Reykholt

October 20, 2009

Reykholt was the home of Snorri Sturluson (c. 1179-1241), one of Iceland's most important historical figures. He was a powerful politician and landholder, but he is perhaps most famous for his writing--The Prose Edda and possibly Egil's Saga. He was eventually assassinated in a raid. He hid in the cellar, but the intruders found him and stabbed him in spite of his famous last words: "I shall not strike."

One of Jeramy's professors arranged a field trip and invited me along. We explored the grounds (including the replica of Snorri's hotpot, where he often engaged in political discussions); toured the museum curated to highlight Snorri's life and the area of Reykholt; looked through the library and scholar's quarters; and ate delicious soup and waffles.

After our trip, Jeramy applied to the scholar's residency at Reykholt and was accepted for the month of September, 2010. It looks like we'll be going back to stay for a while and to bathe in the historic hotpot.