María Dögg Hákonardóttir

In Prose-Edda, one of the gems of Icelandic culture, it is taught how to use other words as a metaphor for women in literature. The words can reference women’s equipment, gold and jewels, Ásynjur and Valkyries, ale and wine etc. Faldalín – Kvenkenningar is a collection of Icelandic words for women.

Old words that we recognize still today are for example, the words fljóð, snót and víf (wife).

In modern Icelandic we use words like dóttir (daughter), skvísa (babe) and gyðja (goddess) but also words like drusla (skank), tussa and tík (bitch).

This book includes forgotten, classic or recent words, presented with reference to the visual appearance of typography.