Harbad- Odin OR Loki
Part 1
Harbad- This name, while a name certainly attributed as one of the names of Odin, simply means "Old man" and there are many reasons and facts that point out that Harbardsljod records an event not about Odin, but rather an event of Loki in disguise as Odin, hurling insults with the purpose of delaying Thor from joining the gods during his (Loki's) trial as recorded in Lokesana.
The very first strophe of Harbardsljod is a indicator that Harbard’s designation is false. The name is a kenning for an old man, yet Thor sees him in this encounter as a "knave of knavesI, a youth of youths (sveinn sveina)" and later calls him a totI, a trifling boy. So it is definite that the name Harbard Hoar-Beard, though perfectly describing Odin, here falsely represents the person who claims it. Never would Thor, throw such insults at his father, but rather sees the masquerade that Loki is coordinating.
None of the incidences mentioned in Harbardsljod can in any way be linked to any of Odins known adventures. Viktor Rydberg has demonstrated that all of the events either relate Loki’s adventures as known in other sources or allude to his specific nature.
Strophe 8 of Harbardsljod details a sexual metaphor. Hildof (Maid-wolf) signifies the phallus while Radsey sound (the sound of rad, a sexual union) is an alliteration for a vagina. Harbard is saying that his penis (Hildolf), whose home is a vagina (Radsey sound) told him to make the boat (a sleight). This may has connection to Thor’s journey to Geirrod where giantesses, urinating in the river Vimur (the Elivagar) caused it to swell. This event refers to the other, i.e. that the body of water that obstructs Thor’s path in Harbardsljod is the same as that which caused him trouble before.
Strophe 16 of Harbardsljod references FjIlvar as one of the frost-giants who led the attack on Midgard during the first Fimbulwinter. This demonstrates that Harbard is an ally of the frost giants and an enemy of the gods. All-green is an epithet of Midgard. When Loki-Harbard then claims, in str. 18, to have had sex with seven sisters who seek to wind ropes of sand during this war this refers to Hymir’s daughters, mentioned in Lokasenna strophe 34, who, just as Gjalp, Greip, Stikla and Rusila are personifications of the wild, overflowing rivers that surge through dales, digging riverbeds in their depths and leaving long, continuous sandbanks, ropes of sandI, along their paths to the seaI.
In strophe 20 of Harbardsljod we are told that Harbard is the lover of "myrd-riders" (evil witches), this references Lokis union with Gullveig Heid.
Strophe 24 of Harbardsljod refers to Loki as Lokerus, who is Sifka-Bekki and Blind BIlvise in Saxo’s Historia Danica and Beowulf. Lokerus in Saxo' work is the one who turned Gudhorm and Hadding against one another, a conflict which leads to many deaths, and never brought about reconciliation. This is the same position loki held in opposition to the Gods.
Strophes 30-32 of Harbardsljod refers to Loki’s exploits with Idun, when he was sent off to find her. It was then that he held the linen-white maid after turning her into a nut and flying off in falcon form. He needs Thor’s help because Thjazi-VIlund was chasing him in eagle-guise towards Asgard. This help Thor gave for the security of Idun and the Asagard and the gods.
Strophes 40-42 of Harbardsljod details Loki’s part in Thor’s campaign against Geirrod where he had led Thor astray with his lies, telling him that green paths lead towards Geirrod’s home (Thorsdrapa 1). Thor’s statement about Harbard offering the war party hard terms refers to this.
These explanations breaking down the fine details of Harbardsljod clearly show us that this event is not Odin himself speaking to Thor, but rather Loki disguised as Odin hurling insults against the gods. Loki's purpose was to delay Thor from showing up to the feast at Aegirs hall. Lokesana details how Thor did in fact show up late when the gods pronounce judgement upon Loki.
