The Eyrbyggja Saga on Thorolf Most-beard

Chapter 1 - Herein Is Told How Ketil Flatneb Fares To West-Over-Sea. > Chapter 3 - Thorolf Most-Beard Outlawed By King Harald Hairfair.

• attestation: Rolf acquired the byname Thorolf because of his devotion to Thor

  "And therefore he was called Thorolf."

• attestation: Thorolf was physically large and strong with a prominent beard, earning the name Most-beard

  "He was a big man and a strong, fair to look on, and had a great beard; therefore was he called Most-beard"

• attestation: In spring Thorolf gave Biorn a long-ship with crew and sent his son Hallstein to accompany him West-over-the-sea

  "In the spring Thorolf gave Biorn a good long-ship manned with a doughty crew, and gave him Hallstein his son to bear him fellowship; and therewith they sailed West-over-the-sea to meet Biorn's kindred."

• attestation: Thorolf's outlawing occurred ten winters after Ingolf Arnarson settled in Iceland

  "This was ten winters after Ingolf Arnarson had fared out to take up his abode in Iceland, and that faring was grown to be very famous"

Chapter 1 - Herein Is Told How Ketil Flatneb Fares To West-Over-Sea. > Chapter 4 - Thorolf Most-Beard Comes Out To Iceland, And Sets Up House There.

• attestation: Thorolf sacrificed to Thor to learn whether he should reconcile with the king or emigrate

  "Thorolf Most-Beard made a great sacrifice, and asked of Thor his well-beloved friend whether he should make peace with the king, or get him gone from out the land and seek other fortunes"

• attestation: Thorolf dismantled his temple and brought the timbers and the earth from under Thor's stall to Iceland

  "He pulled down the temple, and had with him most of the timbers which had been therein, and mould moreover from under the stall whereon Thor had sat."

• attestation: Thorolf cast his high-seat pillars overboard, one bearing a carved image of Thor, vowing to settle wherever they washed ashore

  "Then Thorolf cast overboard the pillars of his high-seat, which had been in the temple, and on one of them was Thor carven; withal he spake over them, that there he would abide in Iceland, whereas Thor should let those pillars come a-land."

• attestation: Thorolf named the broad western inlet Broadfirth and settled on its south side

  "Then Thorolf gave name to the firth and called it Broadfirth. He took land on the south side of the firth, nigh the midmost"

• attestation: Thorolf claimed land from Staff-river west to Thors-river east by carrying fire through the territory

  "Thorolf fared with fire through his land out from Staff-river in the west, and east to that river which is now called Thors-river"

• attestation: Thorolf built a great temple at Templestead in Templewick

  "he set up for himself a great house at Templewick which he called Templestead. There he let build a temple, and a mighty house it was."

• attestation: Thorolf sailed south along Iceland and west about Reekness before finding Broadfirth

  "Thorolf sailed into the main sea, and had wind at will, and made land, and sailed south along and west about Reekness"

• attestation: Thorolf declared the fell between Swordfirth and Templewick so sacred that no unwashed person could look upon it and nothing could be killed there

  "that fell Thorolf held in such worship that he laid down that no man unwashed should turn his eyes thither, and that nought should be done to death on the fell, either man or beast, until it went therefrom of its own will"

• attestation: Thorolf named the sacred mountain Holy Fell and believed he and his kin would go there after death

  "That fell he called Holy Fell, and he trowed that thither he should fare when he died, and all his kindred from the ness."

• attestation: Thorolf established a county Thing on the tongue of the ness where Thor's pillars had come ashore

  "On the tongue of the ness whereas Thor had come a-land he made all dooms be held, and thereon he set up a county Thing."

• attestation: Thorolf grew very wealthy, supplied by both island and sea resources

  "Now Thorolf waxed of great largesse in his housekeeping, and had many men about him; for in those days meat was good to get both from the isles and from the take of the sea."

• attestation: The ness between Swordfirth and Templewick was named Thorsness by Thorolf

  "Now Thorolf called that ness Thorsness which lieth between Swordfirth and Templewick"

Chapter 1 - Herein Is Told How Ketil Flatneb Fares To West-Over-Sea. > Chapter 7 - Of The Kin Of Kiallak.

• relationship: Thorolf Most-beard married Unn in old age and had a son he dedicated to Thor, naming him Thorstein

  "Thorolf Most-beard married in his old age, and had to wife her who is called Unn"

• attestation: Thorolf gave his son to Thor and named him Thorstein; the boy grew very quickly

  "That lad Thorolf gave to Thor his friend, and called him Thorstein, and the boy was very quick of growth."

Chapter 1 - Herein Is Told How Ketil Flatneb Fares To West-Over-Sea. > Chapter 9 - Of Thorstein Codbiter. Battle At Thorsness Thing.

• attestation: Thorolf Most-Beard died at Templestead and Thorstein Codbiter inherited his property

  "Thorolf Most-Beard died at Templestead, and then Thorstein Codbiter took his inheritance after him."

• attestation: Thorolf was buried at Howness, west of Templestead

  "Thorolf was buried at Howness, west of Templestead."