Finnur Magnússon, sometimes referred to by the Danish version of his name under which he published, Finno Magnusun,[1]Finn Magnussen or Magnusen, (27 August 1781 – 24 December 1847)[2] was an Icelandicscholar and archaeologist who worked in Denmark.
Finnur studied law at the University of Copenhagen and returned to Iceland to work in Reykjavík, where he became a clerk in the superior court in 1806.[6][7][8] In 1812[6] he returned to Denmark to study Old Norse literature and history and in 1815 became a professor of literature at Copenhagen. In 1819, he was assigned to hold lectures in Norse literature and mythology at the university and the Academy of Art.[7] In 1823 he obtained a position at the King's private archive, and in 1829 became its head.[6] In 1836 he earned his doctorate.[9] He represented Iceland and the Faroes on the Østifternes Stænderforsamling[10] and in 1839 was appointed to represent it on the Danish provincial advisory council (Rådgivende provinsialstænderforsamlinger).[6]
He was a founder member of the Icelandic Literary Society (Hið Íslenzka Bókmenntafélag, Det Islandske Litterære Selskab),[6] for ten years summarised domestic and world news for its annual publication, Íslenzk sagnablöð, and wrote the first issue when it became Skírnir.[11] With Carl Christian Rafn and others, he founded the Royal Norse Ancient Writings Society (Det Kongelige nordiske Oldskriftselskab).[6] He is most remembered for his translation and exposition of the Elder Edda. His masterpiece, first published in 1824, was Eddalæren og dens Oprindelse (The Eddic Lore and its Origin).[12] In it he was one of the first to put forward a Romantic, nature-mythological view of the Norse myths.[13] For example, he regarded the valkyries as heavenly lights such as meteors and the Aurora Borealis.[14] He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1836.[15]
He was interested in and called on for his expertise in runes, but his scholarship in this area was weaker. He declared the Dighton Rockpetroglyphs in Rhode Island to be runic.[16][17] He was involved in an academic controversy when he claimed to have deciphered a skaldic verse in runes on the Runamo rockface in Sweden; in 1844 the marks were shown to be natural.[18] He also misinterpreted the Ruthwell Cross runes.[10][19]
He saw no conflict between Danish and Icelandic nationalism, and regarded Danish as his second native language; while still a student he published a book of poems in Danish (Ubetydeligheder - Inconsequentialities, 1800),[20] and he also wrote Icelandic poetry.[6]
He was married in 1821 to Nicoline Frydensberg (1804–1886), born in Reykjavík, but the marriage was dissolved in 1840.[3] In his final years he had money problems and sold Icelandic manuscripts from his collection to the Bodleian Library, the British Museum and the Advocates' Library in Edinburgh,[10] apparently overcharging the first two.[21] He died in Copenhagen.
Selected worksedit
Udsigt over de kaukasiske Menneskestammers ældste Hjemsted og Udvandringer (1818)[7]
Bidrag til nordisk Archæologie (1820), in which he maintained the Norse myths to be as appropriate as those of the Greeks for artistic representation[22]
Den Ældre Edda: En samling af de nordiske folks ældste sagn og sange (1821–23)[7]
Odin's Ravnes sang eller Fortale-Digtet
Magnuson, F. (1822). De Annulo aureo Runicis Characteribus signato, nuper in Anglia invento, et pluribus ejusdem Generis, brevis Dissertatio. Archaeologia Aeliana Series 1. Vol 1, p. 136.[1]
^ ab"Library". archaeologydataservice.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
^Halldór Hermannsson, The Periodical Literature of Iceland Down to the Year 1874,Islandica XI (1918), p. 28.
^ abJón Helgason, "Magnússon, Finnur", Dansk Biografisk Leksikon November 1938, volume 15, p. 234. (in Danish) (pdf)
^Paul Henri Mallet, tr. Thomas Percy, Northern Antiquities: or, An Historical Account of the Manners, Customs, Religion and Laws, Maritime Expeditions and Discoveries, Language and Literature of the Ancient Scandinavians, London: Bohn, 1847, OCLC 15684911, p. 265, note.
^North Ludlow Beamish, The Discovery of America by the Northmen, in the Tenth Century, London: Boone, 1841, OCLC 493427872, p. 247, Table VII: Descendants of Ari Marson: Brought down to the Present Time.
^ abcdefgFinnur Magnusson: Biografi at kalliope.org. (in Danish)
^ abcdef"Magnusson, Finnur", Norsk Haandlexikon, ed. Chr. Johnsen, 1881-88, pp. 397–398. (in Norwegian)
^According to Magnús Fjalldal, "A Lot of Learning is a Dang'rous Thing: The Ruthwell Cross Runes and their Icelandic Interpreters", Correspondences: Medievalism in Scholarship and the Arts, ed. T.A. Shippey and Martin Arnold, Cambridge: Brewer, 2005, ISBN1-84384-063-4, pp. 30–50, p. 35, he failed to graduate.
^Andrew Wawn, The Vikings and the Victorians: Inventing the Old North in 19th-Century Britain, Cambridge: Brewer, 2000, repr. 2002, ISBN0-85991-644-8, p. 189: "the myths reflected primitive responses, sensuous and intense, to the natural forces governing individuals' lives since the dawn of civilisation".
^Geraldine Barnes, Viking America: The First Millennium, Cambridge: Brewer, 2001, ISBN0-85991-608-1, p. 46.
^An 1891 book review in The Nation ("The Icelandic Discovery of America", 15 January 1891, volume 52, p. 55) refers to his "serious errors" in this matter, calls the inscription "unmistakably Indian graffiti", and summarises Gustav Storm's critique.
^Magnús Fjaldall reproduces his reading, points out that it was based on a bad lithograph, and states that it "came complete with a detailed description of a hitherto unknown language and a mysterious civilisation" (p. 41).
^Pamela Porter, "Preserving the Past: England, Iceland and the Movement of Manuscripts", Care and Conservation of Manuscripts 9: Proceedings of the eighth international seminar held at the University of Copenhagen 14th-15th April 2005, ed. Gillian Fellows-Jensen and Peter Springborg, Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press 2006, ISBN87-635-0554-1, pp. 173-90, pp. 174-78.
finnur, magnússon, this, icelandic, name, last, name, patronymic, family, name, this, person, referred, given, name, finnur, sometimes, referred, danish, version, name, under, which, published, finno, magnusun, finn, magnussen, magnusen, august, 1781, december. This is an Icelandic name The last name is patronymic not a family name this person is referred to by the given name Finnur Finnur Magnusson sometimes referred to by the Danish version of his name under which he published Finno Magnusun 1 Finn Magnussen or Magnusen 27 August 1781 24 December 1847 2 was an Icelandic scholar and archaeologist who worked in Denmark Finnur Magnusson Contents 1 Biography 2 Selected works 3 Sources 4 ReferencesBiography editFinnur Magnusson was born in Skalholt Iceland He was the grandchild of Finnur Jonsson Bishop of Skalholt 3 He claimed descent from Ari Marsson who according to the Landnamabok discovered Hvitramannaland near Vinland 4 5 Finnur studied law at the University of Copenhagen and returned to Iceland to work in Reykjavik where he became a clerk in the superior court in 1806 6 7 8 In 1812 6 he returned to Denmark to study Old Norse literature and history and in 1815 became a professor of literature at Copenhagen In 1819 he was assigned to hold lectures in Norse literature and mythology at the university and the Academy of Art 7 In 1823 he obtained a position at the King s private archive and in 1829 became its head 6 In 1836 he earned his doctorate 9 He represented Iceland and the Faroes on the Ostifternes Staenderforsamling 10 and in 1839 was appointed to represent it on the Danish provincial advisory council Radgivende provinsialstaenderforsamlinger 6 He was a founder member of the Icelandic Literary Society Hid Islenzka Bokmenntafelag Det Islandske Litteraere Selskab 6 for ten years summarised domestic and world news for its annual publication Islenzk sagnablod and wrote the first issue when it became Skirnir 11 With Carl Christian Rafn and others he founded the Royal Norse Ancient Writings Society Det Kongelige nordiske Oldskriftselskab 6 He is most remembered for his translation and exposition of the Elder Edda His masterpiece first published in 1824 was Eddalaeren og dens Oprindelse The Eddic Lore and its Origin 12 In it he was one of the first to put forward a Romantic nature mythological view of the Norse myths 13 For example he regarded the valkyries as heavenly lights such as meteors and the Aurora Borealis 14 He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1836 15 He was interested in and called on for his expertise in runes but his scholarship in this area was weaker He declared the Dighton Rock petroglyphs in Rhode Island to be runic 16 17 He was involved in an academic controversy when he claimed to have deciphered a skaldic verse in runes on the Runamo rockface in Sweden in 1844 the marks were shown to be natural 18 He also misinterpreted the Ruthwell Cross runes 10 19 He saw no conflict between Danish and Icelandic nationalism and regarded Danish as his second native language while still a student he published a book of poems in Danish Ubetydeligheder Inconsequentialities 1800 20 and he also wrote Icelandic poetry 6 He was married in 1821 to Nicoline Frydensberg 1804 1886 born in Reykjavik but the marriage was dissolved in 1840 3 In his final years he had money problems and sold Icelandic manuscripts from his collection to the Bodleian Library the British Museum and the Advocates Library in Edinburgh 10 apparently overcharging the first two 21 He died in Copenhagen Selected works editUdsigt over de kaukasiske Menneskestammers aeldste Hjemsted og Udvandringer 1818 7 Bidrag til nordisk Archaeologie 1820 in which he maintained the Norse myths to be as appropriate as those of the Greeks for artistic representation 22 Den AEldre Edda En samling af de nordiske folks aeldste sagn og sange 1821 23 7 Odin s Ravnes sang eller Fortale Digtet Magnuson F 1822 De Annulo aureo Runicis Characteribus signato nuper in Anglia invento et pluribus ejusdem Generis brevis Dissertatio Archaeologia Aeliana Series 1 Vol 1 p 136 1 Eddalaeren og dens oprindelse 1824 26 7 Priscae veterum borealium mythologiae lexicon 1828 Catalogus Criticus Et Historico Literarius Codicum ClIII Manuscriptorum Borealium 1832 Gronlands historiske Mindesmaerker 3 vols 1838 42 with Carl Christian Rafn 7 Runamo og Runerne 1841 Antiquites russes 2 vols 1850 52 with Carl Christian Rafn Sources editN M Petersen Finn Magnusen s literaere Personlighed in Samlede Afhandlinger volume 3 Copenhagen Wibes 1873 in Danish Adalgeir Kristjansson Nu heilsar ther a Hafnarslod pp 35 59 in Icelandic Jon Helgason Finnur Magnusson in Ritgerdakorn og raedustufar Reykjavik Felag islenzkra studenta i Kaupmannahofn 1959 pp 171 96 in Icelandic Helga Skuladottir and Sigfus A Schopka Landkonnudurinn og Leyndarskjalavordurinn Morgunbladid 20 July 1996 in Icelandic Ulrich Schnell Runerne pa Runamo in Danish Ripley George Dana Charles A eds 1879 Magnusson Finn The American Cyclopaedia References edit a b Library archaeologydataservice ac uk Retrieved 3 December 2022 Halldor Hermannsson The Periodical Literature of Iceland Down to the Year 1874 Islandica XI 1918 p 28 a b Jon Helgason Magnusson Finnur Dansk Biografisk Leksikon November 1938 volume 15 p 234 in Danish pdf Paul Henri Mallet tr Thomas Percy Northern Antiquities or An Historical Account of the Manners Customs Religion and Laws Maritime Expeditions and Discoveries Language and Literature of the Ancient Scandinavians London Bohn 1847 OCLC 15684911 p 265 note North Ludlow Beamish The Discovery of America by the Northmen in the Tenth Century London Boone 1841 OCLC 493427872 p 247 Table VII Descendants of Ari Marson Brought down to the Present Time a b c d e f g Finnur Magnusson Biografi at kalliope org in Danish a b c d e f Magnusson Finnur Norsk Haandlexikon ed Chr Johnsen 1881 88 pp 397 398 in Norwegian According to Magnus Fjalldal A Lot of Learning is a Dang rous Thing The Ruthwell Cross Runes and their Icelandic Interpreters Correspondences Medievalism in Scholarship and the Arts ed T A Shippey and Martin Arnold Cambridge Brewer 2005 ISBN 1 84384 063 4 pp 30 50 p 35 he failed to graduate Jon Helgason p 238 a b c Jon Helgason p 237 Halldor Hermannsson pp 28 34 4 volumes Copenhagen Gyldendal 1824 1826 OCLC 602105850 Andrew Wawn The Vikings and the Victorians Inventing the Old North in 19th Century Britain Cambridge Brewer 2000 repr 2002 ISBN 0 85991 644 8 p 189 the myths reflected primitive responses sensuous and intense to the natural forces governing individuals lives since the dawn of civilisation Jon Helgason p 236 American Antiquarian Society Members Directory Geraldine Barnes Viking America The First Millennium Cambridge Brewer 2001 ISBN 0 85991 608 1 p 46 An 1891 book review in The Nation The Icelandic Discovery of America 15 January 1891 volume 52 p 55 refers to his serious errors in this matter calls the inscription unmistakably Indian graffiti and summarises Gustav Storm s critique Jon Helgason pp 236 37 Magnus Fjaldall reproduces his reading points out that it was based on a bad lithograph and states that it came complete with a detailed description of a hitherto unknown language and a mysterious civilisation p 41 Jon Helgason p 235 Pamela Porter Preserving the Past England Iceland and the Movement of Manuscripts Care and Conservation of Manuscripts 9 Proceedings of the eighth international seminar held at the University of Copenhagen 14th 15th April 2005 ed Gillian Fellows Jensen and Peter Springborg Copenhagen Museum Tusculanum Press 2006 ISBN 87 635 0554 1 pp 173 90 pp 174 78 Ripley George Dana Charles A eds 1879 Magnusson Finn The American Cyclopaedia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Finnur Magnusson amp oldid 1191848295, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
