COA01 - The Discovery of Iceland

- 2 mins

The Discovery of Iceland

In this episode we will be exploring the initial discovery of Iceland by Norse Sailors in the mid-800s. First - we set the stage by discussing the literary and historical legacy of Iceland and discussing why it is so important to understand the culture of the island before using the amazing works which were written there in the 1200s.

We then follow the stories told in the Landnámabók and the Íslendingabók about the discovery and initial settlement of Iceland - including storms, sworn brothers and path-finding ravens.

Finally - we conclude with a discussion of high-seat pillars and the close ties which the initial Icelandic settlers maintained with the societies and cultures from which they had emigrated.

This week’s recommended reading is The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson. I recommend this translation by Jesse Byock - but if you have a translation you prefer, please let me know!

Works Cited

Primary Sources

Sturluson, S. (2005). The Prose Edda: Norse mythology (J. L. Byock, Trans.). London: Penguin Books. Available on Amazon

The Islands in the Northern Ocean in McDonald, R. A., & Somerville, A. A. (2014). The Viking Age: A Reader. North York, Ontario: University of Toronto Press. (Chapter 66) Available on Amazon

Íslendingabók in McDonald, R. A., & Somerville, A. A. (2014). The Viking Age: A Reader. North York, Ontario: University of Toronto Press. (Chapter 70.a)Available on Amazon

Landnámabók in McDonald, R. A., & Somerville, A. A. (2014). The Viking Age: A Reader. North York, Ontario: University of Toronto Press. (Chapter 70.b) Available on Amazon

Secondary Sources

Byock, J. L. (2002). Viking Age Iceland. London: Penguin Books Ltd. Available on Amazon

Clunies Ross, M. The Creation of Old Norse Mythology in Brink, S., & Price, N. S. (n.d.). The Viking World. Available on Amazon

Gunnell, Terry. Hof, Halls, Goðar and Dwarves: An Examination of the Ritual Space in the Pagan Icelandic Hall. Available Free Online

Lönnroth, Lars. The Icelandic Sagas in Brink, S., & Price, N. S. (n.d.). The Viking World. Available on Amazon

Sigurðsson, J. V. Iceland in Brink, S., & Price, N. S. (n.d.). The Viking World. Available on Amazon

Vésteinsson, Orri. Patterns of Settlement in Iceland. A Study in Pre-History. Available Free Online

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