Eyrbyggja saga
Encyclopedia
Eyrbyggja saga (ˈeirpɪcːa ˈsaːɣa) is one of the Icelanders' sagas
. The name means the saga of the inhabitants of Eyrr, which is a farm on Snæfellsnes
on Iceland
. The name is slightly misleading as it deals also with the clans
of Þórsnes and Alptafjörðr. The most central character is Snorri Þorgrímsson or Snorri goði
. Snorri was the nephew of the hero of Gísla saga
, and also figures prominently in Njáls saga and Laxdœla saga
. However, the main interest of the saga is to trace a few key families as they settled Iceland, rather than to focus on a single hero.
The saga was likely written in the mid-13th century. The narrative begins at the time of Iceland's settlement
, but most of the events, such as the adventures of Styrbjörn the Strong
, take place towards the end of the 10th century and the early 11th century. There is internal evidence that the author of the saga knew of Laxdœla saga and Egils saga.
Eyrbyggja saga is usually not regarded as artistically equal to Egils saga
, Njál's saga and Laxdæla saga. Nevertheless, it is valued for many reasons, including its historical and folkloric elements. The saga is characterized by a distinct interest in old lore, rituals, pagan practices and superstitions. The saga describes a number of supernatural events, such as the hauntings at Fróðá. The hauntings occur after the death of a völva
, and they mainly consist of visions of animals rising up through the floor and dead men coming into the house to warm themselves by the fire.
The saga includes several references to the colonization of Greenland
and one to Vinland
. It also mentions a journey by Guðleifr Guðlaugsson and his crew to Great Ireland
, which was said to exist beyond Vinland and whose inhabitants, who spoke Irish, had previously fled from the advancing Norse. These Irishmen wanted to kill or enslave the Norsemen, but they were saved by the intervention of an Icelander who lived among them. They took this man to be Björn Ásbrandsson, who had been exiled from Iceland some thirty years earlier.
Eyrbyggja saga has survived in a number of manuscripts from the 14th century and in a fragment from the late 13th century.
Icelanders' sagas
The Sagas of Icelanders —many of which are also known as family sagas—are prose histories mostly describing events that took place in Iceland in the 10th and early 11th centuries, during the so-called Saga Age. They are the best-known specimens of Icelandic literature.The Icelanders'...
. The name means the saga of the inhabitants of Eyrr, which is a farm on Snæfellsnes
Snæfellsnes
The Snæfellsnes is a peninsula situated to the west of Borgarfjörður, in western of Iceland.It has been named Iceland in Miniature, as many national sights can be found in the area, including the Snæfellsjökull volcano, regarded as one of the symbols of Iceland. With its height of 1446 m, it...
on Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. The name is slightly misleading as it deals also with the clans
Norse clans
The Scandinavian clan or ætt was a social group based on common descent or on the formal acceptance into the group at a þing.-History:...
of Þórsnes and Alptafjörðr. The most central character is Snorri Þorgrímsson or Snorri goði
Snorri Goði
Snorri Þorgrímsson or Snorri Goði was a prominent chieftain in Western Iceland, who featured in a number of Icelandic sagas. The main source of his life is the Eyrbyggja saga, in which he is the main character, although he also figures prominently in Njál's saga and the Laxdæla saga...
. Snorri was the nephew of the hero of Gísla saga
Gísla saga
Gísla saga Súrssonar is one of the Sagas of Icelanders. It tells the story of Gisli, a tragic hero who must kill one of his brothers-in-law to avenge another brother-in-law. Gisli is outlawed and forced to stay on the run for thirteen years before he is finally hunted down and killed...
, and also figures prominently in Njáls saga and Laxdœla saga
Laxdœla saga
Laxdæla saga ; also Laxdœla saga, Laxdoela saga, Laxdaela saga, or The Saga of the People of Laxárdalr) is one of the Icelanders' sagas. Written in the 13th century, it tells of people in the Breiðafjörður area of Iceland from the late 9th century to the early 11th century...
. However, the main interest of the saga is to trace a few key families as they settled Iceland, rather than to focus on a single hero.
The saga was likely written in the mid-13th century. The narrative begins at the time of Iceland's settlement
Settlement of Iceland
The settlement of Iceland is generally believed to have begun in the second half of the 9th century, when Norse settlers migrated across the North Atlantic. The reasons for the migration may be traced to a shortage of arable land in Scandinavia, and civil strife brought about by the ambitions of...
, but most of the events, such as the adventures of Styrbjörn the Strong
Styrbjörn the Strong
Styrbjörn the Strong was, according to late Norse sagas, the son of the Swedish king Olof, and the nephew of Olof's co-ruler and successor Eric the Victorious, who defeated and killed Styrbjörn at the Battle of Fyrisvellir...
, take place towards the end of the 10th century and the early 11th century. There is internal evidence that the author of the saga knew of Laxdœla saga and Egils saga.
Eyrbyggja saga is usually not regarded as artistically equal to Egils saga
Egils saga
Egils saga is an epic Icelandic saga. The oldest transcript dates back to 1240 AD. The saga is centered on the life of Egill Skallagrímsson, an Icelandic farmer, viking and skald...
, Njál's saga and Laxdæla saga. Nevertheless, it is valued for many reasons, including its historical and folkloric elements. The saga is characterized by a distinct interest in old lore, rituals, pagan practices and superstitions. The saga describes a number of supernatural events, such as the hauntings at Fróðá. The hauntings occur after the death of a völva
Völva
A vǫlva or völva is a shamanic seeress in Norse paganism, and a recurring motif in Norse mythology....
, and they mainly consist of visions of animals rising up through the floor and dead men coming into the house to warm themselves by the fire.
The saga includes several references to the colonization of Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
and one to Vinland
Vinland
Vinland was the name given to an area of North America by the Norsemen, about the year 1000 CE.There is a consensus among scholars that the Vikings reached North America approximately five centuries prior to the voyages of Christopher Columbus...
. It also mentions a journey by Guðleifr Guðlaugsson and his crew to Great Ireland
Great Ireland
Great Ireland , also known as White Men's Land , and in Latin similarly as Hibernia Major and Albania, was a land said by various Norsemen to be located near Vinland...
, which was said to exist beyond Vinland and whose inhabitants, who spoke Irish, had previously fled from the advancing Norse. These Irishmen wanted to kill or enslave the Norsemen, but they were saved by the intervention of an Icelander who lived among them. They took this man to be Björn Ásbrandsson, who had been exiled from Iceland some thirty years earlier.
Eyrbyggja saga has survived in a number of manuscripts from the 14th century and in a fragment from the late 13th century.
External links
- Eyrbyggja saga -- full text and English translation at the Icelandic Saga Database
- 1897 edition by Hugo Gering available from Old Norse Workfiles by Michael Irlenbusch-Reynard.
- The text in modern Icelandic
- A translation into English by William Morris & Eirikr Magnusson (site 1)
- A translation into English by William Morris & Eirikr Magnusson (site 2)
- Proverbs in Eyrbyggja saga