Skofnung – Formidable Sword With Supernatural Powers That Belonged To Legendary Danish King Hrólf Kraki

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - In ancient Norse beliefs, weapons had a magical power, and many myths and legends of Scandinavia are devoted to gods, heroes, and formidable weapons.

One such weapon was 'Skofnung, 'considered "the best of all swords carried in northern lands."

"Skofnung was a mysterious sword with powerful qualities." Image credit: tomertu - Adobe Stock

Skofnung was a mysterious sword with powerful qualities such as supernatural sharpness and hardness. It belonged to the legendary Hrólf Kraki, the Danish king who appears in the Saxon story of Beowulf.

Hrólf Kraki is known from the transmissions and sagas. He is mentioned in the traditions of both Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian. The Lord is mentioned in the anonymous Chronicle of the Kings of Lejre (the Chronicles Chronicon Lethrense), Gesta Danorum (deeds of the Danes by Saxo Grammar), The Old English epic heroic poem Beowulf and the Icelandic saga Hrólfs saga kraka.

Some of the information about Rolf Krake in these sources is consistent, but several threads and messages are cited in other, less consistent sources. For this reason, the knowledge of this enigmatic ruler cannot be derived from only one source.

Heoroweard and Hrólfr Kraki, by Jenny Nyström (1895).

Whether King Kraki was, a real person or a legendary one is unknown.

In "The Epic Hero," Dean A. Miller says that the sword Skofnung is mentioned in one of the Icelandic sagas dated to the 13th century, "Laxdela Saga." It was unearthed in a mound containing the grave of King Kraki.

Skofnung also contains the spirits of the king's 12 most trustworthy berserker bodyguards. It is the hardest and sharpest of all the swords in the lands of the North.

The marvelous, mysteriously enhanced Skofnung can cause serious wounds that sometimes cannot be healed, but it also has a healing stone attached to it capable of curing the wounds inflicted by the sword.

Hrólfr Kraki wielding (possibly) Skofnung. Frolich, 1850.Hrolf's death. Lorenz Frølich —Alf Henrikson (1985) Ända från Vendelkråka. p. 21 Illustration of legendary king. Public Domain

One story in the Laxdela Saga tells that the Skofnung sword was used to "avenge a kin slaying. However, although the hero duels with and wounds the man involved in the killing, he also – [simultaneously] heals his opponent's injury with the healing stone, and the two men end the conflict and become true friends.

Another exciting remark regarding Skofnung is that "…the sun must never shine on its hilt, and it must never be drawn in the presence of a woman."

Could this weapon be only used in the darkness, at night? Does it mean that a woman in the vicinity of this weapon can somehow contaminate it and reduce its supernatural power?

Hrólfr Kraki spreading gold to escape the Swedes, by Jenny Nyström (1895)

The sword Skofnung has a long history that spans about 500 years after the king.

Some of Skofnung's adventures are described in "The Book of Settlements" (Landnámabók), an ancient Icelandic text that dates back to the 12th/13th century and deals with Iceland's first settlers.

One story in the book tells about Iceland's indigenous settler, who, around the year 900, opened an ancient grave mound. It was the grave of King Hrolf and his warriors; the name of this colonist and the grave robber was Skeggi of Midfjord.

Before Skeggi arrived in Iceland, he was a Viking in the Baltic and grave robber regions. Skeggi managed to escape with Skofnung and several other priceless goods.

Later, the weapon was used by others and even taken on a pilgrimage to Rome. Still, when its possessor died on his way home (c. 1073) and was buried at Roskilde, Denmark – knowledge of the weapon's whereabouts was forever lost.

Written by – A. Sutherland AncientPages.com Staff Writer

Updated on January 22, 2024

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