Latin and Hebrew Analogues to The Old Norse Leek Riddle

It has been thought that of the forty or so surviving Old Norse riddles, only two have close parallels in wider international riddle tradition. This note shows, however, on leek probably thirteenth-century Heiðreks saga a parallel one late antique early medieval Bern Riddles, garlic. Moreover, larger conceptual structure riddle, which positions as an inverted person situated between earth and sun, is paralleled by riddles tenth-century Hebrew poet Dunash ben Labraá¹­ ha-Levi, figures sun its light tree with roots sky branches ground. The are more integrated into culture than realised, comparison Dunashâ??s work Latin material helps to settle debate about solution riddle.