Eyrbyggja saga (; ) is one of the Icelanders' sagas; its title can be translated as The Saga of the People of Eyri.Byock, Jesse. Viking Age Iceland. Penguin Books Ltd; London, 2009. Page 99. It was written by an anonymous writer, who describes a long-standing feud between Snorri Goði and Arnkel Goði, two strong chieftains in the Norse community that settled in Iceland. The title is slightly misleading as it deals also with the clans from Þórsnes and Álftafjörðr on Iceland. The most central character is Snorri Þorgrímsson, referred to as Snorri Goði and Snorri the Priest. Snorri was the nephew of the hero of Gísla saga, and is also featured prominently in Njáls saga and Laxdæla saga. Another main interest of the Eyrbyggja Saga is to trace a few key families as they settled Iceland, specifically around the Snæfellsnes peninsula.
The Saga is usually not regarded as artistically equal to Egil's saga, Njáls 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 includes several references to the colonization of Greenland and one reference to an expedition to Vinland. It also mentions a journey by Guðleifr Guðlaugsson and his crew to Great Ireland, which was said to exist beyond Vinland.
Sections of the Eyrbyggja Saga have survived in fragments from the 13th century and in numerous manuscripts from the 14th century.Byock, Jesse. Viking Age Iceland. Penguin Books Ltd; London, 2009. Page 99, 100, 104.
Synopsis
The Saga portrays the different families and individuals living on Iceland at Snæfellsnes. There is constant fighting between the different clans on Snæfellsnes, mostly over resources such as wood, property, and livestock. The different Norsemen represented in the Saga constantly turn to Snorri and Arnkel for advice and permission to take legal and/or physical action against perpetrators that have wronged them.
The story of the Eyrbyggja Saga frequently turns on actions that stem from greed, fear, ambition or downright meanness, as it describes cold-hearted bargaining between farmers and chieftains. All of the events of the Saga take place in one small region of Snæfellsnes, shifting between Álptafjord, which cuts into the northern shore of the peninsula, and Helgafell, the farmstead on Thórsnes, where Snorri Goði resided.Byock, Jesse. Viking Age Iceland. Penguin Books Ltd; London, 2009. Page 100. The Saga shows a steady shift from paganism on Iceland to Christianity over the course of roughly twenty years.
The saga was most likely written in its entirety in the mid- or late-13th century, but historians have not yet been able to pinpoint an exact date. The narrative begins at the time of the Norse settlement in Iceland as early as the 9th century, but most of the events take place towards the end of the 10th century and the early 11th century. There is also internal evidence that the author of the saga knew of Laxdæla saga and Egils saga.
As is the case with all Icelander sagas, Eyrbyggja Saga should not be taken as a reliable historical record, but as a narrative with a basis in oral family history. Many of the places, events, and people are quite real, but the story includes fantastical episodes with elements of folklore, including sorcery, possessed livestock, and revenants. Although the goði Arnkel, who is a kind of tragic hero in the saga, is praised above any other character (að hann hefir verið allra menna best að sér um alla hluti í fornum sið og manna vitrastur, ch. 37), the author tends to focus on Arnkel's ultimately more successful rival Snorri, who was not only an early champion of Christianity on Snæfellsnes but also an ancestor of the Sturlung family, who dominated Icelandic politics in the first half of the 13th century.
Overview
Government Eyrbyggja Saga shows the Norse system of legalities on Snæfellsnes which used a trial by jury system. There was normally a local chieftain who oversaw property boundaries, settled disputes between landlords and blood feuds, and prosecuted criminals. Snorri Goði, in particular, was the head chieftain on Snæfellsnes and dealt with local disputes over firewood, blood feuds, and property distribution. Snorri is also seen putting ghosts on trial for their hauntings. Chapter 55 of the Saga shows Snorri and his nephew Kiartan summoning Thorir Wooden-leg and other ghosts with coming and going about Frodis-water without permission and despoiling men of their lives and good fortune. These trials brought an end to the hauntings that occurred at Frodis-water. Women Women represented in the Saga are prominent and strong-willed characters. They could own property, become merchants, court their own marriages, and command legions of sailors. For example, Geirrid, the sister of Geirrod of Ere, had workers build her a large vestibule hallway in which she could examine all the men that passed by in attempts to find a future husband.Eyrbyggja Saga chapter 9 Death ritual The Saga shows that, upon death, a hole was cut in the wall closest to where the corpse was and the body was removed from the house through the hole. It was believed that, if a dead person was carried through the front door, their ghost would remember how to enter and exit the house and come back to haunt the house.Eyrbyggja Saga chapter 33 Religion The Saga shows a strong shift from Paganism to Christianity.Eyrbyggja Saga chapter 50 After Christianity had been officially adopted by the Althing, Snorri Goði and several other important men of Snæfellsnes had churches built on their land, although there were no priests to be had to celebrate mass.Eyrbyggja Saga chapter 49 It is unclear how many Norsemen actually converted from Norse paganism to Christianity. Archaeological evidence suggests that Pagan and Christian burials took place on Iceland, specifically on Snæfellsnes.Jesse Byock, et al. A Viking Age Valley in Iceland: The Mosfell Archaeological Project. Maney Publishing, 1995. Page 200, 201, 205. Many Icelandic Norsemen were baptized and called themselves Christians, but little of their old Pagan rituals and beliefs had been abandoned; for example, cremating a corpse and drinking heavily after a funeral were pagan rituals.Joynes, Andrew. Medieval Ghost Stories, an Anthology of Miracles, Marvels and Progress. Boydell Press; Rochester, New York, 2001. Page 112.
Prominent characters
Snorri Goði Snorri acted as the chieftain of Snæfellsnes, and the author constantly depicts him as the wise, classical hero. The Saga's main area of focus is featured around his life. Snorri also converted to Christianity and declared Christianity the official religion of Iceland. He permitted the construction of Christian churches around Snæfellsnes.
In chapter 37, Snorri and his foster brothers kill Arnkel whilst he is working on his farm. In the ensuing court case regarding the murder of Arnkel, only Thorleif Thorbrandsson (Þorbrandsson) was convicted and outlawed.Eyrbyggja Saga chapter 37, 38 Snorri, after killing Arnkel, later sided with his foster brothers, the Thorbrandssons (Þorbrandssons), in their feud with the Thorlaksson family. He took part in the battle of Alftafjord with his foster brothers and rescued them after they were all wounded at the battle of Vigrafjord.Eyrbyggja Saga chapter 46 A compromise was later reached between the two families, after Snorri courted his daughter with the son of Thormod Thorlaksson.Eyrbyggja Saga chapters 44-46 Snorri also made an attempt to kill Bjorn Asbrandsson, who had an affair with his sister Thurid while she was married to Thorodd the Tribute Trader, a marriage that Snorri helped to arrange. Bjorn fended off Snorri's attack, but was later convinced to leave Iceland.Eyrbyggja Saga chapter 47
Snorri in his later years successfully led a fight against Ospak Kjallaksson, a Norseman who had assembled a group of men that constantly attacked and pillaged his neighbors. Snorri and his gang killed Ospak and the other members of his group. Snorri spared Ospak's son and allowed him to inherit his father's farm.Eyrbyggja Saga chapter 62 Snorri had several children and was able to create marriage alliances with many leading families in Iceland. Snorri's descendants included the Sturlungs, through his son Halldor.Eyrbyggja Saga chapter 65
Arnkel Arnkel, like Snorri, acted as chieftain over the peoples of Holyfell, and was also referred to as Arnkel the Priest. He is often depicted as the enemy of Snorri by the author. Arnkel provides similar information to the Norse living on Iceland on such matters as property rights and blood feuds. Arnkel became involved in further disputes with Snorri after Arnkel's father, Thorolf Halt-foot, accused Snorri of stealing his firewood. As the Saga progresses, Arnkel claims properties around Snæfellsnes, in which he also claims land from peoples who he presided over.Eyrbyggja Saga chapter 31Byock, Jesse. Viking Age Iceland. Penguin Books Ltd; London, 2009. Page 103, 104.
Arnkel finally engages in a physical dispute with Snorri and the Thorbrandssons (Þorbrandsson), Snorri's foster brothers. Snorri and his foster brothers attack and kill Arnkel whilst he was working on his farm.Eyrbyggja Saga chapter 37
Erik the Red The Saga reveals Erik the Red's discovery of Greenland. He stayed there for three winters, returned to Iceland for a winter, and then returned to settle permanently in Greenland. The saga does not give a specific time of when this took place, but it does suggest that it was fourteen years before Snorri declared Christianity the official religion of Snæfellsnes.Eyrbyggja Saga chapter 24
Ghost tales in the Saga Eyrbyggja Saga describes numerous supernatural events that mainly consist of undead animals rising up through the floor and Draugrs coming into the house to warm themselves by the fire. The Draugrs in the Saga have a mixture of characteristics that are "typical" of Norse ghosts.
Thorolf Halt-Foot
Chapter 31 of Eyrbyggja Saga reveals the death of Thorolf Halt-Foot, who is also the father of Arnkel. Thorolf is reincarnated as a Draugr and a frightening marauder who leaves his tomb to cause devastation around Þórsnes. Thorolf's undead ventures also reveal specific overtones from the Wild Hunt legends. Thorolf's body is buried, reburied, burned, and is reincarnated as a bull, though he continued to cause relentless terror for nearly a year before he finally was permanently laid to rest by Arnkel, who buried his remains on a hillside. Arnkel constructed a high stone wall around Thorolf's grave so that Thorolf could not overcome it. However, Thorolf seemed to continually haunt the hillside where he was buried.Joynes, Andrew. Medieval Ghost Stories, an Anthology of Miracles, Marvels and Progress. Boydell Press; Rochester, New York, 2001. Page 106-108.
Thorgunna