Medieval Oddi in Iceland as a Place of Power and Learning - (Northern World) (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Medieval Oddi in Iceland is well known for its famous inhabitants: the priest and chief Sæmundr (d. 1133), later an outstanding magician in Icelandic folk-tales; his grandson the magnificent chieftain Jón Loptsson (d. 1197), of royal descent through his Norwegian mother; and his fosterson, Snorri Sturluson (d. 1241), author of the much acclaimed Prose Edda and Heimskringla. Bishop þorlákr (d. 1193) also studied at Oddi and, like Sæmundr, later studied abroad. These are illustrious men in the history of Iceland. 12th- and 13th-century Oddi and the Oddi family are an important subject for those who want to study the origins of the outstanding textual culture of medieval Iceland.
Contributors are Miguel Andrade, Auður Magnúsdóttir, Ármann Jakobsson, Árni Freyr Magnússon, Chris Callow, Egill Erlendsson, Guðrún Harðardóttir, Gunnar Harðarson, Halldís Ármannsdóttir, Helgi þorláksson, Kristborg þórsdóttir, Richard North, Oddur Pálsson, Sigurlaugur Ingólfsson, Sverrir Jakobsson, Tómas Aron þórarinsson, and Viðar Pálsson.

About the Author

Helgi þorláksson, Dr. phil. (1992), University of Iceland, is Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Iceland. His main field is History of Iceland prior to 1700; main research themes are history of commerce and history of feud. His most recent book is Á sögustöðum (Vaka-Helgafell, 2022).
Meghan Korten, M.A. (2012), Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a Doctoral Candidate in History at the University of Iceland. She has published several chapters on wool textiles and gender in medieval Iceland, including "Textiles, Dress and Politics. A Diachronic Perspective Through the Case Studies of Ancient Rome and Mediaeval Iceland" (Zea Books, 2024).