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Exeter Book Riddle 83 facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Exeter Book Riddle 83 is a fascinating Old English riddle found in a very old book called the Exeter Book. This book was written around the late 900s. Riddles from this time are like puzzles in poetry. People have studied Riddle 83 a lot, and most think it's about 'Ore,' 'Gold,' or 'Metal.' Many believe it means something like 'precious metal' or 'gold.' One expert, John D. Niles, even suggested the Old English word ōra, which could mean both 'ore' and a type of silver coin.

What the Riddle Says

This riddle is a poem that asks you to guess what it is. It talks about something that comes from the earth, is changed by fire, and can cause both good and bad things for people.

Here is the riddle in its original Old English, along with a translation into modern English:

Frōd wæs mīn fromcynn [MS. from cym] [..................]
biden in burgum, siþþan bǣles weard
[...........] wera līge [MS līfe] bewunden,
fȳre gefǣlsad. Nū mē fāh warað
eorþan brōþor, se mē ǣrest wearð
gumena tō gyrne. Ic ful gearwe gemon
hwā mīn fromcynn fruman āgētte
eall of earde; ic him yfle ne māt,
ac ic [MS. ic on] hæftnȳd hwīlum ārǣre
wīde geond wongas. Hæbbe ic wunda fela,
middangeardes mægen unlȳtel,
ac ic mīþan sceal monna gehwylcum
dēgolfulne dōm dȳran cræftes,
sīðfæt mīnne. Saga hwæt ic hātte.

My ancestral family was venerable [...],
awaited in cities, after the guardian of conflagration
[...] of men, surrounded by flame,
cleansed by fire. Now the hostile brother
of earth guards[/inhabits?] me; he was first to turn into
the misfortune of men for me[?]. I remember very clearly
who originally wiped all my ancestors/descendants
from their homeland; I cannot do him evil,
but at times I raise up bond-oppression
widely across the lands. I have many wounds,
no little power in the world,
but I must conceal from each person
the secretive judgement of precious craftsmanship,
my journey. Say what I am called.


Similar Riddles

Riddles like this one were popular a long time ago. Another riddle that is very similar to Exeter Book Riddle 83 is Riddle 91 by a writer named Symphosius. His riddle is about 'money' and also talks about something that was once just earth but then changed by fire to become valuable.

Here is Symphosius's riddle:

Terra fui primo, latebris abscondita terrae;
Nunc aliud pretium flammae nomenque dederunt,
Nec iam terra vocor, licet ex me terra paretur.

Earth-child I was, skulking in ground
Till smelt-flames offered a new name and price:
No longer earth, I can purchase the earth.
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Exeter Book Riddle 83 Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.