Editing Sinmara (section)

==''Fjölsvinnsmál''==

Sinmara is solely attested in the [[Eddaic poems|Eddaic poem]] ''[[Fjölsvinnsmál]]''.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} The poem refers to her as a pale giantess (''[[gýgr]]''),{{sfnp|Thorpe|1907|p=99}}<ref>{{harvp|Larrington|2014}}, "The Sayings of Fiolsvinn" str. 29.</ref> so she is "probably a giantess".<ref>{{harvp|Larrington|2014}}, "The Sayings of Fiolsvinn". [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOL2AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT396 note to str. 24] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501055046/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOL2AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT396#v=onepage&q&f=false |date=2024-05-01 }}</ref>{{Refn|"''Sinmara''.. furia {{linktext|gigantea}} allegoricae"<ref name="Magnaeus_ed_gloss"/>}}

The poem ''Fjölsvinnsmál'' is a bridal quest, in which [[Svipdagr]] eventually gains entry to the mansion that houses his would-be bride Menglöð. Svipdagr (under the pseudonym Vindkaldr) poses questions to the watchman Fjölsviðr ("Much Wise"{{sfnp|Bellows|1923|p=239}}) and gathers intelligence about the mansion. He gleans the fact that the guard-hounds of the mansion can only be distracted by the meat of the rooster [[Víðófnir]]. This is where Sinmara figures, as the keeper of [[Lævateinn]], the only weapon capable of slaying the rooster:

{{Verse translation|lang=non |attr1=Hildebrand et al. edition |attr2=[[Henry Adams Bellows (businessman)|Henry Adams Bellows]] translation
|
Fjǫsviþr kvaþ:
'Lǽvateinn heitir, &nbsp; es gørþi Loptr rúnum
fyr nágrindr neþan;
Í Lǽgjarns keri &nbsp; liggr hjá Sinmǫru,
ok halda njarþlásar niu.'<ref>{{harvp|Hildebrand|Gering|Möbius|1904}}, "{{lang|non|Fjǫlsvinnsmǭl}}" strophe 26, {{URL|1=https://archive.org/details/dieliederderlte01mbgoog/page/n230/mode/2up|2=p. 205}}</ref>
|
''Fjolsvith spake:''
"Lævatein{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|"Hævatein[n]" in original mss. reading; cf. {{harvp|Magnæus|1787|p=295}} and {{harvp|Thorpe|1907}} str. 26–27, pp. 98–99.}} is there, that [[Loki|Lopt]] with [[Runic alphabet|runes]]
Once made by the doors of death;
In Lægjarn's chest{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|Printed as ''saeg iárnkeri'' in {{harvp|Magnæus|1787|p=295}} and rendered as "an iron chest" in {{harvp|Thorpe|1907|pp=96–97}}. However, Bellows (1923:246-7) explained as ''sæ-gjarn'' "Sea-lover" emended by Falk to ''Lægjarn'' "Lover of Ill," an epithet of Loki.}}
by Sinmora lies it,
And nine locks fasten it firm."<ref name=BELLOWS245>{{harvp|Bellows|1923}}. "Svipdagsmol (II Fjolsvinnsmol)" strophe 42, {{URL|1=https://archive.org/details/poeticedda00belluoft/page/244/mode/2up|2=p. 245}} Bellows contiguously numbered the strophes carried over from ''[[Grógaldr]],'' hence his ''Fjölsvinnsmál'' begins at strophe 17)</ref>
<!--
:<small>[[Benjamin Thorpe]] translation:</small>
:''Vindkald.''
:Tell me, Fiölsvith! etc.
:whether there be any weapon,
:before which Vidofnir may
:fall to [[Hel (being)|Hel]]'s abode?

:''Fiolsvith.''
:Hævatein the twig is named, and [[Lopt]] plucked it,
:down by the gate of Death.
:In an iron chest it lies with Sinmœra,
:and is with [[Numbers in Germanic paganism|nine strong locks]] secured.<ref>{{harvp|Thorpe|1907}} "The Lay of Fiolsvith" str. 26–27. pp. 98–99}}
-->
}}

That Sinmara will only award the weapon to one who brings her the tail feather of the rooster creates an insurmountable [[paradox]] to obtaining it. Fjölsviðr insinuates that a man may succeed in obtaining the weapon [[Lævateinn]] if a man carries a certain hard-to-obtain item to Sinmora (here she is referred to as ''eir aurglasis'' or "the goddess of gold").<ref>{{harvp|Hildebrand|Gering|Möbius|1904}}, strophe 27. p. 205.</ref><ref>{{harvp|Bellows|1923}}, strophe 44. p. 246.</ref><ref group="lower-alpha">{{harvp|Rydberg|1889|p=519}} gives "the dis of the shining arm-ring".</ref> Svipdag in turn inquires what treasure it is that would so delight Sinmara (''fǫlva gýgr'' or "the giantess pale").<ref>{{harvp|Hildebrand|Gering|Möbius|1904}}, strophe 28. p. 205.</ref><ref>{{harvp|Bellows|1923}}, strophe 45. p. 246.</ref>{{Refn|name="rydberg-ashes"|Or "the ashes-coloured giantess".{{harvp|Rydberg|1889|p=519}}}}  Fjölsviðr then replies Svipdagr must bring the "bright [[sickle]]" to Sinmara, and then she will give Lævateinn to Svipdagr:

{{Verse translation|lang=non |attr1=Hildebrand et al. edition |attr2=Henry Adams Bellows translation
|
Fjǫsviþr kvaþ:
'Ljósan lea &nbsp; skaltu í lúþr bera
þanns liggr í Viþofnis vǫlum,
Sinmǫru at selja, &nbsp; áþr hón sǫm telisk
vápn til vígs at lea.'<ref>{{harvp|Hildebrand|Gering|Möbius|1904}}, "{{lang|non|Fjǫlsvinnsmǭl}}" strophe 30, {{URL|1=https://archive.org/details/dieliederderlte01mbgoog/page/n232/mode/2up|2=p. 206}}</ref>
|
:''Fjolsvith spake:''
:"The sickle bright in thy wallet bear,
:Mid Vithofnir's feathers found;
:To Sinmora give it, and then shall she grant
:That the weapon by thee be won."<ref name=BELLOWS247>{{harvp|Bellows|1923}}. "Svipdagsmol (II Fjolsvinnsmol)" strophe 46, {{URL|1=https://archive.org/details/poeticedda00belluoft/page/246/mode/2up|2=p. 247}}</ref>
<!--
:''Fiolsvith.''
:The bright sickle that lies in Vidofnir's wings,
:thou in a bag shalt bear,
:and to Sinmœra give,
:before she will think fit to lend and arm for conflict.<ref>{{harvp|Thorpe|1907}} "The Lay of Fiolsvith" str. 31. p. 99</ref>
-->
}}

Sinmara has so far been mentioned twice explicitly, and twice by periphrases. In certain editions and translations, she is mentioned explicitly a third time as a product of emendation (in an earlier strophe than quoted above).  Thus in the modified readings of certain editions and in Bellows' translation, [[Fjölsviðr]] names Sinmara and Surtr together, and says that the two are endangered by the rooster [[Víðópnir]] that sits atop the tree [[Mímameiðr]]:

{{Verse translation|lang=non |attr1=Hildebrand et al. edition |attr2=[[Henry Adams Bellows (businessman)|Henry Adams Bellows]] translation
|
 Fjǫsviþr kvaþ:
'Viþofnir heitir, &nbsp; en hann stendr veþrglasi
á meiþs kvistum Mima:
einum ekka &nbsp; þryngr hann ørófsaman
''Surt ok Sinmǫru''.'<ref>{{harvp|Hildebrand|Gering|Möbius|1904}}, "{{lang|non|Fjǫlsvinnsmǭl}}" strophe 18, {{URL|1=https://archive.org/details/dieliederderlte01mbgoog/page/n228/mode/2up|2=p. 202}}</ref>
|
''Fjolsvith spake:''
"[[Víðópnir|Vithofnir]] his name, and now he shines
Like lightning on [[Mímameiðr|Mimameith]]'s limbs;
And great is the trouble with which he grieves
Both Surt and Sinmora."<ref name=BELLOWS243>{{harvp|Bellows|1923}}. "Svipdagsmol (II Fjolsvinnsmol)" strophe 34 and note. {{URL|1=https://archive.org/details/poeticedda00belluoft/page/242/mode/2up|2=p. 243}}.</ref>
}}

However the original reading of this same strophe does not give mention of Sinmara:

{{Verse translation|lang=non |attr1=Árni Magnússon edition, 1787 |attr2=[[Benjamin Thorpe]] translation
|
Fjösviþr qvaþ:
'Viþofnir han heitir; &nbsp; En hann stendr veþr-glasi
á Meiþs kvistvm Míma:
einum ecka &nbsp; þrúngr han ó-rof saman
Svrtr sinn mavtv.'<ref>{{harvp|Magnæus|1787}}. "Fiöl-svinns mál" strophe XXV. [https://books.google.com/books?id=BU4_AAAAcAAJ&pg=RA1-PA293 '''1''': 293–294] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501055226/https://books.google.com/books?id=BU4_AAAAcAAJ&pg=RA1-PA293#v=onepage&q&f=false |date=2024-05-01 }}</ref>
|
''Fiolsvith.''
Vidofnir he is called; in the clear air he stands,
in the boughs of Mima's tree:
afflictions only bring together indissoluble,
the swart bird at his lonely meal.<ref>{{harvp|Thorpe|1907}} "The Lay of Fiolsvith" str. 25. [https://books.google.com/books?id=KOk5L601x0YC&pg=PA98 p. 98] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408025814/https://books.google.com/books?id=KOk5L601x0YC&pg=PA98 |date=2023-04-08 }}.</ref>
}}