Book Description

Reykholt in Borgarfj◆rðr, Iceland, is probably best known for its thirteenth-century occupant, the magnate Snorri Sturluson - historian, scholar and much-acclaimed author of Heimskringla and Edda. Reykholt was an important site before Snorri' s arrival there in the early thirteenth century since it already served as the seat of chieftains and was an importannt religious and political centre. Its high status may have been the reason why Snorri was keen to acquire it and make it his home. The collection of essays in this volume throws new light on Snorri, the place in which he chose to reside and how his presence enhanced Reykholt' s political and cultural importance. While the more general objective is to offer interdisciplinary methods to provide a better understanding of the process of centralization of power during the Commonwealth period in Iceland (930-1262), the creation of political and ecclesiastical centres and how this relates to land-use, settlement development and the creation of literature, the main focus of the investigation throughout is on Reykholt at the time of Snorri.