The Edda is an Icelandic poem collection, which is considered to be the most important source of Norse mythology and Scandinavian culture. It was written in the 13th century by an unknown author, and consists of two parts: the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda. The Poetic Edda contains a collection of mythological and heroic poems, while the Prose Edda is a manual for skaldic poetry. Both parts are essential for understanding the Old Norse language and culture.