Gesta Danorum - Deeds of the Danes In the early years of the thirteenth century the Danish writer Saxo Grammaticus provided his people with a History of the Danes, an account of their glorious past from the legendary kings and heroes of Denmark to king Gorm. It is one of the major sources for the heroic and mythological traditions of northern Europe, though the complex Latin style and the wide range of material brought together from different sources have limited its use.

Grammaticus Saxo circa 1204 was a Danish writer who provided his people with a History of the Danes. He tells the story of their glorious past from the legendary kings and heroes of Denmark to the historical present. In northern Europe this book is considered a major account of the mythological traditions of the area. The introductory material is a good source of information. The nine books in this volume cover a wide range of topics. The book gives a detailed commentary on the folklore and life and customs of twelfth-century Denmark. Saxo is credited with the earliest account of Hamlet