ic sources. He appears in the opening lines of the epic poem Beowulf, where he's referred to as Scyld Scefing, which might mean Scyld descendant of Scef, Scyld son of Scef, or Scyld of the Sheaf; it's never elaborated upon. In any case, the story of a child in a boat, which elsewhere applies to Scef applies to Scyld in Beowulf. After relating in general terms the glories of Scyld's reign, the poet describes Scyld's funeral, how his body was laid in a ship surrounded by treasures, the poet expla… (More on Scyld)