Landnámabók(Icelandic pronunciation:[ˈlantˌnauːmaˌpouːk], "Book of Settlements"), often shortened to Landnáma, is a medieval Icelandic written work which describes in considerable detail the settlement (landnám) of Iceland by the Norse in the 9th and 10th centuries CE.
Landnámabók is divided into five parts and over 100 chapters. The first part tells of how the island was found. The latter parts count settlers quarter by quarter, beginning with west and ending with south. It traces important events and family history into the 12th century. More than 3,000 people and 1,400 settlements are described. It tells where each settler settled and provides a brief genealogy of his or her descendants. Sometimes short anecdote-like stories are also included. Landnámabók lists 435 people (landnámsmenn, which includes men and women) as the initial settlers, the majority of them settling in the northern and southwestern parts of the island. It remains an invaluable source on both the history and genealogy of the Icelandic people. Some have suggested a single author, while others have believed it to have been put together when people met at things (assemblies).
Versionsedit
Ari Þorgilsson may have written the earliest version of Landnámabók in addition to his shorter Íslendingabók; or early versions may have been based on the genealogies that Ari states he left out of Íslendingabók.[1] The oldest surviving versions were written in the 13th and 14th centuries.[2] The initial settlement of Iceland largely took place during the Viking Age between 870 and 930, but Landnámabók mentions descendants significantly later than the actual settlement period, at least into the 11th century.
Five versions of Landnámabók survive, of which three were written in the Middle Ages, the other two in the 17th century preserving medieval material:
Sturlubók by Sturla Þórðarson, thought to have been written between 1275 and 1280
A version in the early 14th-century compilation Hauksbók by Haukr Erlendsson, who says he based it on Sturlubók and a lost 13th-century version by Styrmir Kárason [is], Styrmisbók
Melabók, written c. 1300, of which only two sheets survive; genealogies were appended to this in the early 14th century
Skarðsárbók, compiled prior to 1636 by Björn Jónsson of Skarðsá [is] from Sturlubók and Hauksbók
Þórðarbók, compiled in the 17th century by Þórður Jónsson from Skarðsárbók with the addition of sections of Melabók, some of which may derive from Styrmisbók[1][3][4]
Landnámabók is one of the main sources of information on the heathen religion of the settlers. According to Sveinbjörn Rafnsson, the Sturlubók and Hauksbók versions tend to overemphasise Christianity, Melabók less so.[2] An epilogue to 'Þórðarbók, probably copied from Melabók, justifies studying Icelandic history as a defence against foreign accusations of descent from "slaves or rogues" and because "all reasonable peoples" want to know about their origins.[3]
^ abEinarsson, Stefán (1959) [1957]. A History of Icelandic Literature. Baltimore / New York: Johns Hopkins University Press / The American-Scandinavian Foundation. pp. 107–09.
^ abAðalsteinsson, Jón Hnefill (1999). Jónsson, Jakob S. (ed.). Under the Cloak: A Pagan Ritual Turning Point in the Conversion of Iceland (2nd, extended ed.). University of Iceland Press. p. 15. ISBN978-9979-54-380-0. Landnámabók is originally from the late 11th or early 12th century but it has been preserved in versions from the 13th and 14th centuries.
^ abTómasson, Sverrir (2006). "Old Icelandic Prose". In Neijmann, Daisy (ed.). A History of Icelandic Literature. Histories of Scandinavian Literature. Vol. 5. Lincoln, Nebraska / London: University of Nebraska Press / The American-Scandinavian Foundation. pp. 80–81. ISBN978-0-8032-3346-1.
landnámabók, icelandic, pronunciation, ˈlantˌnauːmaˌpouːk, book, settlements, often, shortened, landnáma, medieval, icelandic, written, work, which, describes, considerable, detail, settlement, landnám, iceland, norse, 10th, centuries, page, from, vellum, manu. Landnamabok Icelandic pronunciation ˈlantˌnauːmaˌpouːk Book of Settlements often shortened to Landnama is a medieval Icelandic written work which describes in considerable detail the settlement landnam of Iceland by the Norse in the 9th and 10th centuries CE A page from a vellum manuscript of Landnama in the Arni Magnusson Institute for Icelandic Studies in Reykjavik Iceland Contents 1 Landnama 2 Versions 3 See also 4 Notes 5 External linksLandnama editLandnamabok is divided into five parts and over 100 chapters The first part tells of how the island was found The latter parts count settlers quarter by quarter beginning with west and ending with south It traces important events and family history into the 12th century More than 3 000 people and 1 400 settlements are described It tells where each settler settled and provides a brief genealogy of his or her descendants Sometimes short anecdote like stories are also included Landnamabok lists 435 people landnamsmenn which includes men and women as the initial settlers the majority of them settling in the northern and southwestern parts of the island It remains an invaluable source on both the history and genealogy of the Icelandic people Some have suggested a single author while others have believed it to have been put together when people met at things assemblies Versions editAri THorgilsson may have written the earliest version of Landnamabok in addition to his shorter Islendingabok or early versions may have been based on the genealogies that Ari states he left out of Islendingabok 1 The oldest surviving versions were written in the 13th and 14th centuries 2 The initial settlement of Iceland largely took place during the Viking Age between 870 and 930 but Landnamabok mentions descendants significantly later than the actual settlement period at least into the 11th century Five versions of Landnamabok survive of which three were written in the Middle Ages the other two in the 17th century preserving medieval material Sturlubok by Sturla THordarson thought to have been written between 1275 and 1280 A version in the early 14th century compilation Hauksbok by Haukr Erlendsson who says he based it on Sturlubok and a lost 13th century version by Styrmir Karason is Styrmisbok Melabok written c 1300 of which only two sheets survive genealogies were appended to this in the early 14th century Skardsarbok compiled prior to 1636 by Bjorn Jonsson of Skardsa is from Sturlubok and Hauksbok THordarbok compiled in the 17th century by THordur Jonsson from Skardsarbok with the addition of sections of Melabok some of which may derive from Styrmisbok 1 3 4 Landnamabok is one of the main sources of information on the heathen religion of the settlers According to Sveinbjorn Rafnsson the Sturlubok and Hauksbok versions tend to overemphasise Christianity Melabok less so 2 An epilogue to THordarbok probably copied from Melabok justifies studying Icelandic history as a defence against foreign accusations of descent from slaves or rogues and because all reasonable peoples want to know about their origins 3 See also editCerball mac Dunlainge Irish ruler mentioned as Kjarvalur Notes edit a b Einarsson Stefan 1959 1957 A History of Icelandic Literature Baltimore New York Johns Hopkins University Press The American Scandinavian Foundation pp 107 09 a b Adalsteinsson Jon Hnefill 1999 Jonsson Jakob S ed Under the Cloak A Pagan Ritual Turning Point in the Conversion of Iceland 2nd extended ed University of Iceland Press p 15 ISBN 978 9979 54 380 0 Landnamabok is originally from the late 11th or early 12th century but it has been preserved in versions from the 13th and 14th centuries a b Tomasson Sverrir 2006 Old Icelandic Prose In Neijmann Daisy ed A History of Icelandic Literature Histories of Scandinavian Literature Vol 5 Lincoln Nebraska London University of Nebraska Press The American Scandinavian Foundation pp 80 81 ISBN 978 0 8032 3346 1 Simek Rudolf Palsson Hermann 1987 Lexikon der altnordischen Literatur Kroners Taschenausgabe in German Vol 490 Stuttgart Kroner pp 222 23 ISBN 3 520 49001 3 External links edit nbsp Icelandic Wikisource has original text related to this article Landnamabok Online publication of Landnamabok English translation by the Rev T Ellwood 1898 nbsp This Iceland related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Landnamabok amp oldid 1192240331, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
