Summer of Midnight Sun - Chapter Eight: Snorri's Stories

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 One of the most exciting parts of being in Iceland was the island's history and legends. With inhabitants dating back to 871 AD, Iceland has a long history told mostly through sagas. Written predominantly by Snorri Sturluson, these sagas detailed the lives of great families on the island shortly after settlement (930-1030). Written in the early 13th century, these tales are accurate, with support from archaeology and family lineage. Archaeology shows large, mansion-esque, homes in the areas where these families were known to have power and show several meeting spots and trails across the nation. 

Family lineage also plays an important role, as with the introduction of Christianity in roughly 1000AD the church created extensive birth records on the island, meaning that any modern Icelander can trace their lineage back to their first relative to immigrate to the island. These records from this time are able to trace Snorri's eddas, a form of Nordic poem, across the island, creating moments filled with beauty and mystery.

It was a pleasure to travel around the country, visiting the sites of many of the sagas and eddas. Many moments of significance happened around major landmarks, like waterfalls, valleys, and gorges as they were used as navigational beacons for travelers on the barren landscape. Being able to follow along with some of these millennia-old stories as I explored the island much like they did was awe-inspiring. 

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