Sagas of the Icelanders
- bzukowsk
- Jan 29, 2021
- 5 min read
Sagas are among the great works of world literature – integral to Scandanavian history in the countries of Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. The Icelandic sagas possess their own unique flair. Like many sagas of medieval Scandinavia – they tell tales of heroes, monsters, and everyday men alike. But the Icelandic sagas also weave these narratives into the history of their proud independent origins. Many saga characters are real people – Burnt Njal was indeed, Iceland’s most-famous lawyer. The foundations of his home can still be found, where they were once (SPOILER ALERT) burnt to the ground in the midst a blood feud with his former best friend.
As the history shows, Icelandic society revolved around family honor. Expectations to exact revenge fueled jealousy, violence, and the ensuing drama escalated through generations. And so the world’s oldest continuous democratic legal system was created in 900 A.D. – intricate rules of penance ranged from monetary payment to banishment, or even death. Many deaths came by way of sacred blood feuds or groups set to enact vigilante justice. Perhaps, these laws are the most fascinating element of Icelandic sagas. Righteous killers, upstart families, and noble outlaws fill the Icelandic sagas.
Embark on a tour of the Golden Circle and you will visit Thingveiler National Park – site of the oldest continuous democratic justice system on the planet (known as the Althingi). The Althingi (pronounced All-thing) occurred once every year. The whole island gathered: merchants, farmers, vikings, and lawyers alike. There was some trading but primarily, the Althingi served as the highest legislative court in Iceland. A complex code of laws meticulously required judicial procedure for everything. There were high profile murders to petty theft. Once, in 1000 A.D., the island debated over the merits of adopting Christianity. Upon accepting the new religion, they renounced the Norse pagan beliefs; though citizens were still allowed to practice in the privacy of their own home.
These cultural idiosyncrasie are just a start. There are monsters and men, Viking poets, berserkers, and outlaws. The supernatural and historical record blend into myth - battle stories, laws of conduct, and action-packed adventure tied into one! And it’s true! To some degree…
While ancient scrolls have now been translated to modern day books, I might suggest to embrace these sagas by podcast. Two Icelandic scholars have spent the last decade drinking beers and retelling these tall tales. I highly recommend: Saga Thing.
And if you want more, start with these sagas:
1) Gisli’s Saga; 2) Grettir’s Saga; 3) Njal’s Saga; 4) Egil’s Saga; 5) Saga of Ragnar and Sons
STOP HERE if you don’t want any SPOILERS!! It’s worth it. But if you can’t wait, then read on.
Gisli’s tale is perhaps my favorite saga– short, sweet, and full of revenge. A noble hero with a devoted, loving wife – Gisli finds himself in a classic bind. Kill to fulfill the blood feud and retain his rank in Icelandic society. But face the inevitable punishment. And so begins one of Iceland’s most renowned outlaw tales. Gisli remains at-large, surviving with the help of his wife and most loyal friends. Eventually, Gisli finds himself cornered. A renowned fighter – he wards off numbers 10 to 1 but finds himself mortally wounded. He backs himself up to the top of a cliff. Swinging his battle axe and (WARNING a bit gory) holding his guts together he leaps off the precipice into a crowd of enemies. Axe in hand, Gisli cleaves his enemy to death with his final stroke. Talk about an epic last stand.
Grettir is also another beloved outcast. His story also draws pity but the antihero relies significantly more on brute strength than the wits of Gisli or Njal. At one stage, the story parallels Beowulf and Grendel. Our hero most defeat a monster hidden in an Icelandic grotto. The island-wide manhunt draws on and Grettir finds that he must outlast his loneliness. He meets his end on the famed isle of Drangey (off Iceland’s northern coast). Tourists can still find this same island. Its steep cliffs remain a veritable fortress, protected on all sides. Unless, of course, the ghost of Grettir is willing to send down his ladder and permit access.
Iceland’s most famous lawyer is still renowned for his wit and clever legislative procedure. His saga is also a tale of the ultimate bromance, Njal and Gunnar. But their friendship goes tragically awry when their wives squabble pit the families against each other. If you find yourself traveling Iceland’s Ring Road, you can take a quick detour to find the foundations of his former house, once burnt to the ground with its inhabitants inside. The vendetta goes on to destroy both families over multiple generations. It is a captivating tale of love, friendship, and family honor. AND it also tells the story of Iceland’s conversion to Christianity, as well as numerous compelling court cases.
[How did Iceland become Christian? The legends (Njal’s saga) say that the Lawspeaker listened to both arguments – in favor of Christianity and in favor of the Norse Pagan religion. This Lawspeaker served as judge and jury. To contemplate, he crawled into a great bear skin tent – where he remained for 3 days. On the third day, he emerged. Iceland became a Christian nation (which appeased the Norweigan king). But still retained the right for Pagans to practice in the privacy of their own homes.
If you’re headed an hour north of Reykjavik, stop into the little town of Borgarnes. You will find the Settlement Center - Iceland’s best saga museum - complete with an interactive exhibit of Iceland’s most famous warrior poet, Egil Skallagrimsson. Egil embodied two Scandanavian archetypes – the berserker and the skald. When angered, a beserker was said to “go berserk”, or lose control of his mental capacities. But at the same time, gain the strength of ten men (plus two). He was also a true Icelander with a love for oration - a skald, or gifted poet. Tales of Egil’s exploits, poems, and brash demeanor spread far and wide. He befriended and infuriated kings across Sandanvia (which also enlightens us to the tenuous relationship between the newly formed Icelandic republic and the older viking kingdoms). Egil’s story takes many turns for glory and sorrow. Perhaps at its lowest point, the story finds it’s most endearing moment. Egil cannot grapple with the premature death of his son. He swears off eating. But after nearly a week, Egil’s daughter approaches him in his grief. She good-heartedly rouses him to compose a poem. The broken-hearted Egil composes one hell of a poem – livening up the warrior to express his sorrow through honor to his son. The simple act motivates Egil to keep on living, as well as immortalizes his legend in saga lore.
The clever Ragnar, and his legendary sons – Ivar the Boneless, Bjorn Ironsides, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, Hvitserk, Ubba, and Halfdan each have their own epic to tell. The podcasts are good, but the Vikings TV show is better. The story traces Ragnar’s rise from a humble warrior to king and conqueror. Ragnar is the answerer of riddles, the maker of his fate during his conquests. But he is eventually made a martyr by one treacherous English King. His sons, famous in their own right – go on to exact revenge. In the process, they influence many English cities (including the legendary founding of York through trickery with a cowhide), travel across the Mediterranean into Asia and Africa, influence great Scandanavian kingdoms, and meet in a bloody civil war.
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