Vápnfirðinga saga

Vápnfirðinga saga or Vopnfirðinga saga (listen), named after Vopnafjörður, Iceland, is one of the sagas of Icelanders. It tells the story of Helgi Þorgilsson, a relative of Erik the Red, his murder and subsequent retaliation. The saga provides a window into how a feud might develop between Icelandic chieftains and demonstrates how a dispute could persist over several generations.[1] The saga points at the futility of feud and promotes alternative, more positive forms of conflict resolution.[2]

Map of Iceland, Vopnafjord Highlighted

Synopsis

A Note from the Tucker Translation: "The Saga of the People of Vopnafjord is translated from Islendinga sogur. The text is very badly preserved; apart from one vellum leaf, only late paper manuscripts exist, all clearly derived from the same damaged manuscript and sharing the same lacunae, which correspond roughly to two pages of vellum. The resulting gap detracts considerably from the overall effect of the saga, its deft characterisations and dramatic chain of events."

Chapters 1-9

The saga begins by introducing the protagonist, Helgi Þorgilsson (Brodd-Helgi), and describes him as a headstrong, vigilant, and unpredictable. As a youth, Helgi took pity on a bull who was unable to defend himself against the other animals. So, he fixed a spur upon the bulls head, giving it an advantage. It is from this story that Helgi earned the moniker Brodd-Helgi or Spur-Helgi.

When Helgi reaches the age of twelve, he confronts a ruthless villain named Svart, who terrorizes the people of Hof. Helgi takes extreme displeasure at this news. He protects himself with a chest-piece made of flagstone and meets Svart in armed combat. Helgi maims Svart who responds by pronouncing a curse upon Helgi and his family, saying that "…Your family will be plagued by such sorrow henceforth that it will be remembered for all ages while the land is inhabited".

Now a wealthy chieftain, Helgi becomes inseparable friends with Geitir Lytingson of Krossavik, another chieftain, and marries his sister Halla Lyting. As a show of goodwill, Geitir fosters Helgi's son, Bjarni.

A ship from arrives bearing Thorleif the Christian and a man named Hrafn, both of whom are supposed to be very wealthy. Helgi offers to host the two men as guests but is rebuffed because the Norwegians have heard that he is a greedy and arrogant man. Hrafn then rejects Helgi's proposition to trade, claiming that Helgi is not of adequate means. Understandably, Helgi becomes angered with the two men. Subsequently, the two Norwegians are given room and board by Geitir.

Soon after, it comes to light that Hrafn the Norwegian has been slain. The question of what to do with his riches is discussed between Helgi and Geitir and the two decide to lock up the goods in Geitir's barn until the Spring Assembly where the goods can be legally redistributed. Thorleif the Christian comes and seizes the property, claiming that the goods should be distributed amongst Hrafns heirs abroad.

It is at this point that the relationship between Helgi and Geitir begins to devolve into enmity. Helgi and Geitir both suspect each other of keeping one of the treasures of Hrafn from the other leading to general mistrust between them. Now that Thorleif the Christian has returned, Helgi is determined to exact revenge on him and so, befriends a man named Ketil whom he tasks with claiming an outstanding temple-tax from Thorleif. Thorleif refuses to pay and Ketil agrees to house him in great hospitality before he returns home. Helgi finds out about this and disowns Ketil as a friend for not following through with his wishes.

Helgi's wife Halla, the brother of Geitir falls ill and Helgi divorces her, denying her a share of her property as per custom. Helgi promptly remarries Thorgerd Silver. Feeling betrayed by Helgi, Geitir brings suit against Helgi at the Althing for Halla's share of the property but is defeated.

Two farmers named Thord and Thormod in Helgi's and Geitir's districts, respectively, are engaged in a dispute over tree-cutting and grazing rights. Helgi decides to slaughter all of the cattle belonging to Thormod and cut down the entire forest, awarding the lumber to Thord. Hearing this, Geitir sends men to Thord's farm to seize the lumber and are met with violence. Several of Geitir's thingmen are killed including Thormod.

Geitir sends an envoy of thingmen to Hof to collect the bodies of the slain thingmen. Suspecting that Helgi will be uncooperative, he instructs his thingmen to disguise themselves as charcoal-makers and to carry the bodies of in their charcoal bins. All the while, Helgi and Geitir meet and inform each other that the feud may end if the "lesser man yields to the stronger".

Halla is on her deathbed and summons Helgi to visit at Krossavik. Halla's final words to Helgi are, "I do not imagine that many men would finish with their wives as you will do to me."

Chapters 10-19

An accomplished trader named Thorarin arrives in Vopnafjord and Geitir convinces him to come to Krossavik. Helgi hears this and offers Thorarin 5 stud horses in exchange for his friendship but he returns them at Geitir's request. After a few months on the farm, Thorarin speaks for the thingmen and gives Geitir an ultimatum. He says that either Geitir does something about Brodd-Helgi or the thingmen will leave. Geitir takes this to heart and meets with Gudmund the Powerful and Olvir the wise, presumably to plot an attack on Geitir.

As Brodd-Helgi prepares to leave for the Althing the following spring, his foster mother has a prophetic dream. She dreams a white ox (Brodd-Helgi) arose at Hof and was killed at the entrance of Sunnudal valley by a red-flecked ox (Geitir). Then a red ox (Brodd-Helgi's son Bjarni) arose at Hof and killed the red-flecked ox. Next a bull the color of "sea-cattle" (Geitir's son, Thorkel) arose at Krossavik and sought the red ox. Brodd-Helgi correctly interprets this as prophesizing his death at the hands of Geitir but believes the red ox, which avenges him, will be his friend Lyting, when in actuality it turns out to be his son Bjarni.

Sunnudal Valley

At this point in the saga the manuscript becomes difficult to read and there is a gap in the story. We can gather than Brodd-Helgi is killed as was prophesied and Geitir fosters his son, Bjarni at Krossavik. After Bjarni grows up, he becomes angry at Geitir during a conversation and kills him, an act which he immediately regrets. Nobody demands compensation from Bjarni and he returns home to Hof. Thorkel, Geitir's son, is not in Iceland at the time of Geitir's death but upon his return, denies Bjarni's attempt to compensate for him for the killing.

The next four chapters describe various incidents in which Thorkel attempts to attack and kill Bjarni. Bjarni is able to avoid confrontation with the help of informants and manages to escape an ambush by creating a decoy of himself using a wood chopping block. While traveling to the Althing two springs after Geitr's death, Thorkel manages to confront Bjarni and his men at a hay field on farm called Eyvindastadir. The two groups fight until the farm's owner, Eyvind, comes out and throws clothes over their weapons. By this point each side had lost four men and Thorkel's arm has been wounded. The two sides depart in peace and return to their respective farms. A few days later Bjarni sends a healer named Thorvard to Krossavik in order to tend Thorkel's wounded arm. Thorkel was grateful for the healing and "spoke words of friendship with [Bjarni]".

The following summer there was a poor hay harvest at Krossavik on account of Thorkel's wounded arm. Bjarni invites Thorkel to move his farm to Hof over the winter, which he accepts after they settle legal disputes. Thorkel was allowed to self-judge the case and he awarded himself 100 silver pieces for the killing of Geitir. The two remained at peace for the rest of their lives and Thorkel moved to Hof when he grew old and ran out of money.

Themes and motifs

Dreams and Fate: This saga features a prophetic dream by Brodd-Helgi's foster mother in which she sees the deaths of Brodd-Helgi and Geitir and how the feud will continue between their sons. Dreams such as this are common in the sagas and provide a mythic element to otherwise realistic stories (Lonnroth). Lonnroth argues this mythic element was included to make the sagas more entertaining. Dreams in the sagas often predict the future and events described in the dreams always occur, though often not as the characters believe they will. This speaks to the medieval Icelandic belief that fate was inescapable. This belief perhaps explains why Brodd-Helgi did not avoid the journey to the Althing despite the prophecy he just heard.

Feuds: Feuds are a common occurrence in the sagas and play a key role in Vápnfirðinga. Feuds in medieval Iceland usually began as a retribution homicide over sexual transgression, insult, or physical injury (Firth). This initial homicide was followed by further murders by the victim's kin or allies. These retribution homicides could continue for generations and often did not end with legal settlement but rather with one side giving in to the power of the other. This helps explain why Thorkel was unwilling to accept compensation from Bjarni in order to end the feud. Doing so would have meant submitting to Bjarni's power and acknowledging him as the greater man. (Firth). Scholars disagree over the function of feuds in medieval Icelandic society. Some back William Miller's argument that chieftains engaged in feuds to "repay insult and injury within a framework of reciprocity" (Firth). Others agree with Samson and Sigurdsson's view that chieftains acted proactively in brutal competition with their neighbors.

The Spur: Helgi gains this nickname from affixing a spur to the head of a bull which had proven itself an underdog. The spur is echoed in Helgi's battle with Svart where he utilizes a flagstone breastplate to gain the upper hand. The name Brodd-Helgi represents his characteristic of using every advantage available to him to triumph over his enemies.

Health: The saga is highly concerned with issues of health, from Halla Lýtingardóttir's rejection by her husband Brodd-Helgi due to a chronic illness, to Þorkell Geitisson's limited eyesight and bouts with disease, and to the character of Þorvarðr the physician that limits the bloodshed and ends up being a vehicle of peacemaking between the warring kinsmen.[3]

Translations

  • The Saga of the People of Vopnafjord. translation by John Tucker. In: Viðar Hreinsson (general editor): The Complete Sagas of Icelanders including 49 Tales (Reykjavík: Leifur Eiríksson Publishing, 1997. Volume IV, pp. 313–334) ISBN 9979-9293-4-0

References

  1. ^ Finnur Jónsson. "Vápnfirðingasaga". heimskringla.no. G. E. C. Gads Publishers. Copenhagen, 1898. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  2. ^ Baldursdóttir, Sigríður (2002). "Hugmyndaheimur Vopnfirðinga sögu". Gripla. 13: 61–105. ISSN 2351-4264.
  3. ^ Crocker, Christopher and Yoav Tirosh (2021), "Health, Healing, and the Social Body in Medieval Iceland", Understanding Disability Throughout History, Routledge, pp. 113–127, doi:10.4324/9781003180180-7/health-healing-social-body-medieval-iceland-christopher-crocker-yoav-tirosh, ISBN 978-1-003-18018-0, retrieved 2023-12-16

References

Read other articles:

We'll Be the StarsSingel oleh Sabrina Carpenterdari album Eyes Wide OpenDirilis13 Januari 2015 (2015-01-13)Direkam2014StudioSleepwalker Studios (Los Angeles, California)GenrePower popPop remajaDurasi3:07LabelHollywoodPenciptaSkyler StonestreetCameron WalkerSteven SolomonProduserSolomonKronologi singel Sabrina Carpenter The Middle of Starting Over (2014) We'll Be the Stars (2015) Eyes Wide Open (2015) Video musikWe'll Be the Stars di YouTube We'll Be the Stars adalah lagu yang direkam ole...

 

Pour les autres navires du même nom, voir HMS Beaufort. HMS Beaufort Le HMS Beaufort en mai 1945 Autres noms HNoMS Haugesund Type Destroyer d'escorte Classe Hunt de type II Histoire A servi dans  Royal Navy Marine royale norvégienne Constructeur Cammell Laird Chantier naval Birkenhead, Angleterre Commandé 20 décembre 1939 Quille posée 17 juillet 1940 Lancement 9 juin 1941 Commission 3 novembre 1941 Statut Vendu à la Marine royale norvégienne en 1952. Démoli en 1965 Équipage...

 

Montes de los Ouled Naïlجبال أولاد نايل Djebel Selat cerca de Boussaada en inviernoLocalización geográficaCordillera Atlas saharianoSierra Sierra de los Ouled NaïlCoordenadas 34°40′00″N 3°24′00″E / 34.6667, 3.4Localización administrativaPaís Argelia ArgeliaDivisión Provincia de M'SilaProvincia de DjelfaProvincia de LaghouatCaracterísticas generalesTipo orogenia alpinaAltitud 1491 m s. n. m.Prominencia ?Mapa de localización Montes de los Oul...

أعضاء مؤتمر سيواس في سبتمبر 1919. أعضاء مؤتمر سيواس في عام 1919 أول وصول للجنة التمثيلية في أنقرة في 27 ديسمبر 1919. هيئة التمثيل (بالتركية: Heyet-i Temsiliye)‏ كانت الفرع التنفيذي للقوميين الأتراك قبل افتتاح الجمعية التركية الكبرى في الفترة 1919-1920. الخلفية بعد هزيمة الدولة العثمانية في ال...

 

2012 studio album by GazpachoMarch of GhostsStudio album by GazpachoReleasedMarch 12, 2012Recorded2011-2012GenreRock, progressive rock, art rockLength50:17LabelKscopeProducerGazpachoGazpacho chronology Missa Atropos(2010) March of Ghosts(2012) Demon(2014) March of Ghosts is the seventh studio album by Norwegian rock band Gazpacho. The album was released worldwide on March 12, 2012 by Kscope.[1] History The end of 2011 the band brought up the news that March Of Ghosts will be t...

 

1985 book by Joseph Lelyveld First editionMove Your Shadow: South Africa, Black and White, written by Joseph Lelyveld and published by Times Books in 1985, won the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction[1] as well as the 1986 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Current Interest.[2] References ^ Pulitzer Prize Winners: General Non-Fiction (web). pulitzer.org. Retrieved 8 March 2008. ^ 1986 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Winners. Los Angeles Times. 2007. Archived from the origin...

греко-римська боротьба до 55 кгна XXX Олімпійських іграх Місце проведенняВиставковий центр Лондона, Ньюгем, ЛондонДати5 серпня 2012Учасників19 з 19 країнПризери  Гамід Сурян  Іран Ровшан Байрамов  Азербайджан Петер Модош  Угорщина Мінгіян...

 

For the village in India, see Kunj. Village in Istria County, CroatiaKunjVillageKunjCoordinates: 45°04′19″N 14°01′11″E / 45.0719968°N 14.0196536°E / 45.0719968; 14.0196536Country CroatiaCounty Istria CountyMunicipality RašaArea[1] • Total2.3 sq mi (6.0 km2)Population (2021)[2] • Total81 • Density35/sq mi (14/km2)Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)...

 

В Википедии есть статьи о других людях с фамилией Робинсон. Стивен Керн Робинсонангл. Stephen Kern Robinson Стивен Робинсон, НАСА STS-114 Страна  США Экспедиции STS-85STS-95STS-114STS-130 Время в космосе 2 994 240 с Дата рождения 26 октября 1955(1955-10-26) (68 лет) Место рождения Сакраменто, Калиф...

45-та стрілецька дивізіяНа службі 16 червня 1919—4 лютого 1932Країна  СРСРВид піхотаТип Червона арміяРоль стрілецькаВійни/битви Радянсько-українська війна Громадянська війна в Росії Польсько-радянська війнаПочесні найменування «Волинська» ЧервонопрапорнаКомандування...

 

14th-century political leader of the Majapahit Empire Gajah MadaꦓꦗꦃꦩꦢMahapatihA modern artist's impression of Gajah Mada, based on the outdated, earlier illustration by M. YaminMahapatih/Mahapatih of the Majapahit EmpireIn office1331 (1331)[1] – c. 1364 (c. 1364)MonarchsJayanegaraTribhuwana WijayatunggadewiHayam Wuruk Personal detailsBornc. 1290Diedc. 1364ReligionShiva-Buddha[2][Note 1]Military serviceBattles/warsSadeng RebellionRa Kuti R...

 

Australian politician This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (October 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) This article possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the clai...

Indian director Rahul DholakiaDholakia in 2012BornMumbai, IndiaOccupation(s)Film director, producer, screenwriterYears active2002 - PresentWebsiteRahul Dholakia Rahul Dholakia is an Indian film director-producer-screenwriter, most known for his National Film Award-winning film, Parzania (Heaven & Hell On Earth) (2005),[1][2] prior to which he also made documentaries like Teenage Parents and New York Taxi Drivers. Early life and education Born in Mumbai, to Raksha and ...

 

2009 studio album by Mike Stern Big NeighborhoodStudio album by Mike SternReleasedAugust 11, 2009 (2009-08-11)StudioNew York City, Los Angeles; Austin, TexasGenreJazz, jazz fusionLength68:49LabelHeads Up InternationalProducerJim BeardMike Stern chronology Who Let the Cats Out?(2006) Big Neighborhood(2009) All Over the Place(2012) Big Neighborhood is the fourteenth solo studio album by jazz guitarist Mike Stern. The 2009 release was produced by Jim Beard and released by Head...

 

Arus samudra besar yang terlibat dalam sirkulasi pusaran Subkutub dan Subtropis Pasifik Utara Pusaran Pasifik Utara (NPG) atau Pusaran Subtropis Pasifik Utara (NPSG), terletak di Samudra Pasifik utara, adalah satu dari lima pusaran samudra besar. Pusaran ini mencakup sebagian besar Samudra Pasifik utara. Pusaran ini adalah ekosistem terbesar di dunia yang terletak di antara khatulistiwa dan lintang 50° N dengan luas 20 juta kilometer persegi.[1] Pusaran ini melingkar searah jarum jam...

1958 killing ruled to be self-defense 34°04′34″N 118°24′55″W / 34.076090°N 118.415260°W / 34.076090; -118.415260 Killing of Johnny StompanatoLana Turner, Johnny Stompanato, and Cheryl Crane, 16 days before Stompanato's deathDateApril 4, 1958 (1958-04-04)Timec. 8:30 p.m. (UTC−08:00)Location730 North Bedford Drive,Beverly Hills, California, U.S.CauseStabbingMotiveSelf-defenseDeathsJohnny StompanatoInquestApril 11, 1958 (1958-04...

 

Brand of rum Not to be confused with Bundaberg Brewed Drinks. Bundaberg Rum:Bundaberg Rum ReserveManufacturerDiageoCountry of origin AustraliaIntroduced1888; 135 years ago (1888)ColourDark and WhiteWebsitehttp://www.bundabergrum.com.au Bundaberg Rum, colloquially known as Bundy, is a dark rum owned by Diageo. Is produced in Bundaberg East, Queensland, Australia, by the Bundaberg Distilling Company. In 2010, the Bundaberg Distilling Company was inducted into the Queensla...

 

Highway in Wisconsin State Trunk Highway 142WIS 142 highlighted in redRoute informationMaintained by WisDOTLength17.69 mi[1] (28.47 km)Major junctionsWest end WIS 11 / WIS 36 / WIS 83 at BurlingtonMajor intersections US 45 in ParisEast end I-41 / I-94 / US 41 / CTH-S in Kenosha LocationCountryUnited StatesStateWisconsinCountiesRacine, Kenosha Highway system Wisconsin State Trunk Highway System Interstate US Sta...

Bomber glider BG-2 3-view drawing of the Fletcher XBG-2 Role Bomb gliderType of aircraft Manufacturer Fletcher Aviation Designer Wendell Fletcher First flight never built Status cancelled Primary user United States Army Air Forces Number built 0 The Fletcher BG-2 was a proposed American bomb glider designed by Fletcher Aviation in World War II. Design The XBG-2 (Model 16) was conceived by the Fletcher company as a wooden bomb-carrying glider as a derivative of its earlier BG-1, in turn b...

 

هذه المقالة تحتاج للمزيد من الوصلات للمقالات الأخرى للمساعدة في ترابط مقالات الموسوعة. فضلًا ساعد في تحسين هذه المقالة بإضافة وصلات إلى المقالات المتعلقة بها الموجودة في النص الحالي. (سبتمبر 2023) غرب هاممعلومات عامةالتقسيم الإداري نيوهام البلد  المملكة المتحدة شبكة الم...

 

Strategi Solo vs Squad di Free Fire: Cara Menang Mudah!