Gisli Sursson's Saga and The Saga of the People of Eyri
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scorn níð: In the sagas níð refers to two forms of slander that need to be distinguished. The physical form of scorn generally refers to figures made of wood that were understood by all to represent one or more persons in local society. These figures were sometimes depicted in some compromising sexual position. Such a public insult attracted attention and seriously damaged the honour of the person or persons in question. The figures were strictly illegal, and a common reason for killings and/or local feuds. See, for example, Gisli Sursson’s Saga, Ch. 2. Níð could also take a verbal form, a slanderous lampoon.
shape-shifter hamrammur, adj.: Closely associated with the berserks, those who were hamrammir (pl.) were believed to change their shape at night or in times of stress, or leave their bodies (which appeared asleep) and take the physical form of animals such as bears or wolves. There are again faint associations with shamanistic activities and figures known in folklore throughout the world, such as the werewolf. The transformation was not necessarily intentional.
slave þræll: Slavery was quite an important aspect of Viking Age trade. A large number of slaves were taken from the Baltic nations and the western European countries that were raided and invaded by Scandinavians between the eighth and eleventh centuries. In addition, the Scandinavians had few scruples against taking slaves from the other Nordic countries. Judging from their names and appearance, a large number of the slaves mentioned in the sagas seem to have come from Ireland and Scotland. Stereotypically they are presented as being stupid and lazy. By law, slaves had hardly any rights at all, and they and their families could only gain freedom if their owners chose to free them, or somebody else bought their freedom: see freed slave. In the Icelandic commonwealth, a slave who was wounded was entitled to one-third of the compensation money; the rest went to his owner.
south suður: See directions.
Spring Assembly vorþing: The local assembly, held each spring. These were the first regular assemblies to be held in Iceland. Held at thirteen sites and lasting four to seven days between 7 and 27 May, they were jointly supervised by three godis. The Spring Assembly had a dual legal and economic function. It consisted of a court of thirty-six men, twelve appointed by each of the godis, where local legal actions were heard, while major cases and those which could not be resolved locally were sent on to the Althing. In its other function it was a forum for settling debts, deciding prices and the like. Godis probably used the Spring Assembly to urge their followers to ride to the Althing; those who remained behind paid the costs of those who went. See ‘Social, Political and Legal Structures’, p. 219.
sprinkled with water vatni ausinn: Even before the arrival of Christianity, the Scandinavians practised a naming ceremony clearly similar to that involved in the modern-day ‘christening’. The action of sprinkling a child with water and naming it meant that the child was initiated into society. After this ceremony, a child could not be taken out to die of exposure (a common practice in pagan times).
Summons Days stefnudagar: The days during which someone could be summonsed to appear at a given Spring Assembly or Althing for a legal case.
sworn brotherhood fóstbræðralag: This was seen as another form of foster-brotherhood, but instead of being arranged by the parents (see foster-), it was a relationship decided by the individuals themselves. Sworn brothers literally were ‘blood-brothers’: they swore unending loyalty to each other, sealing this pact by going though a religious ceremony involving a form of symbolic rebirth, in which they joined blood and passed beneath an arch of raised turf. See Gisli Sursson’s Saga, Ch. 6.
temple hof: In spite of the elaborate description of the ‘temple’ at Hofstadir (lit. ‘Temple Place’) in The Saga of the People of Eyri, Ch. 4, and other temples mentioned in the sagas, there is no certainty that buildings erected for the sole purpose of pagan worship ever existed in Iceland or the other Scandinavian countries. To date, no such building has been found in archaeological excavations. In all likelihood, pagan rituals and sacrifices took place outdoors, or in a specified area in certain large farmhouses belonging to priests, where the idols of the gods would also have been kept.
Thing alpingi: See Althing.
thingman/men þingmaður/þingmenn: Every free man and landowner was required to serve as a thingman (‘assembly man’) by aligning himself with a godi. He would either accompany the godi to assemblies and other functions or pay a tax supposed to cover the godi’s costs of attending them. See ‘Social, Political and Legal Structures’, p. 219.
troll troll: Trolls in the minds of the Icelanders were not the huge, stupid figures that we read about in later Scandinavian wonder-tales and legends. At the time of the sagas, they were essentially evil nature spirits, a little like large dark elves. It is only in later times that they come to blend with the image of the Scandinavian giants.
Viking víkingur: Normally has an unfavourable sense in the Sagas of Icelanders, referring to violent seafaring raiders, especially of the pagan period. It can also denote general bullies and villains.
weight vætt: The equivalent of 160 marks, or about 40 kilos.
west vestur: see directions.
Winter Nights veturnætur: The period of two days when the winter began, around the middle of October. In the pagan era, this was a particularly holy time of the year, when sacrifices were made to the female guardian spirits, and social activities such as games meetings and weddings often took place. It was also the time when animals were slaughtered so that their meat could be stored over the winter.
Index of Characters
Alf from Dalir, 177
Alf the Short from Thambardal, 180–85
Alfdis from Haug, 50, 51
Alfgeirr, a Hebridean, 92, 94–5, 100, 106, 110
Alof Snorradottir, 197
An Bow-bender, 8
An Red-cloak (Grimsson), 8
Ari Sursson, 4–5, 69, 70
Ari Thorgilsson the Learned, 79
Ari Thorkelsson, 3
Arnbjorn Asbrandsson the Strong, 88, 142–3, 146, 148–50, 152
Arngrim Thorgrimsson, 84
Arni Arnason, 197
Arni Skeggjason, 7
Arnkel Thorolfsson the Godi, 79, 84, 90, 97, 100–108, 110, 112, 115–17, 124, 126–41, 189
Arnor, 10
Arrow-Odd, 8
Asbrand from Kamb, 88, 107, 123–4, 142
Asdis Styrsdottir, 92, 117–9, 121
Asgeir Vestarsson, 78, 80, 85
Asgerd Thorbjornsdottir, 9, 14–16
Aslak from Langidal, 81, 155–6
Asmund Thorgrimsson Grey-locks, 188
Astrid Hrolfsdottir, 78
Athelstan (King of England 924–39), 3
Aud Alfsdottir, 177
Aud from Mavahlid, 89, 94, 97, 103
Aud Ketilsdottir the Deep-Minded, 73–4, 77–8
Aud Vesteinsdottir, 8–9, 14–17, 20–24, 26, 29, 37, 39, 41–3, 54–5, 58–62, 64–6, 68–9
Audbjorg from Annmarkastadir, 31–3
Audun Valason Stoti, 85
Balder (god), 41
Bard Hoskuldsson, 177
Bard from Surnadal, 4–5
Bardi Gudmundsson, 197
Barna-Kjallak Bjornsson, 80
Beard-Bjalfi, 13
Berg Skammfot, 32–3
Berg Vesteinsson, 8, 53, 69
Bergthor Thorlaksson, 85, 157–8, 160–62
Bersi from Bersastadir, 18
Bitra-Oddi Thorvaldsson, 177
Bjalfi(Beard-Bjalfi), 13–14
Bjartmar Ansson, 8, 17, 37–8, 54
Bjorn Bolverksson, 79
Bjorn Buna Grimsson, 73
Bjorn Helgason from Hofgard, 90, 149
Bjorn Kjallaksson, 73
Bjorn Ottarsson, 78, 108, 115
Bjorn the Black, a berserk, 3–4
Bjorn Asbrandsson, Champion of the Breidavik People, 88, 107, 122–4, 142–53, 156, 162–4, 196
Bjorn Ketilsson the Easterner, 73–5, 77–8, 80
Bjorn, a Norwegian
, 92, 106
Bjorn, kinsman of Vigfus Bjornsson from Drapuhlid, 108–9
Bofi(Freysteinn Bofi), 159
Bolli Bollason, 197
Bolli Thorleiksson, 177
Bolverk Blind-pout, 79
Bork Thorsteinsson the Stout, 9, 26–7, 30–39, 41, 46–54, 68–9, 83–8, 187–8, 198
Bothild, a female slave, 45–9
Brand Thorgrimsson, 84
Brand Vermundarson the Generous, 197
Cart-Bersi Halldorsson, 197
Dyri from Dyrafjord, 8
Egil the Strong, a slave, 149–52
Einar Skeggjason, 7
Eir (goddess), 43
Eirik the Red, 109, 110, 112
Eirik the Victorious, king of Sweden, 111, 146
Erling Skjalgsson from Sola, 85
Eyjolf Aesuson, 110
Eyjolf Snorrason, 198
Eyjolf Thordarson the Grey, 26–7, 29, 39, 41, 45, 51, 57–61, 64–9, 86
Eyvind the Easterner, 74
Finngeir Thorsteinsson, 78
Frey (god), 26, 31
Freystein Bofi, 127, 138–9, 150, 159, 160, 162
Frodi (sea king), 99
Gaut (Odin), 32
Geir the Godi, 163
Geirmund Ingjaldsson, 17, 20, 26–8, 69
Geirrid from Borgardal, 79
Geirrid Thorolf sdottir, 79, 89, 90, 94, 96–7, 103, 105
Geirrod from Eyri, 78–80
Gerd (goddess), 120, 192
Gerd Kjallaksdottir, 78
Gest Bjornsson from Hofgard, 90, 149
Gest Oddleifsson, 10, 42, 51–4, 56, 60, 69
Gest Thorhallsson, 177
Gisli Sursson, 4–31, 33–51, 54–8, 60–62, 64–70, 84, 86
Gisli Thorkelsson, 3–4
Gizur Teitsson the White, 163, 165, 175
Gjaflaug Kjallaksdottir, 73–4
Glum Ospaksson, 179, 185, 188
Grettir Asmundarson, 39, 188
Grim (Thorgrim Thorsteinsson), 83
Grim Hairy-cheeks, 8
Grim, hersir of Sogn, 73
Groa Geirleifsdottir, 78
Gudlaug the Wealthy from Straumfjord, 194
Gudleif Gudlaugsson, 194–6
Gudmund Eyjolfsson the Powerful, 197
Gudny Bodvarsdottir, 198
Gudny Thorolfsdottir, 80, 89, 98
Gudrid Ingjaldsdottir, 17, 20, 22, 37, 58, 64, 66, 69
Gudrun Gjukadottir, 34
Gudrun Osvifsdottir, 177, 197
Gudrun Snorradottir, 197
Gunnar Hamundarson from Hlidarendi, 163
Gunnar Thorsteinsson, 177, 179
Gunnfrid Thorolfsdottir, 79
Gunnhild, wife of Vestein Vesteinsson, 8, 69
Gunnlaug from Straumfjord, 197
Gunnlaug Serpent-tongue, 177
Gunnlaug Steindorsson, 197
Gunnlaug Thorbjornsson, 88–90, 106
Gyrd Sigvaldisson, 194
Haflidi Masson, 197
Hakon Haraldsson (King of Norway c.934–960), 3
Hakon Sigurdsson, earl in Norway, 110
Hall Styrsson, 92
Hallbera Snorradottir, 197
Hallbjorn Half-troll, 8
Hallbjorn, a wanderer, 52–3
Halldor Olafsson from Hjardarholt, 197
Halldor Snorrason, 198
Halldora Snorradottir, 197
Halli, a berserk, 110, 112, 117–20
Hallstein Thorbjornsson, 88, 93, 95, 97
Hallstein Thorolfsson, 75, 77–8, 165
Hallvard, farmhand of Gisli Sursson, 18–19, 21
Hallvard, father of Mar, 83
Harald Grey-cloak, King of Norway, 12
Harald Halfdanarson Fair-hair (King of Norway -932), 73–5
Hauk High-breeches, 74
Hauk, follower of Snorri the Godi, 136, 138
Havard, farmhand of Gisli Sursson, 18–19, 21
Havard, kinsman of Gest Oddleifsson, 56–60
Helga Ansdottir, 8
Helga Kjallaksdottir, 78
Helga Thorlaksdottir, 85, 147
Helgi Bjartmarsson, 8, 37
Helgi Droplaugarson, 85
Helgi Ingjaldsson (Ingjald’s fool), 45
Helgi Ketilsson, 73, 77
Helgi Ottarsson, 78
Helgi Eyvindarson the Lean, 74
Helgi the Spy, 39, 41, 45, 46, 56–8, 65
Helgi Vesteinsson, 8, 53, 69
Helgi, a shepherd, 109
Helgi, godi of Hofgard, 90–91
Herjolf Holkinrassi, 79
Hild (goddess), 56
Hild Bjartmarsdottir, 8
Hjalti Skeggjason from Thjorsardal, 165
Hlin (goddess), 100
Hofgarda-Ref (Ref the poet), 149
Horda-Kari, 85
Hrafn Dyrason, 8
Hrafn the Viking, 184, 187–8
Hrolf Ornolfsson (Thorolf Moster-beard), 74–5
Illugi Hallkelsson the Black, 91–2, 177–8
Illugi Aslaksson the Mighty, 155–6
Ingibjorg Asbjarnardottir, 91
Ingibjorg Isadottir, 3–4
Ingigerd from Fibule, 3
Ingjald Alfarinsson, 186
Ingjald Helgason, 74
Ingjald from Hergilsey, 44–9, 69
Ingolf Arnarson, 75
Isgerd from Surnadal, 3
Isi from Fibule, 3
Jon Arnason, 197
Jorund Thorfinnsson, 197
Jorunn Ketilsdottir Manvitsbrekka, 73
Kar Thoroddsson, 194
Karlsefni (Thorfinn Karlsefni), 165
Katla from Holt, 89, 90, 93, 103–6
Ketil Bjornsson Flat-nose, 73–4, 77
Ketil Hallbjornsson Haeng, 8
Ketil the Ram, 73
Ketil Thorbjornsson, 88, 93
Killer-Bardi (Bardi Gudmundsson), 197
Killer-Sturla (Sturla Thjodreksson), 180
Killer-Styr (Styr Thorgrimsson), 110
Kjallak from Kjallaksa, 179
Kjallak Bjornsson the Old, 78
Kjallak, earl in Jamtaland, 73–4
Kjartan from Froda, 124, 144, 167, 173–6, 178, 195–6
Kjarval, King of the Irish, 74
Klepp Snorrason, 198
Kleppjarn the Old, 177
Kol, a slave, 3–4
Kolbjorn at Hella, 4–7
Kolfinn from Solheimar, 197
Kolli Thormodsson, 197
Leifi(sea-king), 141
Leiknir, a berserk, 110, 118, 120
Ljot Manisson (Mani-Ljot), 198
Luta from Gemlufall, 19
Mani Snorrason, 198
Mar Hallvardsson, 83, 88, 109, 114–15, 117, 155, 162–4
Nagli, from Scottland, 92, 95–6, 100
Nauma (goddess), 40
Odd Kotluson, 89, 90, 93–5, 97, 103–6
Odd Ofeigsson, 188
Odd Orlygsson, 11
Odd the Bold, 78
Odd the Poet, 91
Oddleif Geirleifsson, 10, 78
Odin (god), 24, 61, 99
Ofeig, a slave, 139–40
Olaf Eyvindarson from Drangar, 184
Olaf Feilan Thorsteinsson, 80
Olaf Haraldsson (King of Norway 1015–30), 194, 198
Olaf Ingjaldsson the White, 74
Olaf Thorsteinsson, 9
Onund from Medaldal, 12, 18, 20, 34
Orlyg from Orlygsstad, 79, 129
Orm the Slender, 88
Orn Thorisson, 97, 122
Ornolf Fish-driver, 74
Osk Thorsteinsdottir, 79
Ospak Glumsson, 188
Ospak Kjallaksson, 179–88
Osvif Helgason the Wise, 78
Ottar Bjornsson, 78
Outlaw-Stein, son of Thordis Thorsteinsdottir, 9, 12, 34–6, 49
Palna-Toki, a Viking, 124
Rafarta Kjarvalsdottir, 74
Ragnar Shaggy-breeches, 74
Ragnhild Thordardottir, 165
Ran (goddess), 173
&nbs
p; Rannveig Thorisdottir, 197
Rannveig, farmhand at Saebol, 20
Raud from Fridarey, 4
Ref from Haug, 49–51
Ref the Poet from Hofgard, 90
Ref, a carpenter, 6
Sam Borksson, 187
Seer-Gils from Hraun, 93
Seer-Gils from Seer-Gilsstadir, 129–31
Sighvat Sturlason, 198
Sigmund Thorbeinisson, 79
Sigrid Snorradottir, 197
Sigurd Bjartmarsson, 8, 37
Sigurd Hlodvesson (Earl of the Orkney Islands 990–1014), 121–2
Sigurd Snake-in-the-eye, son of Ragnar Shaggy-breeches, 74
Sigurd Thorisson, 197
Sigurd, Vestein’s trading partner,13
Sigurhadd from Viborg, 13, 23
Sigvaldi, earl of the Jomsvikings, 194
Sjofn (goddess), 43
Skeggi the Dueller, 5–7
Snerrir (Snorri the Godi), 84
Snorri Snorrason, 198
Snorri Sturlason, 198
Snorri the Godi (Thorgrim Thorgrimsson), 31, 69, 84–92, 97, 100–102, 107–10, 114–5, 117–8, 121–2, 124, 127–9, 131–2, 135–41, 145, 147–57, 160–65, 175–81, 183–8, 195, 197–8
Snorri Thorbrandsson, 84, 161, 165
Stein (Outlaw-Stein), 38
Stein (Thorstein Thorolfsson Cod-biter), 79
Steinolf the Short Hrolfsson, 78
Steinthor Thorlaksson, 85, 92, 116, 147, 152–62, 177, 197
Sturla Thjodreksson, 180, 181, 185–8, 197
Sturla Thordarson, 198
Styr (Arngrim) Thorgrimsson, 84, 91–2, 110–13, 115, 117–21, 128, 138, 152, 155, 162, 165, 176–8
Styrbjorn the Strong, 124, 146
Styrkar from Fridarey, 4, 7
Sudri (dwarf), 47
Svart the Strong, a slave, 113–14
Svart, a slave, 45–6, 49
Svein, 66
Thor (god), 75–7, 79, 82–3
Thora Olafsdottir, 9, 80, 83
Thora Raudsdottir, 4, 9
Thora Sigurdardottir, 74
Thora Snorradottir, 197
Thorarin Thorolfsson the Black, 80, 89, 90, 92–108, 110
Thorarin, a Norwegian, 11–12
Thorbeinir from Thorbeinsstad, 79
Thorbjorg Thorsteinsdottir, 92
Thorbjorn Kjalki, 113
Thorbjorn Selagnup, 9
Thorbjorn Sur (Thorkelsson), 3–5, 7–9, 198
Thorbjorn Ormsson the Stout, 88–97, 107–8, 122
Thorbjorn Vifilsson, 110