Hávamál
Odin's poetic counsel
Hávamál is an Old Norse poem from the Poetic Edda, presenting wisdom attributed to the god Odin.
The title means "sayings of the High One." The poem offers practical advice on conduct, hospitality, and survival, along with mythological passages about Odin's self-sacrifice to gain the runes.
It remains influential in Norse paganism and is quoted in discussions of Viking-age ethics: The Hávamál says a guest should know when to leave.
Traditional saying expressing truth
- maximBrief moral principle
- aphorismTerse general truth
- counselExpert guidance offered
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
foresight · hospitality · guest-friendship · caution · discernment · moderation · silence · reputation
- Old NorseMedieval Scandinavian language
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- anthologyCollected literary works volume
- compilationGathered works assembled together
Chief Norse deity
- AllfatherNorse mythology's supreme deity
- ravensLarge black scavenging birds
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- hangingExecution by noose
runes · one-eyed · wanderer · disguise · seekers · self-sacrifice
Poem's line grouping
- alliterationMatching initial consonants
- meterDevice that measures usage
- kenningFigurative Norse compound
- oral traditionCulture passed by speech
recitation · mnemonic · poetics · rhythm · refrain · composition · gnomic · didactic
Scandinavian maritime expansion era
- IcelandNordic island republic
- ScandinaviaNordic countries collectively
- AsgardNorse divine realm
- ValhallaHall for fallen warriors
Midgard · mead hall · Norse culture · hospitality customs · Germanic · heathen · saga · Ragnarok
Old Germanic script
- magicSupernatural or illusory power
- inscriptionText permanently marked
- carvingShaping by cutting away
- spellArrange letters correctly
charm · sorcery · divination · esoteric · occult · mystical · incantation · ritual
proverb
Traditional saying expressing truth
prudence · foresight · hospitality · guest-friendship · caution · discernment · moderation · silence · reputation · honor
Snorri Sturluson
- Old NorseMedieval Scandinavian language
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- anthologyCollected literary works volume
Odin
Chief Norse deity
- AllfatherNorse mythology's supreme deity
- ravensLarge black scavenging birds
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
hanging · runes · one-eyed · wanderer · disguise · seekers · self-sacrifice
stanza
Poem's line grouping
- alliterationMatching initial consonants
- meterDevice that measures usage
- kenningFigurative Norse compound
oral tradition · recitation · mnemonic · poetics · rhythm · refrain · composition · gnomic · didactic
Viking Age
Scandinavian maritime expansion era
- IcelandNordic island republic
- ScandinaviaNordic countries collectively
- AsgardNorse divine realm
Valhalla · Midgard · mead hall · Norse culture · hospitality customs · Germanic · heathen · saga · Ragnarok · afterlife
runes
Old Germanic script
- magicSupernatural or illusory power
- inscriptionText permanently marked
- carvingShaping by cutting away
spell · charm · sorcery · divination · esoteric · occult · mystical · incantation · ritual · runemaster
HávamálTen Commandments
Scriptural moral code
Sermon on the Mount · Torah · Tao Te Ching · Quran · Beatitudes
HávamálBible
Christian sacred writings
New Testament · Gospels · Christian scripture · Greek mythology · Roman mythology