Odin Steals the Mead of Poetry

In the last story, Odin, calling himself Bolverk (‘Evil-Doer’), did a summer’s work of nine men for the giant Baugi. His only wage: one drink of the Mead of Poetry, which Baugi’s brother Suttungr kept hidden inside the mountain Hnitbjorg. When winter came, Bolverk claimed his wage, and Baugi went with him to ask his brother for that drink. Suttungr refused flatly. So Bolverk proposed a trick, and Baugi agreed.

Odin and Baugi

Bolverk produced an auger named Rati and told Baugi to bore into the mountain. Baugi drilled, then announced he was through. Bolverk blew into the hole and the rock dust blew back into his face. Baugi was lying, hoping to be rid of him. So Baugi bored again, and this time the dust blew inward.

Bolverk turned himself into a snake and slithered into the hole. Baugi stabbed after him with the auger and missed. The snake was gone, into the dark heart of the mountain.

Odin and Gunnlod

Inside, Odin took his own shape again. There sat Suttungr’s daughter Gunnlod, guarding the mead in three vessels: the kettle Odrerir and the vats Bodn and Son.

Gunnlod asked him who he was and where he came from. Odin responded that he was a thirsty traveler. Gunnlod said she only had the Mead of Poetry, and she couldn’t give him even a sip. Odin begged for it, but Gunnlod was steadfast.

Gunnlod finally agreed: three nights with her, and he could have three drinks. After the third night he took his three draughts, and in three swallows he drained all three vessels dry. Then Odin became an eagle and flew for Asgard.

Chasing Odin-Eagle

By this time, Suttungr knew that Odin had stolen the Mead of Poetry. When Suttungr saw Odin-Eagle flying away from the cavern, Sutungr transformed himself into an eagle to give chase.

Full of mead, Odin-Eagle flew heavy and slow. Behind him, Suttungr-Eagle was gaining. Snorri tells us that Suttungr came so close that Odin let some of the mead fly out the back end. Nobody went after that part. Anyone who wants it can have it: it is ‘the rhymester’s share,’ the portion for bad poets.

Odin-Eagle at Asgard

When the gods saw the eagle coming, they set out vessels in the courtyard of Asgard. Odin reached the wall just ahead of Suttungr and spat the mead into them. Snorri never tells us what became of Suttungr. (If you remember a giant-eagle burning on Asgard’s walls, that is Thjazi, in the story of Idunn’s apples.)

Odin gave the mead to the gods, and to those humans who know how to make verse. That is why skalds called poetry ‘Kvasir‘s blood,’ ‘Suttung’s mead,’ and ‘Odin’s catch’ or ‘Odin’s drink.’

Suttungr’s Alternate Ending

The Poetic Edda remembers it differently. In Havamal (stanzas 104-110), Odin himself admits he wooed Gunnlod and then abandoned her in tears. The next day, frost giants came to Odin’s hall asking after Bolverk: had he reached the gods, or had Suttungr killed him? Odin, of course, kept quiet. Havamal also has Odin’s own verdict on it: ‘Odin swore an oath on the ring. Who can trust him now?’