient king
Olaf Geirstadaalf, who had ruled Vestfold, reborn to mortal life. This belief was
widespread among his friends and admirers. The king, it adds, knew this but labeled it
heathen superstition.
It lies in the nature of things that such a belief could not have arisen, if a story had
not been preserved honoring the memory of this actual or alleged ancient king, ascribing
to him the character traits that one wished to recognize in the champion of Christianity,
Olaf Haraldsson.
The story of Olaf Geirstadaalf, as it appears in Flateyjarbók, relates the following
about him:
He ruled in two counties, Upsi and Vestmar, and had his throne in Geirstadir in
Vestfold. He was one of the most popular men of his time (Fornaldarsögur II, 105 adds
that he was unusually large, strong, and handsome in appearance). 73 He defended his
kingdom bravely against foes, and under his leadership, happiness and good harvests
prevailed and for the most part, peace, so that the people multiplied greatly. Yet, once he
dreamed a worrisome dream but would not speak of it before he was goaded to do so.
The dream‘s substance was such that a common Thing was called concerning it. At this
Thing, king Olaf revealed that he had dreamed of a big, black, malicious ox that came
from the east and traveled around his entire country and killed so many people with its
breath that those who died numbered as many as those who survived. Afterward, the ox
even killed king Olaf‘s retinue.
Once the king had told of this, he asked the people to interpret the dream. But first
the people wanted to hear his own interpretation, which was this: ―Long has peace
reigned in this kingdom and good harvests, but the population is now greater than the
land can bear. The ox means that a plague will come to the country from the east and
cause many deaths. My retinue will also die of it and even I, myself.‖ He requested that
the people not sacrifice to him after his death.
King Olaf‘s dream came true. After his death, the survivors laid him in a mound
with great treasures. But later, when bad harvests occurred, the people sacrificed to him,
despite his prohibition, and called him Geirstada-alf. (―the elf of Geirstad‖).
In the first year of king Olaf Tryggvesson‘s reign, Olaf Geirstadaalf revealed
himself in a dream to a man by the name of Hrani and ordered him to open his
gravemound and give its treasures to Hakon jarl‘s son, Sven. The dream-figure said that a
man (Olaf Geirstadaalf himself) sits in the middle of the mound with a gold ring on his
arm, with a knife and a belt. On his knees lies a sword. With the gold ring, the belt, and
the sword he shall go to Harald Grenski and Asta Gudbrandsdotter, who lies in childbed,
and with the belt Hrani shall facilitate her delivery. The son she bears shall be called Olaf
73 The reference is to C. C. Rafn‘s Fornaldarsögur II, 105 (1829). The uniform title of this tale from the
Fornaldarsagas is Af Upplendinga Konungum. (―Of the Kings of Uppland‖).