The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Iceland

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > Saxo'S Position.

• comparison: Iceland experienced a flourishing literary period in the latter half of the twelfth century, while Denmark had no vernacular literature except Runic inscriptions.

  "In the latter half of the twelfth century, when Iceland was in the flush of literary production, Denmark lingered behind. No literature in her vernacular, save a few Runic inscriptions, has survived"

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > Customary Law.

• attestation: The victor's ransom for a defeated opponent was the holmslausn, three marks in Iceland.

  "had better take his were-gild for his life, the holmslausn or ransom of "Cormac's Saga" (three marks in Iceland)"

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > "T.M.").

• attestation: The Scandinavian material is particularly rich, including Icelandic literature, Old Northern poetry of the Viking age, and oral tradition.

  "The Scandinavian material, at all events, is particularly rich: there is the extensive Icelandic written literature touching the ninth and tenth and eleventh centuries; the noble, if fragmentary remains of Old Northern poetry of the Wickingtide"

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > Preface.

• attestation: The men of Thule (Iceland) devoted themselves to recording the deeds of all nations despite their barren soil.

  "the men of Thule be blotted in oblivion; for though they lack all that can foster luxury (so naturally barren is the soil), yet they make up for their neediness by their wit"

• attestation: Iceland is described as squalid to dwell in but noteworthy for marvels, with a spring that turns anything to stone.

  "the island called Iceland, with the mighty ocean washing round it: a land very squalid to dwell in, but noteworthy for marvels"

• attestation: Iceland has a petrifying spring whose vapour transmutes anything drenched in it into stone.

  "A spring is there which, by the malignant reek of its water, destroys the original nature of anything whatsoever"

• attestation: Iceland has a mountain of incessant fire keeping its crest in everlasting blaze, near the extreme of cold.

  "there is likewise a mountain, whose floods of incessant fire make it look like a glowing rock, and which, by belching out flames, keeps its crest in an everlasting blaze"

• attestation: Masses of ice drift to Iceland at fixed seasons, and from the deep a roar of voices is heard when ice strikes the reefs, believed to be spirits paying penalties.

  "when it approaches and begins to dash upon the rugged reefs, then, just as if the cliffs rang reply, there is heard from the deep a roar of voices and a changing din of extraordinary clamour"

• attestation: Iceland has springs that gush and overflow then disappear deep underground, as well as pestilent waters and fires that cannot burn linen but consume water.

  "springs, which now are fed with floods of rising water, and, overflowing in full channels, cast a mass of spray upwards"

• attestation: A self-moving rock in Iceland flies over mountain-steeps of its own innate motion.

  "there is a rock, which flies over mountain-steeps, not from any outward impulse, but of its innate and proper motion"