Saga Brief 27c - Icelandic Impressions of the Sagas (Interview with Anna Melsteð)

This special Saga Brief interview with Anna Melsteð (of the Eyrbyggja Saga Society) was recorded at the foot of Helgafell on a drizzly afternoon following a full day of exploring key sites from Eyrbyggja Saga with Anna, Eyberg, and Guðlaug as our guides.

Our day began with a quick viewing of the original site of the Þórsnessþing, mainly to get a view of where drítsker might be.

We followed that up with a rugged hike to Vigrafjörður, where the Thorbrandssons and Thorlakssons famously clashed on the ice in chapter 45 of the saga.

From there, we trekked to Bólstað on Álftafjörður to pay our respects to Andy's thingman Arnkell. We were even greeted with a rainbow, a generous gift from the best man in the saga.

But the biggest highlight was walking the paths carved (allegedly) by the Swedish berserks Halli and Leiknir, followed by a brief rest at the overgrown ruins of Killer-Stýr’s sauna, where their tale ended in steam and the tip of Stýr's spear.

It was, of course, one of the most rewarding days we’ve ever spent in Iceland. The stories of Eyrbyggja Saga came alive in a powerful new way as we stood in the places where they unfolded.

The day concluded at Hraunháls, where we enjoyed Icelandic hospitality, a tasty homemade cake, and a glimpse of the proofs for the incredible Eyrbyggja Saga tapestry.

Can you tell who these two lovebirds might be? Also note the way the upper and lower registers contribute to the story.

As evening approached, we finally drove over to the base of Helgafell to sit down with Anna for a chat about her work, the power of landscape in the sagas, and the growing community of saga enthusiasts on Snæfellsnes. We also got some more help with our Icelandic pronunciation.

Be sure to check out what the Eyrbyggja Saga Society is up to on their webpage and follow them on Facebook.

You can also stay at Hraunháls through Airbnb and enjoy the hospitality of Eyberg and Guðlaug.

Music Credits:

Opening song – “Rúnatal” by An Danzza

Introduction – from Icelandic Folk Music: Tröllaslagur

Outro – Ólafur Liljurós