description Codex Regius (Konungsbók) Overview
Written on vellum in thirteenth-century Iceland, Codex Regius, also called Konungsbók, is the principal manuscript source for the collection known as the Poetic Edda. It preserves mythological and heroic poems in Old Norse, bringing accounts of gods and legendary figures together within a medieval written volume. The manuscript is preserved at the Árni Magnússon Institute in Reykjavík. Its importance extends beyond any individual poem because the collection provides a substantial body of evidence for Norse mythology and Germanic heroic legend.
The manuscript also matters to the study of medieval Icelandic literature and the transmission of poetry through copying. It suits readers interested in the surviving sources behind familiar Norse stories. Its contents represent a particular medieval witness to those traditions, rather than a complete record of every version once told.
help Codex Regius (Konungsbók) FAQ
Why is the Codex Regius called Konungsbók, or King's Book?
The Icelandic name Konungsbók means King's Book because the manuscript was presented to King Frederick III of Denmark in the 17th century. It remained in Copenhagen for centuries before being returned to Iceland in 1971.
Which famous poems survive in the Codex Regius?
Its mythological poems include Völuspá, Hávamál, and Þrymskviða, while its heroic section preserves lays connected with Sigurd and the Nibelung tradition. It is the principal medieval witness for what modern readers call the Poetic Edda.
Is the Codex Regius the original Poetic Edda?
It is the most important surviving compilation, but the poems were composed and transmitted orally or in earlier written forms before this manuscript was copied. Modern Poetic Edda editions may also include poems preserved in other manuscripts.
Where can the Codex Regius be seen today?
The manuscript is preserved in Reykjavík by the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies. Because the vellum object is fragile, access to the original is controlled, while digital images and facsimiles provide wider study access.
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